“Up to” remains a commonly used phrase in NFL discussions. When the Jets signed wide receiver Mike Williams, his one-year contract was said to be valued at a maximum of $15 million. However, the actual base value is typically lower.
Williams is guaranteed $8.3 million, with an additional $1.7 million potentially earned through per-game active roster bonuses. This means he gets an extra $100,000 for each game he plays.
The contract also includes $5 million in incentives, but the specific conditions to trigger these bonuses have not been disclosed yet. Williams was recently released by the Chargers. He was set to earn $20 million in 2024, the final year of his previous contract.
Considering Williams suffered a torn ACL in September, this deal seems reasonable. The big question is how well he’ll perform a year after his injury. Previously, the Jets guaranteed $10 million to wide receiver Allen Lazard for 2024. Their top receiver, Garrett Wilson, is expected to earn around $2.5 million in the third year of his rookie contract.
Assuming Williams is healthy, he’s likely to be the second-best receiver on the team. Lazard, who had a disappointing season in 2023, could improve, especially if quarterback Aaron Rodgers plays more games this year.
For the Jets, these are two veterans brought in on relatively modest contracts with significant incentives. Earlier, they signed tackle Tyron Smith to a one-year contract with $6.5 million guaranteed and a chance to earn $13.5 million in incentives.
