The week 18 game is decisive for the Green Bay Packers season. After all, a win over the Chicago Bears secures them a playoff spot. But the game is also particularly important for three players for a specific reason: edge defender Preston Smith, cornerback Keisean Nixon, and quarterback Jordan Love can grab extra money by reaching incentives of their contracts.
Preston sacks
Edge defender Preston Smith extended his deal with the Packers last year. In 2023, he's making $10.6 million — even though the Packers structured his contract in a way to lower his cap hit, which is $6.372 million this year.
There are incentives for sacks - $1 million for reaching 10 sacks, and another for reaching 12. So far, he's had eight. Therefore, he needs two sacks against the Bears to reach the first incentive. In the unlikely case that he gets four, he would get an extra $2 million in this game.
Smith has 8.5 sacks in 2022, so these incentives are unlikely to be earned. That means it doesn't hit the cap this year, and if he reaches the mark, it hits the 2024 cap. The edge defender is slated to make $12.4 million in 2024, with a $16.507 million hit.
The veteran is under contract with the Packers through 2026.
Nixon interceptions
Keisean Nixon re-signed with the Packers for a one-year, $4 million contract, but had an extra $2 million available in incentives. Of those, $750k are related to interception numbers. It's $250k for each, up to $750k. So far, he's had only one, against the Kansas City Chiefs. So he can grab $500k more if he intercepts Justin Fields twice.
The Packers added void years into Nixon's contract to lower his cap hit, which is $2.77 million in 2023. If he isn't re-signed again next offseason, he'll leave behind $1.48 million plus the incentives he reaches in dead money.
Love is a bigger question
Jordan Love also has incentives thanks to the one-year extension he signed last season. And reaching the playoffs can trigger some of those. Check out the report by independent cap analyst Ken Ingalls:
This is a big moment of the season, both for collective and individual achievements. And the Packers-Bears week 18 rivalry game will be much more important than any Green Bay fan could expect before the season.
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