How the Bears kept Eddie Jackson’s 2020 salary-cap number low in giving him a new 5-year, $60.55 million contract

a man wearing a white shirt: Bears safety Eddie Jackson after practice on May 22, 2019, at Halas Hall.

The Bears were able to sign free safety Eddie Jackson to a lucrative contract extension without a big cap number in 2020 when the team will be tight against the salary cap unless a new collective bargaining agreement can be reached between the NFL and the NFL Players Association.

Jackson agreed to an impressive four-year, $58.4 million extension Friday, four days after players from the 2017 draft class were first eligible to receive new deals, and signed the contract Saturday.

Bears safety Eddie Jackson walks off the field after a loss to the Raiders on Oct. 6, 2019, in London.

The two-time Pro Bowl performer received a $12 million signing bonus, and while he will earn $13.15 million this year, his salary-cap number for 2020 is only $3,716,452, according to documents provided by an NFL source. That's significant with the Bears projected to be snug against the salary cap, which the NFL has estimated will be about $200 million in the event a new CBA is not reached.

a group of people watching a football ball: Bears safety Eddie Jackson misses a tackle on Rams receiver Mike Thomas in the second quarter on Nov. 17, 2019, in Los Angeles.

The current collective bargaining agreement is set to expire at the end of the 2020 season. A new agreement, if reached before the start of the new league year March 18, could significantly raise the cap for the 2020 season.

The average salary of the four-year extension at $14.6 million is the highest in the NFL for the position. Folding in the fifth year of the contract, as Jackson was signed through 2020, the average of the $60.55 million deal is $12.11 million, which ranks fifth among safeties leaguewide behind Kevin Byard (14.1 million), Landon Collins ($14 million), Tyrann Mathieu ($14 million) and Earl Thomas ($13.75 million).

The contract is guaranteed for injury at $33 million and fully guaranteed at $22 million.

A breakdown of the deal:

2020

$12 million signing bonus

$1.05 million base salary

$100,000 workout bonus

Cash total $13.15 million

a group of football players on a field: Bears free safety Eddie Jackson celebrates a 20-13 win over the Lions on Nov. 10, 2019, at Soldier Field.

Cap figure $3,716,452

Notes: Fully guaranteed for injury. Guaranteed for skill/cap if on 90-man roster on Feb. 5. Includes $8 million NFL Honors escalator, which is unlikely to be earned in order to comply with the NFL's 30% rule (money from a renegotiation/extension can't increase more than 30% per year).

a group of baseball players standing on top of a field: Bears safety Eddie Jackson reacts after breaking up a pass intended for Broncos tight end Jeff Heuerman in the first quarter on Sept. 15, 2019, in Denver.

© Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune/TNS Bears safety Eddie Jackson reacts after breaking up a pass intended for Broncos tight end Jeff Heuerman in the first quarter on Sept. 15, 2019, in Denver.

2021

$8.95 million base salary

$100,000 workout bonus

a group of baseball players standing on top of a field: Broncos coach Vic Fangio chats with Bears safety Eddie Jackson on Sept. 15, 2019, in Denver.

Cash total $9.05 million

a football player holding a bat on a baseball field: Bears free safety Eddie Jackson defends as Eagles tight end Zach Ertz scores a touchdown in the second quarter on Nov. 3, 2019, in Philadelphia.

Cap figure $11.45 million

$a baseball player throwing a ball: Bears safety Eddie Jackson throws at the first pitch before the White Sox's game against the Royals on April 15, 2019,\u00a0at Guaranteed Rate Field.$ © Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune/TNS Bears safety Eddie Jackson throws at the first pitch before the White Sox's game against the Royals on April 15, 2019,\u00a0at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Notes: Fully guaranteed for injury. Guaranteed for skill/cap if on 90-man roster on Feb. 5, 2020. Includes $2 million NFL Honors escalator, which is unlikely to be earned in order to comply with the 30% rule.

a group of football players on a field: Bears safety Eddie Jackson, left, and teammate Ha Ha Clinton-Dix celebrate their victory over the Giants on Nov. 24, 2019, at Soldier Field.

2022

$11 million base salary

$100,000 workout bonus

Cash total $11.1 million

Cap figure $13.5 million

Note: Fully guaranteed for injury. Guaranteed for skill/cap if on 90-man roster on third day of 2022 league year.

2023

$13 million base salary

$100,000 workout bonus

Cash total $13.1 million

Cap figure $15.5 million

2024

$14.05 million base salary

$100,000 workout bonus

Cash total $14.15 million

Cap figure $16.55 million

———

Visit the Chicago Tribune at www.chicagotribune.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

How the Bears kept Eddie Jackson’s 2020 salary-cap number low in giving him a new 5-year, $60.55 million contract

0 Response to "How the Bears kept Eddie Jackson’s 2020 salary-cap number low in giving him a new 5-year, $60.55 million contract"

Post a Comment