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Contract details of newly-acquired Buffalo Bills receiver Stefon Diggs

This contract sets up nicely for the Bills as it stands now

By Matt Warren

The Buffalo Bills shipped off their first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft as part of a package to acquire Stefon Diggs from the Minnesota Vikings. While it means Buffalo will miss out on the pay scale for a rookie receiver, they know they are getting someone who has performed at the NFL level and without a lot of financial risk.

The Vikings had to eat $9 million in dead cap space thanks to Diggs’s signing bonus from his contract. Buffalo won’t have any dead cap hanging over their head for a few days, at least. When they do have dead cap space, it’s only for the current season due to the guaranteed salary, which can be offset if he signs with another team.

The first thing that will happen for Buffalo is March 20th, when the entirety of Diggs’s 2020 salary is guaranteed to the tune of $10.9 million. He can also earn $100,000 in the offseason in a workout bonus and $500,000 during the season if he plays in all the games, bringing his total compensation to $11.4 million.

The structure stays in place for the final three years of the deal, but the salary bumps up to $11.4 million per year over the final three seasons.

There are $9 million worth of incentives built into the contract in the form of salary escalators:

  • 100 receptions in a season escalates the following year’s salary: in 2021 by $666,666, 2022 by $750,000, and 2023 by $800,000.
  • 1,375 receiving yards in a season escalates the following year’s salary: in 2021 by $666,666, 2022 salary by $750,000, and 2023 salary by $800,000

Of course this all assumes Diggs doesn’t want a new deal as part of the trade to Buffalo. We shall see.

2020
Workout bonus: $100,000
Salary: $10.9 million (fully guarantees 3/20/2020)
Per-game roster bonus: $500,000 ($31,250 per game) ($468,750 LTBE)

Cap hit: $11,468750

2021
Workout bonus: $100,000
Salary: $11.4 million ($3.3 million fully guarantees on the 3rd league day of 2021)
Per-game roster bonus: $500,000 ($31,250 per game)

Cap hit: $12 million
Dead cap: $0 if cut before 3rd day of league year, $3.3 million if cut after (will be offset if he signs new deal elsewhere)

2022
Workout bonus: $100,000
Salary: $11.4 million
Per-game roster bonus: $500,000 ($31,250 per game)

Cap hit: $12 million
Dead cap: $0

2023
Workout bonus: $100,000
Salary: $11.4 million
Per-game roster bonus: $500,000 ($31,250 per game)

Cap hit: $12 million
Dead cap: $0

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