A common saying among NFL agents suggests that if a player’s contract details aren’t disclosed within 24 hours of being announced, there likely isn’t much to boast about. This notion was revisited during a recent episode of #PFTPM while discussing Von Miller’s surprising decision to join the Washington Commanders. As more than two days passed with limited information available, skepticism began to grow over the strength and value of the contract.
Key Contract Details Missing, Including Guarantees and Performance-Based Bonus Triggers for Miller
Eventually, some financial details trickled in via Ian Rapoport of NFL Media. Miller’s one-year deal with the Commanders reportedly has a base value of $6.1 million, with the potential to reach $10.5 million through incentives. However, the information provided was minimal and left key components undisclosed, such as how much of that base salary is guaranteed or what exact triggers are tied to the performance-based bonuses.
Von Miller (NFL)A critical omission in the reported deal is the amount guaranteed. While a base salary often becomes guaranteed if the player makes the Week 1 roster, the absence of upfront guarantees could imply the Commanders retain flexibility to cut ties during training camp or preseason. Additionally, there’s no word on per-game roster bonuses, which are commonly used to manage injury risk or performance expectations for aging players.
Incentives Remain Unclear as Von Miller Accepts Drastic Pay Cut to Play
The $4.4 million incentive package remains vague, with no insight into what milestones Miller must hit to unlock those additional earnings. The lack of transparency makes it unclear whether these incentives are realistic or merely decorative figures meant to inflate the perceived value of the deal. This secrecy fuels further speculation about the Commanders’ confidence in Miller’s ability to contribute meaningfully in the upcoming season.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the contract details, one thing is clear: Von Miller has taken a significant pay cut to continue his career. Once earning an average of $20 million annually and slated to make $17.1 million with the Bills this year, Miller is now set to make just a fraction of that in Washington.
The full picture—particularly the guaranteed money—will ultimately reveal how much financial risk the Commanders are taking and how secure Miller’s place is on the final 53-man roster.
