Which NFL players have most bonus money at stake in final two weeks?
With the playoffs just two weeks away, some players around the NFL are playing for more than just a trip to the postseason.
In his recent column for SI.com, NFL analyst Albert Breer mentions many of the incentives and escalators players are on the cusp of reaching. Below are a few that stood out the most.
J.J. Watt, Arizona Cardinals
If Watt, who has 9.5 sacks this season, records half of a sack in one of Arizona’s final two games against Atlanta and San Francisco, he’ll earn a $1 million bonus for reaching 10 sacks. He has four sacks in his last four games, which includes a three-sack performance against Denver on Dec. 18. Watt has earned at least one sack every other week since Oct. 30 against the Minnesota Vikings. He recorded no sacks last week, so it would seem he’s due in Sunday’s matchup against the Falcons.
Justin Houston, Baltimore Ravens
Houston needs just one sack to earn a $1.5 million bonus for reaching the 10-sack plateau. It would mark just the second time in the last eight years he reached double-digit sacks.
Jordan Poyer, Buffalo Bills
Poyer’s contract pays him some impressive cash for taking the ball away from the opposition. He needs just two more interceptions to earn a $750,000 bonus for reaching six interceptions. Poyer will also pocket $250,000 for a pick-six or a fumble recovery, and $300,000 for two fumble recoveries. If the stars align, Poyer could theoretically earn an extra $1.3 million for causing the correct combination of turnovers.
Preston Smith, Green Bay Packers
Smith, who has 8.5 sacks, will earn $1 million if he reaches 10 sacks, another $1 million if he reaches 12 sacks and another $1 million if he reaches 14 sacks. The 30-year-old linebacker has five sacks in his last five games.
Christian Kirk, Jacksonville Jaguars
Kirk has a chance to pocket some serious cash with his performance-based incentives. He’s four receptions away from a $500,000 bonus for topping 80 receptions, and 14 receptions away from a $1 million bonus for hitting 90 receptions. He needs 12 yards for another $500,000 bonus for reaching 1,000 yards, and he could make as much as $1.5 million if he reaches 1,200 yards receiving.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kansas City Chiefs
Smith-Schuster is just 23 receiving yards away from a $1.5 million bonus for topping 900 receiving yards, which shouldn’t be a problem as the 26-year-old wideout has averaged 62.6 yards receiving per game this year.
Za’Darius Smith, Minnesota Vikings
Smith, who has 10 sacks, will collect a $1 million bonus if he reaches 12.5 sacks this season. He’s reached the 12.5-sack plateau only twice in his eight-year career — 2019 (13.5) and 2020 (12.5), both as a member of the Green Bay Packers.
Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
Samuel is 152 rushing yards shy of earning a $500,000 bonus for reaching 380 rushing yards this season. He’s already cashed in on a $150,000 bonus for scoring three rushing touchdowns. The most rushing yards Samuel has ever accumulated in a two-game span is 145 in Weeks 11 and 12 of last season.
Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
Smith needs just 114 passing yards over the next two weeks to get a $1 million bonus for reach 4,000 yards. The 32-year-old QB has had no fewer than 195 passing yards in any game this season.
More must-reads: