More incentives for Gronk
Like last season, TE can earn big bonuses
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Rob Gronkowski will receive a nice little pay bump this season, but only if he earns it.
Like Tom Brady, Gronkowski agreed to a restructured contract that is heavy on incentives, a source confirmed yesterday.
Gronkowski will earn $1.1 million for hitting 70 catches, an additional $1.1 million for nine or more touchdowns, another $1.1 million for 1,085 receiving yards, and $1.1 million for 80 percent playing time, according to a source.
ESPN first reported the news of Gronkowski’s new deal, which did not include an extension. He is signed through the 2019 season.
If Gronkowski achieves all of these incentives, he’ll take home $13.05 million this season. That would make him the highest-paid tight end in 2018, putting him slightly ahead of Jimmy Graham, who this past spring inked a three-year contract with Green Bay that included an $11 million signing bonus.
The restructured contract will not affect the Patriots’ current salary cap situation. These all fall under Not Likely To Be Earned (NLTBE) incentives because Gronkowski’s 2017 statistics were just shy of his benchmarks for 2018; he compiled 69 catches for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns while playing 73 percent of the snaps.
The Pats enter the weekend with $9.52 million in cap space, according to the public salary cap report.
If Gronkowski reaches some or all of his incentives, the Patriots’ salary cap number will be adjusted for the 2019 season to reflect the changes.
Pending his health, Gronkowski should have a decent shot to earn the bonus money. He essentially compiled last season’s statistics in 13 games. He sat out a Week 5 game at Tampa Bay with a quadriceps injury, served a suspension in Week 14 against the Dolphins, and played — but was not targeted — in the meaningless Week 17 matchup with the Jets.
After news broke of Odell Beckham Jr.’s massive contract extension with the Giants, Gronkowski was asked if he thought tight ends should be paid like receivers if they deliver similar production in the passing game.
“That would be pretty cool,” Gronkowski said.
He later added that he’s “always open” to reworking his contract.
“That’s not really my focus,” Gronkowski clarified. “I’ve got a long season ahead, and (I’m) just trying to focus on what I need to really do, and just let everything else play out.”
The latest adjustment doesn’t quite put Gronkowski in line with the most handsomely paid pass-catchers, as Sammy Watkins and Jarvis Landry are taking home north of $21 million in cash this season. But the new deal gets Gronkowski closer to wide receiver territory. If he reaches all his incentives, Gronkowski will earn more than A.J. Green, DeAndre Hopkins, Larry Fitzgerald and Keenan Allen in 2018, per figures from OverTheCap.com.
In addition to adjusting the contracts of Brady and Gronkowski, the Patriots reached an extension with guard Shaq Mason before the start of the regular season. The deal is worth up to $50 million, a source said, including $23.5 million guaranteed. It keeps Mason tied to New England through the 2023 season.
According to ESPN, the team restructured the contract of tight end Dwayne Allen yesterday. Allen’s cap number, which was $5 million, will reportedly be reduced.
So what’s left on the contract front before the regular season begins?
Defensive end Trey Flowers is likely the Pats’ top priority. Flowers, who has emerged as their best passrusher, is entering the final year of his rookie contract.
Wide receiver Chris Hogan is also in the last year of his deal. He has outperformed the three-year, $12 million deal he signed in the 2016 offseason. He led the league with 17.9 yards per reception two years ago.