DENVER — The excitement surrounding the end of the NFL regular season this past weekend highlighted various teams vying for key playoff positions and the coveted top draft pick. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver Broncos were contending for playoff spots, while the Tennessee Titans looked to secure the first overall choice in the upcoming NFL draft, possibly to select standout Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders or his impressive teammate, Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, during the event in Green Bay.
Additionally, the final week of the season brought attention to several players aiming to meet performance benchmarks that would trigger hefty contract bonuses. Among these, Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans had a significant goal. Needing five receptions that totaled 85 yards to earn an additional $3 million, he was understandably a focus for quarterback Baker Mayfield. So, instead of kneeling when they regained possession with just 36 seconds remaining in a 27-19 game against the Saints, Mayfield passed to Evans, who made a 9-yard catch on the final play, pushing his season’s total to 1,001 yards. This achievement extended Evans’ streak of over 1,000 yards in a season to 11 years, tying him with legendary player Jerry Rice for the most in NFL history, which was met with jubilant celebrations from his teammates.
In another matchup, Seattle quarterback Geno Smith was also in pursuit of a financial incentive, needing to throw for at least 185 yards against the Rams to collect a $2 million bonus. He successfully achieved this by passing for 223 yards and throwing four touchdown passes in a close 30-25 win. Meanwhile, in Buffalo, pass rusher Von Miller secured a $1.5 million bonus with his sixth sack of the year against Drake Maye.
Additionally, Baltimore running back Derrick Henry found success during the Ravens’ dominant 35-10 victory over the Browns, scoring two touchdowns in a critical final seven minutes, resulting in an extra $500,000 bonus for him. Similarly, Denver’s Courtland Sutton surpassed the receiving mark he needed, reaching 98 yards on five catches to earn a $500,000 bonus, contributing to the Broncos’ overwhelming 38-0 win against the Chiefs’ reserves.
Coach Sean Payton acknowledged the complexities of tracking these incentives post-game, noting that the yardage can often be more difficult to manage than catches. “It’s hard to keep track of yards; catches are easy. Sutton needed 82 yards,” he explained, exhibiting pride in his team’s performance. In the same game, Chiefs receiver DeAndre Hopkins was set to earn up to $1 million in bonuses contingent on his performance, but the coaching staff opted to rest him and other starters, prioritizing their health for the playoffs.
Among those who missed their bonuses, Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray had a solid game but fell short of running for the needed 50 yards and a touchdown, finishing with 22 yards and one touchdown in a 47-24 triumph over the 49ers. Commanders tight end Zach Ertz also did not reach his incentives, gathering only 44 receiving yards and one touchdown instead of the needed 90 yards and two TDs in a win over the Cowboys.
Payton reminisced about a past season when star receiver Emmanuel Sanders approached him requiring multiple catches for a bonus. Payton confidently reassured Sanders that he would achieve his goal early in the game, and indeed, Sanders ended up making enough catches to surpass the milestone. “But yards are different, some of those things are different, and I want all of them to realize all those things they earned,” he said.
For Sutton, beyond the financial incentives, there was an overwhelming sense of fulfillment in finally achieving his first playoff berth after seven seasons. “Through those dark times… you have to lean on faith. You have to understand that the picture is going to get bigger and better in the long haul,” Sutton shared, emphasizing the importance of perseverance through past challenges. In the end, the bonus felt secondary to the excitement of playoff participation.
