Terry McLaurin and Chris Paul
Getty
Commanders' offensive lineman Chris Paul has earned a $1.2 million bonus from the NFL
Not much went right for the Washington Commanders in the 2025 campaign. After making it all the way to the NFC Championship Game in 2024, the Commanders missed the playoffs entirely last year, prompting an aggressive retooling early on this offseason. If all goes according to plan, Washington will return to the top of the league when it returns to action.
One of the silver linings for the Commanders was that they appear to have unearthed a diamond in the rough in offensive lineman Chris Paul. After surprisingly earning the team’s starting left guard job, Paul solidified himself as a key part of the team’s offense. Paul already earned a new contract this offseason, but he’s found some more money coming his way after he received a nice bonus from the NFL.
Chris Paul Earns $1.2 Million Bonus from the NFL
Brian McCarthy
NFL players will receive more than $542 million in Performance-Based Pay for their performance during the 2025 season. The Performance-Based Pay program is a collectively bargained benefit that compensates all players based upon their playing time and salary levels. Top 25 here
A seventh-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Paul spent most of his first three seasons in the pros working as a backup for the Commanders. He appeared in 17 games during that time, eight of which were starts, but after appearing in just six games in 2024, nobody could have predicted what Paul would accomplish in 2025.
Paul appeared in all 17 games for Washington, 15 of which were starts. By the end of the season, he was one of the most reliable players the team had on its offense. Considering how so many players on the Commanders were falling victim to the injury bug, Paul’s ability to stay on the field, while also playing at a high level, made him an invaluable piece of the team.
This offseason has already been a win for Paul, as he re-signed with Washington on a one-year contract after initially testing the open market. While the financial terms of that deal aren’t yet known, Paul will have some more money coming his way immediately, as he earned a $1.2 million bonus from the NFL as part of its performance-based payment program.
Chris Paul Set to Remain a Key Piece of Commanders’ Offensive Line
Terry McLaurin and Chris Paul
GettyCommanders’ offensive lineman Chris Paul has earned a $1.2 million bonus from the NFL
Many folks figured that Paul would be finding a new home in free agency this offseason, but instead, the Commanders managed to keep him around. That’s one less hole the front office will have to fill before the start of the upcoming campaign, and at just 27 years old, there’s reason to believe that Paul can continue to improve as he gets more and more reps under his belt.
While he may be teased a bit for having the same name as legendary NBA point guard Chris Paul, there’s no doubt that the Commanders’ Chris Paul is beginning to make a name for himself as a top-tier offensive lineman. His performance in 2025 earned him a significant bonus from the NFL, and if he can continue to play at the sort of level he was at last season, there’s reason to believe that a big-money contract extension could be coming Paul’s way in the near future.