Tom Brady Expected To Get Incentive-Based ‘Adjustments’ To Contract With Patriots
Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are expected to make “adjustments” to his contract for the 2018 season, according to ESPN’s Patriots expected to make adjustments to Tom Brady’s contract, per source. Brady is scheduled to make $15 million - a bargain - and they will be adding a variety of performance-based incentives to bring him to closer to market - like what Pats did last year with TE Rob Gronkowski Patriots and Tom Brady expected to officially add those performance-based incentives to his contract in the next 24 hours, per source. But Brady will have chance to bring his contract more in line with other QBs.
Brady is set to earn $15 million this season – $14 million base salary, plus $1 million in roster bonuses. But according to Schefter, his contract adjustment will reportedly include “performance-based incentives” that would “bring him closer to market” with other top-earning quarterbacks. It would be a similar adjustment to what Rob Gronkowski got in 2017.
In order to earn the highest base salary in the NFL in 2018, Brady’s incentives would have to total $8.5 million to surpass the $22.5 million base salary for the Minnesota Vikings’ Kirk Cousins. He’d have to have a chance to earn another $15 million in order to match the $30 million AAV for the Atlanta Falcons’ Matt Ryan.
He’d only need to earn another $12.6 million in order to inch past the $27.5 million AAV for his former backup, now-49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo.
Now, the attention (in terms of contracts) turns to Gronkowski, who got similar adjustments to his deal last season. It’ll be interesting to see exactly how much Brady can earn, and what he has to accomplish to get there.
UPDATE: Compensation update: Patriots are adding up to $5 million in performance-based incentives to Tom Brady’s contract, per source. The #Patriots are adding $5M in incentives to the 2018 contract of QB Tom Brady, source said. He’s on the books for $15M this season, so he could make $20M in all... or still a bargain.
If Brady earns the full $20 million, it would tie him with Blake Bortles and Sam Bradford as the 10th-highest-paid QB in the league.
Despite the potential pay-bump, it likely won’t lead to Brady taking the field in the preseason opener. According to multiple reports, he’s unlikely to play against the Redskins.
— By Matt Dolloff, 985TheSportsHub.com
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff or email him at matthew.dolloff@bbgi.com.
