The NFL announced its approval to have a 17th regular-season game added to the schedule as soon as the 2021 campaign. Of course, the decision to extend the season came with a few stipulations for both sides.
Since the owners wasted no time making a 17-game season come to fruition, the Player’s Association ensured that they would be compensated for the added risk. Aside from already shortening the preseason to three games, the collective bargaining agreement included signing bonuses for certain layers throughout the league.
Those signed with a team before February 26 of 2021, are slated to receive an extra game check. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is among those that will be making an additional $1 million this season.
Other players in line to earn at least an extra $1 million in 2021 — an extra 1/17th of large base salaries on their original contracts — include Jimmy Garoppolo, Matt Ryan, Aaron Donald, Derek Carr, Russell Wilson, Frank Clark, Von Miller, Khalil Mack and DeMarcus Lawrence.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 31, 2021
Carr has a $19 million base salary for the 2021 season stemming from the five-year, $125 million contract extension he signed back in 2017. Even though he will be making more than $20 million by year’s end, the bonus will not be counted against the salary cap.
There had been plenty of speculation regarding Carr’s uncertain future in Las Vegas as they reportedly explored all their options under center to begin the offseason. The front office has since committed to him for the foreseeable future while also restructuring backup quarterback Marcus Mariota’s deal to free up some much-needed cap space.
The biggest splash the Raiders made in free agency was signing defensive end Yannick Ngakoue to a two-year, $26 million contract. While his $13 million base salary is the second-highest behind Carr, they are not obligated to shelve out the extra $1 million since he was signed after the February 26 deadline.
Expectations remain as high as ever in Las Vegas, and Carr has fully embraced his role in getting back to the playoffs. Either way, the added paycheck at the end of the year already provides an added silver lining.
