The details for the new two-year contract for Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman J.J. Watt are out. We know the salary and signing bonus numbers and, therefore, the salary cap hit for the next two seasons.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport shared the details via social media.
Details on the 2-year deal for new #AZCardinals DE JJ Watt:
— $12M signing bonus
— $14.5M base value in Year 1
— $28M base over 2 years, max $31M
— $3M in incentives based on sacks
— 10 sacks in 2021 gets $1M in 2021 and a $1M escalator for 2022
— 10 sacks in 2022 gets $1M more— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 3, 2021
Watt gets a $12 million signing bonus. With a base value of $14.5 million in 2021, it means his salary for this coming season is $2.5 million. That would leave $13.5 million in salary in 2022.
He has $3 million tied to the number of sacks he has. If he has at least 10 sacks this season, he will earn a $1 million bonus and his 2022 salary will go up by $1 million. He can also earn $1 million extra if he also has at least 10 sacks in 2022.
Based on the initial report of $23 million in guaranteed money, it would appear his 2021 salary is guaranteed and $8.5 million of his 2022 salary is fully guaranteed or at least will be at a certain date.
What will his cap hit be?
If there are no voiding years after 2022, then it is straightforward.
His 2021 cap hit will be $8.5 million ($6 million signing bonus proration and $2.5 million salary) and could reach $9.5 million if he hits his bonus.
In 2022, his salary cap hit will be $19.5 million (or $20.5 million if he has 10 sacks this season).
If the Cardinals added a voiding year on the back end, which would spread the signing bonus proration out further, then his cap hit goes down to $6.5 million in 2021 and $17.5 million in 2022 with $4 million in dead money in 2023.
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