Austin Jackson struggled to find a place on the Dolphins offensive line during his first three seasons in the NFL. Jackson, the 18th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, struggled playing left tackle, his college position, as a rookie. Moving Jackson to left guard in 2021 was a failed experiment. The plan in 2022 was to see if Jackson would fare better at right tackle, but an ankle injury limited him to two games.
It was a no-brainer for the Dolphins to decline a fifth-year option on Jackson in 2024 for a fully guaranteed $14.175 million based on his first three seasons in the NFL. More of the same was likely going to have Jackson looking to be a swing tackle in 2024 free agency. A healthy Jackson, providing stability at right tackle this season, led the Dolphins to sign him to a three-year, $36 million contract extension, averaging $12 million per year with $20 million dollars in guarantees, at the beginning of December.
As Jackson can attest, fortunes can be made through performance during a contract year. As the NFL regular season comes to a close, here are several players who made good use of their contract year. A key contract benchmark and the probability of hitting that financial goal ranging from one dollar sign to four dollar signs are listed for each player.
- Financial benchmark: Geno Smith ($25 million average/$40 million in guarantees/3 years worth up to $105 million with incentives and/or salary increases)
- Probability: $$$
The Buccaneers were not expected to be in contention for a fourth straight playoff berth, with Mayfield replacing the retired Tom Brady at quarterback. Beating the Panthers in the regular season finale will give the Buccaneers a third straight NFC South title and a 9-8 record.
Mayfield signed a one-year, fully guaranteed $4 million contract, worth up to $8.5 million through incentives, with the Buccaneers in March following a 2022 campaign in which his Poor play prompted the Panthers to fire head coach Matt Rhule after a 1–4 start. The Panthers released the 2018 first overall pick several weeks later.
Mayfield is enjoying a career resurgence with the Buccaneers. He completed 64.4% of his passes for 3,907 yards with 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions to post a passer rating of 95.9. Mayfield has career highs in passing yards, touchdowns and completion percentage. There would be mutual interest in Mayfield remaining with the Buccaneers beyond this season.
- Financial benchmark: TJ Watt ($28,002,750 average/$80 million guaranteed/4 years)
- Probability: $$
Allen is playing with a $10.892 million fifth-year option this season because the Jaguars did not make an effort to extend his contract this offseason. He responded with a franchise-record 16.5 sacks, which ranks third in the NFL. His 93 quarterback pressures (combined sacks, quarterback hurries and quarterback hits) are sixth in the league, according to Pro Football Focus.
Allen’s minimum salary is expected to be the four-year, $98 million extension, averaging $24 million per year, that Montez Sweat signed with the Bears in November. Sweat’s deal features $72,865,360 in guarantees, of which $41,965,360 was fully guaranteed at signing.
A franchise tag appears likely if a long-term deal is not reached before the 15-day designation period ends on March 5. The 2024 linebacker number rises to $22.794 million if the salary cap is set at $242.5 million.
- Financial benchmark: Jeffery Simmons ($23.5 million average/$65.8 million guaranteed/4 years)
- Probability: $$
Madubuike has been the most consistent interior defensive lineman in the NFL this season. He leads interior defensive linemen with 13 sacks. Madubuike’s 13 sacks in 16 games are 4.5 more than Madubuike’s 42 career games in his previous three NFL seasons. Madubuike tied an NFL record with at least a half-sack in 11 consecutive games in a Week 15 matchup against the Jaguars.
The Ravens putting a franchise tag on Madubuike is a possibility. The defensive tackle position is expected to represent 8.654% of the 2024 salary cap. The projected cost to designate Madubuike as a franchise player is expected to be $20.986 million with a salary cap hit of $242.5 million.
- Financial benchmark: Trevon Diggs ($19.4 million average/$42.304 million in guarantees/5 years)
- Probability: $$$
Johnson has put himself in the cornerback conversation this season. Opposing quarterbacks are completing just 46.3 percent of passes (25 of 54 attempts) for a passer rating of 31.0 when targeting Johnson, according to PFF. He also has a career-high four interceptions.
Johnson didn’t let football become a distraction. The two sides were not on the same page for a contract extension when the Bears granted Johnson’s camp permission to trade him to other teams shortly before the late October trade deadline. The Bears are reportedly looking for a late first-round pick or an early second-round pick in a trade. Johnson recently expressed a desire to remain in Chicago.
The Bears quickly reached a deal with defensive end Montez Sweat, shortly after acquiring him at the trade deadline, opened the franchise tag for Johnson. The cornerback’s franchise tag stands at $18.802 million with a salary cap hit of $242.5 million for 2024.
- Financial benchmark: Ben Powers ($13 million average/$28.5 million in guarantees/4 years)
- Probability: $$$
One team’s trash is another team’s treasure. Dotson was on the chopping block when he was dealt to the Rams as the late August roster cut approached due to the Steelers signing offensive guards Isaac Seumalo and Nate Herbig as free agents in March. The Rams gave up a 2024 fourth-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick in exchange for Dotson, a 2024 fifth-round pick and a 2025 sixth-round pick.
Dotson reworked his contract as part of the trade. Projected to make $2.743 million unguaranteed this season, Dotson reduced his salary to $2.25 million fully guaranteed. An additional $1 million can be earned through incentives.
Dotson was brought in to provide depth to the Rams’ offensive line after taking all 1,160 of Pittsburgh’s offensive snaps last season at left guard. He has thrived at right guard since being inserted into the starting lineup four games into the season. Pass protection is generally Dotson’s strength. His run blocking has improved a lot this season. Dotson was an expected penalty in 2022. He was flagged 12 times and 11 of the infractions were accepted. Dotson has only been penalized twice this season.
- Financial benchmark: Emmanuel Ogbah ($16.35 million average/$36 million guaranteed/4 years)
- Probability: $$$
Greenard bounced back from an injury-plagued 2022 season, in which he had 1.5 sacks in eight games. He has 12.5 sacks in 14 games to rank tied for 10th in the NFL. In Greenard’s first three seasons in the NFL (2020-2022), he had 10.5 total sacks.
Greenard joined JJ Watt and Mario Williams as the third player in Texas franchise history to have at least 12.5 sacks in a season. With edge rushers Josh Allen (Jaguars) and Brian Burns (Panthers) expected to receive franchise tags, Greenard could benefit from their absence in free agency.