Entering the final week of the season, the majority of eyes around the NFL will be on the playoff picture, but for some players, there are also financial incentives at stake. With just one more game to hit contractual bonuses, we may see teams feed their players the ball to hit a set number.
Let’s examine some of the more notable NFL player incentives that could be achieved in Week 18.
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of incentives for Week 18. Additionally, some teams who rest players in the final weeks will later agree to a contract restructure to ensure the players get their money even if they do not hit their incentive.
Each game in a season is worth, on average, a 5.9% snap share. Therefore, a player that plays 100% of the snaps in any given week could see their snap share increase by around 5-6%
Top NFL Player Incentives for Week 18
Baker Mayfield, QB, Buccaneers
Heading into Week 18, Baker Mayfield has already earned $1 million through playing time incentives for crossing barriers at 55%, 66%, 75%, and 85% play time for the season. However, that number could be a very small part of his overall incentives-based earnings after this week. Here are the remaining incentives still in Mayfield’s deal:
- Another $1 million for making the playoffs is tied to those playing time incentives.
- $300K for finishing top 10 (NFL) or top five (NFC) in each of the following categories:
- Passer rating: Currently ninth in NFL, fifth in NFC
- TD passes: Currently fourth in NFL, fourth in NFC
- Passing yards: Currently eighth in NFL, fifth in NFC
- Completion percentage: Currently 18th in NFL, 10th in NFC
- Yards per pass attempt: Currently ninth in NFL, sixth in NFC
Mayfield also has additional incentives in his contract in the coming weeks if the Buccaneers make the playoffs. He would earn an additional $250,000 per win through to the Super Bowl, with a potential total of $1 million in further incentives.
Jordan Love, QB, Packers – Escalators for 2024
Jordan Love does not have incentives in the traditional way in his deal, but he has several potential escalators in his deal which would increase the value of his contract in 2024. The maximum he can achieve with escalators is a $9 million increase.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
So far, Love has achieved a $500,000 escalator for reaching a 65% snap share. Reaching a 65% snap share has also unlocked some other escalators:
- $1 million for a Pro Bowl
- $500,000 bonus for reaching the playoffs
- $500,000 for one playoff win
- $1 million for a conference title win
- $1 million for a Super Bowl win
- $1 million for making playoffs or top 10 pass TDs/top 10 passer rating
- $500,000 top 10 passing TDs – currently third with 30
- $500,000 top 10 passer rating – currently 11th with 93.8
- $500,000 top 10 completion % – currently 21st with 63.1%
- $500,000 top 10 passing yards – currently 10th with 3,843
- A maximum of three of the following four:
- $500,000 top 16 passing TDs – currently third with 30
- $500,000 top 16 passer rating – currently 11th with 93.8
- $500,000 top 16 completion % – currently 21st with 63.1%
- $500,000 top 16 passing yards – currently 10th with 3,843
Geno Smith, QB, Seahawks – Escalators for 2024
Smith had the potential to earn as much as $15 million in escalators for next year’s contract. However, entering Week 18, only the playoff escalator below remains realistic.
- $2 million escalator for playing more than 80% of the snaps and making the playoffs
Alexander Mattison, RB, Vikings
- $250,000 bonus for 750 rushing yards – 659 currently
Austin Ekeler, RB, Chargers
- $100,000 bonus for 1,125 total yards – 1,010 currently
Ekeler has further incentives in his deal if he gets to 1,250 yards total (another $100,000) or if he scores 10 touchdowns ($150,000). He enters the week needing 240 yards and four touchdowns, so they are extremely unlikely but also on the verge of being possible.
Devin Singletary, RB, Texans
Singletary has already earned a $125,000 incentive for reaching a 50% snap share but could still hit the following markers as well in Week 18.
- $125,000 bonus for 1,000 combined yards – 835 currently
- $125,000 bonus for 55% offensive snaps – 54% currently
DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Titans
DeAndre Hopkins has several incentives in his deal with the Tennessee Titans. He already earned $250,000 for getting to 65 receptions and $250,000 each for surpassing 750, 850, and 950 receiving yards. Additionally, he received $250,000 at both four and six touchdowns, taking him to $1.5 million in total so far.
However, he still has more potential incentives he could hit in Week 18.
- $250,000 for 75 receptions – 68 currently
- $250,000 for 85 receptions
- $250,000 for 1,050 yards – 1,011 currently
- $250,000 for eight touchdowns – six currently
- $250,000 for 10 touchdowns
Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Ravens
Odell Beckham Jr. has also hit several incentives already, totaling $1 million. However, he could add to that in Week 18 in a few different ways.
- $250,000 for 40 receptions – 35 currently
- $250,000 for 50 receptions
- $250,000 for five touchdowns – three currently
- $250,000 for seven touchdowns
- $250,000 for 750 receiving yards – 565 currently
Tyler Higbee, TE, Rams
Tyler Higbee has already amassed $250,000 in incentives when passing 300 and 400 receiving yards. He has some more incentives that could be achieved this week, as well as some that already were.
- $125,000 for 500 receiving yards – 495 currently
- $125,000 for 600
- $100,000 for 600 receiving yards and the team makes the playoffs
There is another $400,000 that Higbee has achieved for playing more than 75% of the offensive snaps combined with the team improving on offense and making the playoffs.
Dalton Schultz, TE, Texans
- $250,000 for 60 receptions – currently
- $250,000 for 70 receptions
- $250,000 for 80 receptions
- $250,000 bonus for 700 receiving yards – 593 currently
- $250,000 for 71% offensive snaps – currently 73%
- $250,000 for 80% offensive snaps
- $250,000 for 90% offensive snaps
Mike Gesicki, TE, Patriots
- $350,000 for 46% of snaps – 49% currently
- $400,000 for 53%
- $300,000 for 40 receptions – 28 currently
Austin Hooper, TE, Raiders
- $125,000 for 51% playtime – 51% currently
Riley Reiff, OT, Patriots
Riley Reiff had multiple incentives in his deal based on playtime in 2023. He has safely cleared 70%, which has earned him $3.5 million so far, and there is the potential to round that off to $4 million.
- $500,000 for 80% playtime – 83% currently
Chris Jones, DT, Chiefs
Chris Jones has already earned $2 million in playing time incentives after topping both 35% and 50% of the defensive snaps. He enters Week 18 just half a sack away from earning another $1.25 million.
- $1.25 million bonus for 10 sacks – 9.5 currently
Jerry Tillery, DT, Raiders
- $175,000 for 45% of defensive snaps – 45% currently
Calais Campbell, DE, Falcons
Calais Campbell has banked $500,000 for passing five sacks but will be eyeing the potential of another $1 million in incentives this week.
- $500,000 bonus for eight sacks – 5.5 currently
- $500,000 bonus for 60% playtime – 63% currently
Charles Omenihu, DE, Chiefs
Charles Omenihu is in an intriguing position as he needs to play nearly all the snaps in Week 18 to get to 65% playing time. Not only would that bank him $1 million, but it would open up the opportunity to earn a further million
- $500,000 for 65% playtime – 60% currently
- $500,000 for 65% + team makes the playoffs
- $500,000 for 65% + team wins the AFC Championship
- $500,000 for 65% + team wins the Super Bowl
Clelin Ferrell, DE, 49ers
- $250,000 for 50% of snaps – 45% currently
- $100,000 for five sacks – currently 3.5
- $150,000 for seven sacks
A’Shawn Robinson, DE, Giants
- $333,333 for 45% of defensive snaps – 46% currently
- $333,333 for 50%
Jadaveon Clowney, LB, Ravens
Entering Week 18, Jadeveon Clowney has already banked a reported $1.5 million after reaching five sacks, seven sacks, and 50% of the defensive snaps.
- $750,000 bonus for nine sacks – 8.5 currently
- $500,000 bonus for 60% def. playtime – 57% currently
Lavonte David, LB, Buccaneers
Lavonte Davis has surpassed 65% of the playing time for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That now puts him in line to earn a $200,000 bonus if the Buccaneers finish top 10 in points allowed and opens up a potential $500,000 if they were to win the Super Bowl, with $125,000 for each round they progress through.
MORE: NFL Playoff Scenarios Following Betting Odds
- $200,000 if Bucs rank top 10 in points allowed – 11th currently
- $150,000 for five sacks – 4.5 currently
Bud Dupree, LB, Falcons
- $1 million for seven sacks – five currently
- $1 million for 70% of def. snaps – 63.8% current
Arden Key, LB, Titans
- $500,000 for eight sacks – six currently
- $250,000 for nine sacks
- $250,000 for 10 sacks
Denzel Perryman, LB, Texans
Denzel Perryman has already earned $600,000 in total for surpassing 60% and 70% playing time this season.
- $300,000 for 80% defensive snaps – 76% currently
Keisean Nixon, CB, Packers
- $250,000 for two interceptions – one currently
- $250,000 for three interceptions
- $250,000 for four interceptions
Jalen Mills, S, Patriots
- $600,000 for 42% of defensive snaps – 41% currently
Want to predict the rest of the 2023 season with our FREE NFL Playoff Predictor? Looking for the most up-to-date NFL standings? What about a breakdown of team depth charts or the NFL schedule? Pro Football Network has you covered with that and more!