Each spring, the NFL awards several players a bonus from their Performance-Based Pay program, which is a “collectively bargained benefit that compensates all players based upon their playing time and salary levels.”
This year, players will receive over $452 million in Performance-Based Pay for their play during the 2024 season, led by New York Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood with an additional $1,092,206. Four other players cashed in with over a million dollars, and they are cornerback Jaylon Jones of the Indianapolis Colts ($1,060,961), corner Michael Jackson of the Carolina Panthers ($1,035,260), offensive tackle Daniel Faalele of the Minnesota Vikings ($1,020,871), and the Chicago Bears’ Matt Pryor ($1,020,303).
The Bears signed Pryor to a one-year, $1,175,000 contract last year to be a reserve offensive lineman, and he ended up playing in all 17 games with 15 starts, mostly at right guard.
As a free agent and a player with guard/tackle flexibility, Pryor’s play in 2024 will no doubt earn him a better contract somewhere in 2025.
Would you like to see the Bears bring Pryor back, or do you think he’s looking for a clearer path to starting somewhere?