The Buffalo Bills swapped expensive safeties this offseason, releasing Aaron Williams and signing Micah Hyde. Both contracts sit in the top 20 according to Spotrac, with Hyde’s deal being slightly less on average than Williams’.
Hyde’s contract (via the Houston Chronicle) was five years and just over $30 million including incentives built in. Just over $10 million of that contract is guaranteed money in the first year between the $8 million signing bonus and $2.3 million salary. He has yearly $500,000 roster bonuses, yearly $100,000 workout bonuses, and will earn $31,250 for every game he is active up to $500,000 per season.
2017
Salary: $2.3 million
Cap hit: $4.0 million
2018
Salary: $3.7 million
Roster bonus: $500,000
Workout bonus: $100,000
Per game active bonus: up to $500,000
Cap hit: $5.9 to $6.4 million based on games active
2019
Salary: $3.95 million
Roster bonus: $500,000
Workout bonus: $100,000
Per game active bonus: up to $500,000
Cap hit: $6.15 to $6.65 million based on games active
2020
Salary: $4 million
Roster bonus: $500,000
Workout bonus: $100,000
Per game active bonus: up to $500,000
Cap hit: $6.2 to $6.7 million based on games active
2021
Salary: $4.05 million
Roster bonus: $500,000
Workout bonus: $100,000
Per game active bonus: up to $500,000
Cap hit: $6.25 to $6.75 million based on games active
In addition to the regular payouts, Hyde can earn $400,000 every time he makes the Pro Bowl. That figure won’t count against the cap until it happens because it’s not considered a “likely to be earned” incentive.
Hyde’s annual yearly figure of $6.1 million is 17th in the NFL now that Williams and another former Bills safety, Jairus Byrd, have been released. It’s just ahead of former Bills safety Da’Norris Searcy’s number, too. Jordan Poyer is 36th with $3.25 million in annual compensation.