The contract details for the Buffalo Bills’ third new lineman have come out, courtesy of ESPN’s Mike Rodak. While not as hefty as our previous starting guard John Miller’s new $5.5 million/year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals, Jon Feliciano’s two-year, $8.3 million contract makes him a strong contender to be in the starting lineup come September.
In addition to a $1.5 million signing bonus, Feliciano gets a fully guaranteed $2.4 million salary and $100,000 workout bonus in 2019. 2020 has the same $2.4 million salary (but it’s not guaranteed), a $250,000 roster bonus, and $100,000 workout bonus.
Both years also include a $15,625 per-game-active roster bonus, and $400,000 in unspecified playing-time incentives. There is also a $250,000 escalator in the 2020 salary, based on 2019 playing time.
While the contract totals imply starter-level money, the inclusion of playing-time incentives each year indicates the team may not be completely confident of that happening just yet.
2019
Pro-rated portion of signing bonus: $750,000
Workout bonus: $100,000
Salary: $2.4 million (Guaranteed)
Per-game 46-man roster bonus: $15,625 per game up to $250,000 ($203,125 is LTBE)
Incentives: $400,000 based on playing time
2019 Salary-Cap Number: $3,453,125
Additional potential earnings: $446,875
Dead money if released: $3.9 million
2019 cash: $4 million up to $4.65 million
2020
Pro-rated portion of signing bonus: $750,000
Roster bonus: $250,000
Workout bonus: $100,000
Base salary: $2.4 million
Per-game 46-man roster bonus: $15,625 per game up to $250,000
Incentives: $400,000 based on playing time.
Salary Escalator: $250,000 based on 2019 playing time
2020 Salary-Cap Number: $3,500,000*
Additional potential earnings: $900,000
Dead money if released: $750,000 before roster bonus, $1 million after
2020 cash: $2.75 million up to $3.65 million
*Note: Playing time incentives are unspecified, so they are assumed to be “unlikely to be earned” for now. 2020 salary cap number and dead money number will increase by any “unlikely to be earned” bonuses that are earned the previous year. What is considered to be “likely” and “unlikely” will also change based on the previous year’s results.