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NFL Week 18 contract incentives: Mike Evans earns $3 million bonus on final play of season

Geno Smith cashes $6M, Baker Mayfield collects $2.5M

liz roscher
Staff writer
·4 min read

A number of big names were playing for big contract incentives in Week 18. Here's who hit their numbers.

All information via Spotrac and ESPN.

Evans earned a $3 million bonus in dramatic fashion, crossing the 1,000-yard receiving yardage mark on the final play of the season. The 9-yard catch in a win over the New Orleans Saints triggered a massive celebration by Evans and teammates.

In addition to the $3M, he also cashed $666,666 by finishing top-10 in the NFL in receiving touchdowns, with 11.

Smith cashed $6 million in total bonuses in Sunday's win over the Los Angeles Rams by reaching a career high in passing yards, completion percentage and helping Seattle to 10 wins. Not bad for a day's work.

Mayfield picked up an extra $2.5 million by finishing top 10 in the league or top five in the NFC each of these five categories: passer rating, touchdown passes, passing yards, completion percentage and yards per pass attempt. Those stats were worth $500,000 each for Mayfield.

Miller recorded an early sack agains the Patriots, which brings him to six on the season and earns him a $1.5 million bonus.

Sutton received $500,000 bonuses for reaching 500 and 750 yards receiving, then added an additional $500,000 by eclipsing 1,065 yards on the season during Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Hollins caught two passes early against the Patriots and hit 30 catches on the season, earning a $50,000 bonus.

That's right, punter incentives! Martin needed one more punt downed inside the 20, and he got it. Payout: $100,000.

Henry entered Saturday having already earned plenty of money. He had incentives of $500,000 each when he hit 1,200 and 1,500 rush yards, which he's already banked with 1,783 rushing yards. His 14 touchdowns mean he's also earned another $500,000 for scoring 13 TDs, but then he scored two more to earn yet another $500,000 for 15 TDs. And if he and the Ravens win the Super Bowl, Henry gets another $500,000.

He hit the 12.5-sack mark with his takedown of Cleveland's Dorian Thompson-Robinson, triggering a $250,000 incentive. He celebrated the windfall like most of us would.

Gesicki needed 3 receiving yards to reach 600 on the season, which would trigger a $125,000 incentive. He got it on Joe Burrow's first completion of the game Saturday vs. the Steelers, a 12-yard reception.

There are a few more incentives left for Barkley to get, but those aren't based on his play in Week 18. With 2,283 yards from scrimmage, Barkley has already banked $500,000 in incentives for surpassing both 1,500 and 2,000 yards from scrimmage.

The rest of his contract incentives are about awards and playoff wins. He picked up $250,000 Thursday for being named to the Pro Bowl. He gets $500,000 if he's a first-team All-Pro. He also gets $250,000 if the Eagles win the conference championship, and another $250,000 if they win the Super Bowl.

Ertz was set to earn $250,000 each for catching 60-plus passes, tallying 600-plus receiving yards, and scoring six touchdowns. Coming into Sunday, Ertz needed five catches, 62 yards, and two touchdowns to hit those incentives. And thanks to one heck of a game against the Atlanta Falcons, Ertz did it. In total, including overtime (which the Commanders won), Ertz caught six passes for 72 yards and two touchdowns, earning all three incentives and $750,000 total. But he wouldn't have done it without overtime, during which Ertz snagged three passes for 16 yards and a touchdown.