Aaron Rodgers' $10M Promise? More Like a $19.5M Reality Check!

Aaron Rodgers' Steelers Deal: Unpacking the $19.5 Million Agreement

The dust has settled, and the numbers are in! After much speculation, the financial details of Aaron Rodgers' one-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers have been revealed. And as many suspected, it's far more complex than just the $10 million figure that was initially floated.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Rodgers' deal is structured as a one-year agreement with a maximum value of $19.5 million. This headline figure, however, requires a deeper dive to truly understand the quarterback's compensation structure.

Let's break down the key components of the deal:

• Base Salary: $13.65 million
• Guaranteed Money: $10 million
• Incentives: Up to $5.85 million

Rodgers initially alluded to playing for just $10 million, leading to some confusion. While $10 million is guaranteed, the reality is far more nuanced. He's slated to earn a base salary of $13.65 million, with the potential to reach $19.5 million through incentives.

The structure effectively guarantees the full base amount. Under the current NFL labor agreement, any non-guaranteed salary becomes fully guaranteed by Week 1 of the season. Therefore, the only scenario in which Rodgers would only receive $10 million is if he were released before the start of the regular season – a highly improbable event.

The remaining $5.85 million is tied to playtime and team performance incentives. While the specific details of these incentives are not yet publicly available, they will likely be linked to metrics such as:

• Games played
• Passer rating
• Touchdown-to-interception ratio
• Team wins
• Playoff success

Despite the potential to earn $19.5 million, this contract structure positions Rodgers as the second-lowest paid starting quarterback on a non-rookie deal. Only Russell Wilson of the Denver Broncos is currently slated to earn less.

Of course, Wilson's compensation could surpass Rodgers' if he achieves all of his incentives, which reportedly include the Broncos achieving a perfect 17-0 regular season record. A feat that is highly unlikely.

The Steelers, on the other hand, likely have more attainable goals in place for Rodgers to reach his maximum compensation.

While the initial $10 million figure may have grabbed headlines, the full $19.5 million deal represents a significant investment by the Steelers in a quarterback of Rodgers' caliber. This carefully structured contract provides both security for Rodgers and performance-based incentives that align with the team's goals for the upcoming season. It will be fascinating to watch how Rodgers performs and whether he can unlock the full potential of this agreement.

Tags: Aaron Rodgers, NFL, Quarterback, Football, Contract, Salary, Sports, $19.5 million, Green Bay Packers, NFL deal

Source: https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/aaron-rodgerss-one-year-deal-is-worth-up-to-19-5-million