When pass rusher Chase Young finalized his deal with the Saints, it was accompanied by tweets asserting that he would receive $13 million fully guaranteed.
While technically accurate, a significant caveat was previously undisclosed. Out of that total, $7.99 million is contingent upon per-game roster bonuses.
According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, Young’s contract includes a signing bonus of $1.86 million, a base salary of $2.7 million, a guaranteed workout bonus of $450,000, and per-game roster bonuses of $470,000 for each game.
Although these per-game roster bonuses are guaranteed, Young must still meet the qualifications to receive them. Should he be released, he would still receive the payments. However, to obtain each payment, he must be included on the active game-day roster.
This structure serves as a safeguard for the Saints against the possibility of Young not being available to play.
This contractual mechanism aligns with reports of Young undergoing neck surgery. If he is deemed fit and ready to play, he will earn $470,000 for each game in which he participates.
While he is assured of $4.56 million, the remainder, while guaranteed, is contingent on his performance. It remains to be seen, game by game, whether he will earn it.
Young, the NFL’s defensive rookie of the year in 2020, faced a setback in his career due to a torn ACL during the 2021 season. Last season, the 49ers acquired Young via a trade involving a third-round pick.
