• Loading stock data...
Tuesday, February 11, 2025

NFL Dishes Out $336M In Performance-Based Pay

  • Marcus Epps of Eagles earns the top bonus of $880,384.
  • Damar Hamlin was also among the top earners on peformance list.
Marcus Epps of the Phildelphia Eagles
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL is again rewarding players who outperform their contracts with Performance-Based Pay.

The league announced it is distributing $336 million in payouts to players for the 2022 season.

Former Philadelphia Eagles safety Marcus Epps took home the top amount: $880,384. The bonus nearly doubled his salary of $965,000 for the 2022 season. 

Epps, who just signed with the Las Vegas Raiders as a free agent, certainly earned his money. 

The sixth-round draft choice out of Wyoming played all 17 games for the Eagles. Epps was on the field for all but 10 of their defensive plays. He was in on almost 38% of the Eagles’ special team plays.

Under the program launched in 2002, NFL players have been paid $2 billion cumulatively. 

The players picking up these bonuses are typically late-round picks with smaller contracts. 

For example, most of the Top 25 players collecting Performance-Based Pay this season are offensive linemen or defensive players.

Naturally, their annual salaries don’t compare to quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers of the Packers ($42 million) and Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs ($32 million). But it’s still a way to reward the hardest workers doing the grunt work. 

NFL columnist Ari Meirov describes the beneficiaries as players “with high snap counts and low salaries.” ESPN’s Field Yates noted these bonuses count as player benefits only – and don’t impact the team’s salary cap.

The Top 25

RankPlayer2022 TeamPositionCollegeRookie YearDraft RoundDistribution
1Marcus EppsPhiladelphiaSWyoming20196$880,384
2Cordell VolsonCincinnatiGNorth Dakota State20224$854,407
3Luke FortnerJacksonvilleCKentucky20223$819,686
4Michael OnwenuNew EnglandGMichigan20206$813,083
5Jon RunyanGreen BayGMichigan20206$790,159
6Andre CiscoJacksonvilleSSyracuse20213$763,775
7Kevin DotsonPittsburghGLouisiana-Lafayette20204$746,013
8Tariq WoolenSeattleCBTexas-San Antonio20225$742,378
9Dan MoorePittsburghTTexas A&M20214$739,072
10Michael JacksonSeattleCBMiami20195$734,602
11Donovan Peoples-JonesClevelandWRMichigan20206$717,642
12Tashaun GipsonSan FranciscoSWyoming2012UDFA$708,106
13Robert HainseyTampa BayCNotre Dame20213$706,331
14Kader KohouMiamiCBTexas A&M-Commerce2022UDFA$705,584
15Myles HartsfieldCarolinaSMississippi2020UDFA$705,255
16Talanoa HufangaSan FranciscoSSouthern California20215$703,926
17Jamaree SalyerL.A. ChargersGGeorgia20226$695,838
18Camryn BynumMinnesotaSCalifornia20214$694,661
19Logan WilsonCincinnatiLBWyoming20203$669,729
20Trey SmithKansas CityGTennessee20216$663,756
21Damar HamlinBuffaloSPittsburgh20216$652,470
22Nick ScottL.A. RamsSPenn State20197$649,016
23Jake BrendelSan FranciscoCUCLA2016UDFA$643,691
24Josh MyersGreen BayCOhio State20212$638,041
25Duron HarmonLas VegasSRutgers20133$636,623
UDFA – Undrafted free agent
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jan 26, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) looks to pass the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field.

NFL’s Aggressive Flex Scheduling Expected to Reshape 2025 Lineup

Next season’s schedule could include more flexible windows.

Eagles Laid Super Bowl Blueprint, but the Bill Is Coming Soon

Zack Baun and Josh Sweat will be free agents this offseason.
Nov 3, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; General view of the inside bowl of Lincoln Financial Field before a game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Will Eagles’ Super Bowl Win Spark New Stadium Talks in South Philly?

The Super Bowl champions are considering various facility options.
Lamar's dancers

Dancer Who Snuck Palestinian Flag Into Super Bowl Halftime Released Without Charges

The dancer unfurled a flag that read SUDAN-GAZA during Kendrick Lamar’s performance.

Featured Today

Jan 9, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) skates with the puck as Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) defends during the third period at PPG Paints Arena

‘Important’ 4 Nations Face-Off Can Be NHL’s All-Star Antidote

“The stars have been lobbying the league for an event like this.”
Brady and Mahomes
February 8, 2025

Chiefs Fatigue Is Real. It’s Nowhere Near Patriots Hate Yet

People who have covered both teams say the difference is stark.
Nov 24, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) celebrates with running back Saquon Barkley (26) after the Eagles defeat the Los Angeles Rams during the first half at SoFi Stadium.
February 7, 2025

How the Eagles Reinvented Championship Roster Construction

Philadelphia is one of the most innovative franchises in the NFL.
February 3, 2025

‘Ultimate Throwback’: The Unimpeachable Cool of Hartford Whalers Gear

Nostalgia and street cred have driven a consistent frenzy for merch.

YouTube Golf Goes Pro: Peoples League Joins Creator Competition Boom

A new league is launching for golf content creators.
February 9, 2025

New Orleans Native Lil Wayne Skipping Super Bowl After Kendrick Lamar Scuffle

His disappointment turned into an ad campaign, but he still isn’t attending.
Oct 13, 2024; London, United Kingdom; The 2024 NFL London Games, New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars and Chicago Bears logo on the facade at an NFL International Series game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
February 10, 2025

Do NFL Players Want an International Super Bowl?

Players told Front Office Sports where it should be held.
Sponsored

How UBS Crafts Impactful Partnerships Across Sports, Arts, and Culture

As UBS continues to expand its impressive array of sports and entertainment partnerships, the company solidifies its position as a leader in wealth management.
February 9, 2025

Pricey Contracts, Stadium Talks Will Heat Up NFL Offseason

The 49ers and Vikings have big decisions to make about QBs who will be expensive.
February 9, 2025

LIV Golf Players Can Still Wear Shorts—If It’s Hot Enough

Pants will only be required in certain temperatures, FOS has learned.
February 7, 2025

NWSL Commish: Our Teams Can Be ‘As Valuable As an NFL Team’

Jessica Berman called her clubs an “undervalued asset class.”
Feb 6, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Recording artist Kendrick Lamar poses for a photo during a press conference for the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at Media Center
February 7, 2025

Kendrick Lamar’s High-Risk, High-Reward Super Bowl Halftime Show

The performance is a boon for the league—but not without complications.