Now that the 2019 NFL Draft has passed, we are able to revisit the Buffalo Bills’ latest free agency signee, running back T.J. Yeldon, and see just what adding him has cost the team. According to Mike Rodak of ESPN, the former second-round pick from Jacksonville has received a two-year contract worth $3.2 million.
Yeldon has already been paid a $500,000 signing bonus, which is the only guaranteed money in the contract. He’ll draw a $1 million salary this year and $1.4 million in 2020, receive a $150,000 roster bonus in 2020, and earn a $50,000 and $100,000 workout bonus in the next two seasons, respectively.
While a mere $500,000 in potential dead money does not make Yeldon a lock for the roster, it also indicates he was not signed as a long-shot to make the team. $1.55 million is a pretty steep price tag for what was presumed to be the third running back behind LeSean McCoy and Frank Gore, and now new third-round pick Devin Singletary could push Yeldon even further down the depth chart. It will be interesting to watch how the running-back room plays out this summer.
Here are the yearly breakdowns:
2019
Signing Bonus: $250,000
Workout Bonus: $50,000
Salary: $1 million
2019 Cap hit: $1.3 million
Dead money if released before 2019 season: $550,000 if released after workout bonus
2020
Signing Bonus: $250,000
Roster Bonus: $150,000
Workout Bonus: $100,000
Salary: $1.4 million
2020 Cap hit: $1.9 million
Dead money: $250,000 if released before roster bonus and workout bonus is paid. It rises to $500,000 after those bonuses.