The Green Bay Packers aren’t paying much to see if veteran Sammy Watkins can help stabilize the team’s wide receiver position in 2022.
According to Over the Cap, Watkins’ one-year deal with the Packers includes only $350,000 guaranteed – all in the form of a signing bonus – and will count just under $1.8 million on the team’s salary cap.
Because of the Top 51 rule during the offseason, Watkins’ immediate effect on the Packers’ salary cap amounts to under $1 million.
His base salary is $1,120,000. He can earn a $50,000 workout bonus for participation during the offseason workout program and $330,000 total in per-game roster bonuses.
The Packers heavily incentivized the deal based on playing time and performance, giving Watkins – who caught only 27 passes for 394 yards and a touchdown last season – a chance to double his total salary.
Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette obtained the incentives structure. Watkins can maximize his salary and approach $4 million in 2022 by hitting 65 percent of the team’s offensive snaps, catching 70 passes, going over 700 receiving yards and catching nine touchdown passes.
Sammy Watkins’ deal is worth up to $4M based on incentives for playtime, catches, yards and TDs.
Playtime:
55% = $150K
60% = $350K
65% = $525KCatches:
50 = $150K
60 = $350K
70 = $525KYards:
550 = $150K
650 = $350K
700 = $525KTDs
7 = $150K
8 = $350K
9 = $575K— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) April 19, 2022
The structuring of the deal suggests Watkins isn’t even guaranteed a roster spot come Week 1. He will have to prove capable within the offense and avoid injury during training camp to be in Green Bay to open 2022. The Packers can move on with a dead cap hit of just $350,000.
The deal could work out well for both sides. The Packers are getting a veteran receiver for cheap, while Watkins now has a chance to make more money if he has a strong first season with Aaron Rodgers.