The Buffalo Bills committed to the interior of their offensive line this year, making center a priority in the opening hours of free agency. While it was rumored they had heavy interest in former Denver Broncos center Matt Paradis, they landed the other big catch: Kansas City Chiefs pivot Mitch Morse.
To land Morse, the Bills paid him the largest contract ever given to a center in the history of the NFL. With more than half of the contract guaranteed, guaranteed money reaching into the second year, and considerably more than half of the contract amount in the first two years, Buffalo is committing to Morse for multiple seasons. It’s a contract Morse will likely play out if he stays healthy, because the cheap years are in the back.
Morse received a signing bonus of $11 million plus a roster bonus in a few days of $3 million. His 2019 salary of $4.4 million is guaranteed as is $2 million of his 2020 salary. That adds up to $20.4 million in fully guaranteed money. There are considerable bonuses built in based on being active for game days and he has Pro Bowl incentives built in at $200,000 each season.
Here are the specifics via Spotrac:
2019
Pro-rated portion of signing bonus: $2.75 million
Roster bonus: $3 million (guaranteed)
Workout bonus: $100,000
Salary: $4.4 million (guaranteed)
Pre-game active roster bonuses: $62,500 per game, max value $1 million
Cap hit: $11.25 million
2020
Pro-rated portion of signing bonus: $2.75 million
Roster bonus: $1 million
Workout bonus: $100,000
Salary: $6.775 million ($2 million guaranteed)
Per-game roster bonuses: $62,500 per game, max value $1 million
Cap hit: $11.625 million
Dead cap hit: $10.25 million (if released before roster bonus)
Cap savings if cut: $1.375 million (if released before roster bonus)
2021
Pro-rated portion of signing bonus: $2.75 million
Workout bonus: $100,000
Salary: $7.025 million
Per-game roster bonuses: $31,250 per game, max value $500,000
Cap hit: $10.375 million
Dead cap hit: $5.5 million
Cap savings if cut: $4.875 million
2022
Pro-rated portion of signing bonus: $2.75 million
Roster bonus: $1 million
Workout bonus: $100,000
Salary: $6.9 million
Per-game roster bonuses: $31,250 per game, max value $500,000
Cap hit: $11.25 million
Dead cap hit: $2.75 million (if released before roster bonus)
Cap savings if cut: $8.5 million (if released before roster bonus)