It's the final stretch of the NFL regular season, and as teams prepare for the playoffs, players are focused on maximizing their earnings through contract incentives during Week 18. While many franchises may have little to play for, several big names find their careers hinge on personal achievements this Sunday.
Leading the charge is Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With just one game left to play, Evans is tantalizingly close to reaching contractual milestones. He needs to secure five catches and 85 yards against the New Orleans Saints to trigger a hefty $3 million bonus. This performance would also allow him to extend his streak of 1,000-yard receiving seasons, having achieved this remarkable feat throughout his career since joining the NFL. Having recorded impressive stats of eight catches, 97 yards, and two touchdowns last week, Evans is well-positioned to make it happen again.
Not far behind him on the incentive meter is Courtland Sutton from the Denver Broncos, who has two key incentives within reach. Sutton needs 82 receiving yards to earn himself $500,000 by eclipsing the 1,065-yard mark. He could also net $200,000 by racking up three touchdowns, but this may not be feasible depending on the team's decisions during the game’s second half. Sutton turned out six catches for 70 yards during his last battle with the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this season, and with the Chiefs potentially resting starters as they secure playoff positioning, Sutton might thrive against the weakened defense.
Geno Smith, the Seattle Seahawks quarterback, is also on the brink of earning big. He stands to collect $2 million if he surpasses his career highs for passing yards and touchdowns. Smith needs just 186 passing yards to set new records, along with winning at least one game to reach 10 victories this season—both considerable feats considering the momentum of the Seahawks against their opponents, the Rams.
Meanwhile, Baker Mayfield of the Buccaneers has his eyes on bonuses as well. He has several incentives tied to his performance metrics. If Mayfield finishes the season among the top 10 quarterbacks, he can earn $500,000 for each stat category he leads, which includes passer rating, touchdowns, passing yards, completion percentage, or yards per attempt, potentially racking up $5 million if he can win the Super Bowl.
Though locked out of the record books this week, Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles remains relevant as he sits out due to team strategy. The Eagles, already firm on their playoff berth, are opting to rest key players, which means Barkley will not have the chance to break Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards. Still, he already banked substantial income by securing over 2,000 total yards from scrimmage this season.
Other notable players keeping their eyes peeled on incentives include DeAndre Hopkins from the Kansas City Chiefs and Von Miller of the Buffalo Bills. Hopkins requires at least 65 receptions to earn $250,000 and needs another $250,000 for hitting 750 receiving yards. Conversely, Miller seeks to cash out $1.5 million with one more sack, which has Elusive for the seasoned player who finished last season without any, marking his first sackless year.
It is not just high-profile players affecting the final standings; across the league, numerous players will compete to achieve contractual milestones. Tony Pollard of the Tennessee Titans, within reach of $250,000 with 83 rushing yards and another $200,000 with two rushing touchdowns, hopes to pad his stats gained from injuries faced throughout the season.
The upcoming games present additional stakes for many complimentary players. With the season drawing to a close, NFL players are gearing up for the next significant moment—the playoffs. Yet many will be vigilant about their stats, knowing there are incentives waiting to be cashed regardless of their team’s fate. Outcomes will not only shape playoff positions but might also lead some to sizeable paychecks.