NFL’s Merit Pay Bonus Pool Cuts First-Ever Million-Dollar Check

The NFL released its list of players who received the most bonuses for performance-based pay on Wednesday, and for the first time a player is getting more than $1 million.

Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood led the way in PBP for this season with nearly $1.1 million in additional money. 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy came in 16th, a year after finishing 24th on the list.  The bonus checks do not go against a player’s salary cap hits. 

Sherwood is the second Jets player in as many seasons to lead NFL players in PBP money after offensive lineman John Simpson did so last year with almost $975,000 in additional money. 

For years, the NFL has had a little-known performance-based pay pool, which distributes bonuses to players based on playing time and their regular salary. Only the base salary and snap count matter; lower-paid players who play a lot benefit the most.

In Sherwood’s case, he was a fifth-round pick out of Auburn in 2021 and signed a four-year rookie contract for $3.8 million, with an average salary of $958,714. The bonus just about doubles Sherwood’s 2024 salary, which was $1.05 million. He played in 92.8% of the Jets plays on defense and more than 26% of the club’s special team plays.

Sherwood was one of five players to top $1 million in bonuses, with the others being Colts cornerback Jaylon Jones, Panthers cornerback Michael Jackson, Ravens tackle Daniel Faalele, and Bears offensive lineman Matt Pryor.

Jones was a seventh-round pick out of Texas A&M in 2023 and made $915,000 with the Colts for the 2024 season. His $1.06 million bonus topped his salary. In sixth was NFL interceptions leader Kerby Joseph, who had nine picks for the Lions at safety this season and was first-team All-Pro. Joseph was a third-round pick out of Illinois in 2022 and is still on his rookie contract. He added a $996,253 bonus to his $1.16 million in salary this past season. 

Purdy added $740,000 a year ago in PBP after leading the Niners to the Super Bowl, and $857,842 this season, roughly $130,000 short of his $985,000 salary for the 2024 season. Purdy is due for a massive extension that could pay him north of $50 million and the Niners have spent the week clearing cap space in preparation for it. 

The PBP system was established in 2002 as part of the league’s collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Association and has been renewed in three subsequent CBAs. Since its inception, the PBP system has paid out nearly $2.8 billion in player bonuses. The program started out with a pool of $15 million in bonuses and has grown to $452 million in 2024, up from $394 million in 2023. 

Sherwood’s chances of keeping his title of Mr. PBP are zero. On Sunday, the Jets rewarded him by re-signing him to a three-year contract worth $45 million, effectively making him ineligible for the bonus going forward.