Kendrick Bourne contract includes rare performance-related clause
The New England Patriots’ new Kendrick Bourne contract includes a rarely used stipulation based around the wide receiver’s statistical performance.
As first reported by the NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo on Wednesday, Bourne will have to reach a certain receiving milestone in order to get some of his “guaranteed” money. If he reaches 800 receiving yards in the 2024 season, $2.5 million of his 2025 money will become fully guaranteed. Think of it as a salary that becomes fully guaranteed on a certain date, except in the form of an incentive to hit a certain number.
MORE: Patriots re-sign WR Jalen Reagor
Bourne has 840 receiving yards in 24 games over the past two seasons combined, so he’s far from a guarantee to hit 800 in a single campaign. However, if Bourne can stay healthy, he’s capable of keeping an 800-yard pace. Even in a disastrous 2023, Bourne was on pace for 79 catches, 863 yards, and nine touchdowns, before a torn ACL cut his season short.
![The new Kendrick Bourne contract protects the Patriots against injury and a lack of production. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)](https://985thesportshub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/88/2023/10/GettyImages-1763488896-copy.jpg)
The new Kendrick Bourne contract protects the Patriots against injury and a lack of production. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Bourne’s new contract includes $5.5 million guaranteed independent of the extra clause. He gets a $4.2 million signing bonus and a fully guaranteed $1.3 million salary in 2024, as reported by ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
Here are the full details:
2024
$1.3 million base salary (guaranteed)
$850,000 roster bonus ($50k/game)
$150,000 workout bonus
$5.5 million max incentives
2025
$5.5 million base salary ($2.5M becomes guaranteed if he gets 800 receiving yards in 2024)
$850,000 roster bonus ($50k/game)
$150,000 workout bonus
$4 million max incentives
2026
$5.5 million base salary
$850,000 roster bonus ($50k/game)
$150,000 workout bonus
$4 million max incentives
Bourne is a small part of the Patriots’ big campaign to retain core players before they hit free agency. The team has also re-signed tight end Hunter Henry, tackle Michael Onwenu, wide receiver Jalen Reagor, and linebackers Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings.
![Oct. 1, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (84) catches a pass in warmups before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports](https://985thesportshub.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/88/2023/10/USATSI_21547469-copy.jpg)
Oct. 1, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne (84) catches a pass in warmups before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
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