NFL Players Cash In: Deal Incentives Hit in Final Week of Regular Season

The NFL regular season concluded with several star players reaching major contract incentive goals in Week 18.

While not quite the most lucrative, perhaps the most notable was Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans earning $3 million en route to his 11th consecutive season with at least 1,000 receiving yards, which ties a record held by Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice.

Evans needed five receptions and 85 yards against the Saints to reach his contract incentive (at least 70 receptions and 1,000 yards). The catches came easy—he finished with nine—but it took until the game’s final play to reach the needed yardage mark. 

After New Orleans turned the ball over on downs with 36 seconds remaining, Tampa Bay, leading 27–19, could have taken a knee to run out the clock and clinch the NFC South. Instead, the Bucs drew up a play for Evans, who caught a walk-off nine-yard reception to keep his 1,000-yard-season streak (he finished with 1,004) alive—and cash in, too.

The $3 million bonus for Evans comes by way of an escalator for his 2025 salary. Last offseason, Evans signed a two-year, $41 million extension with the Bucs. He has made more than $133 million in his 11-year career, according to Spotrac.

Can’t Pass This Up

Two quarterbacks for teams already eliminated from the playoffs showcased the opposing side of the wild world of NFL contract incentives.

Seahawks signal-caller Geno Smith, in the second season of a three-year, $75 million contract, added $6 million to his earnings in Week 18. Smith earned $2 million each for the following:

• Passing for at least 4,282 yards: Smith threw for 223 Sunday to finish with 4,320.
• Finishing the season with a completion percentage over 69.755%: Smith went 20–27 Sunday to finish at 70.4% on the season.
• Leading the Seahawks to at least 10 wins: Seattle beat the Rams, who rested key starters with the NFC West already clinched, to improve to 10–7.

Earlier in the afternoon, Cowboys backup quarterback Cooper Rush, who had been starting since Dak Prescott’s season-ending injury in Week 6, didn’t get a chance to add to his salary. 

Rush, in the second season of a two-year, $5 million contract, could have earned an additional $250,000 by playing more than 55% of offensive snaps for Dallas this season. After Week 17, he had played 52.5%, but the Cowboys chose to start third-string quarterback Trey Lance against the Commanders on Sunday. Cowboys owner and GM Jerry Jones told reporters he was unaware of the incentive. 

Rush did earn a separate $250,000 incentive for playing more than 45% of snaps.