Dalvin Cook‘s contract with the Jets was reported as a $7MM pact with $8.6MM upside. We’ve now got specific details on the contract from Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com, and if Cook is hoping to cash in, he’ll need to stay active and productive.
[RELATED: Jets To Sign RB Dalvin Cook]
As Florio details, $5.92MM of Cook’s contract is tied to him not being on the reserve/suspended list, protecting the organization in case the running back faces NFL punishment stemming from a domestic violence lawsuit. As Florio plainly explains it, the Jets can save more than $400K for each game that Cook misses due to suspension.
Specifically, the $8.6MM upside includes $1.2MM in per-game bonuses (~$70K per game) and $4.72MM in 53-man roster bonuses (~$277K per week). That latter total is paid out as long as Cook is on the 53-man roster (regardless of whether he’s active or inactive), injured reserve, or the physical unable to perform list. That $4.72MM amount is also guaranteed if Cook is released by the organization, although the hypothetical guaranteed money would be void if the running back is suspended.
For what it’s worth, head coach Robert Saleh didn’t sound all that worried about a suspension for his new running back.
“No, we’re not concerned,” Saleh said (via ESPN’s Rich Cimini on Twitter). “We will see how all of that stuff goes, but at this moment we are not concerned.”
Cook doesn’t only have to remain on the roster in order to earn his maximum contract, as $1.6MM is tied to incentives. The RB can earn $400K for topping 1,250 yards from scrimmage and another $400K for eclipsing 1,500 yards from scrimmage. If Cook hits that 1,250-yard mark, he can earn an additional $205K for each playoff win. Total that all up (the $5.92MM in roster bonuses coupled with Cook’s guaranteed $1.08MM base salary), and that results in Cook’s $8.6MM deal.
So him and Zele are at around $3m plus incentives? Jacobs better sign his tag contract today.
Now that Cook is signed there is no one the Raiders can bring in to replace Jacobs. He can take his time to sign it, he knows the team is out of options 3 weeks before the start of the season. It would be nice if he was there practicing with the team but he already knows the offense and he doesn’t need the reps.
My point is Jacobs’ isn’t getting $10m next season. That’s been made abundantly clear to the RB’s this offseason.