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Russell Wilson‘s Giants contract, which has been obtained by the Daily News, reinforces that he is the team’s projected starting quarterback for 2025 but also hedges on the investment if Wilson doesn’t deliver results early.
Here are how Wilson and Jameis Winston‘s contracts break down to reflect their dynamic entering the spring, with Wilson poised to take the first-team snaps, Winston lined up as the No. 2 and a possible rookie draft pick arriving in East Rutherford, N.J., soon:
RUSSELL WILSON: one year, $10.5 million, $10 million guaranteed, up to $10.5 million more in incentives
Wilson, 36, is receiving $8 million of his $10.5 million in 2025 as a signing bonus paid in three installments between April and October. His guaranteed 2025 salary is only $2 million, and he has a $500,000 offseason workout bonus. His cap charge will be $11.029 million because of $529,412 in incentives that are classified as “likely to be earned” based on his previous stats.
The $10.5 million available in incentives is the most interesting part of Wilson’s deal: he can earn up to $3 million extra on a “playtime and wins incentive” clause and another $7.5 million tied to the playoffs, playing time, passer rating and completion percentage.
The playtime and wins incentive states that Wilson will receive a bonus of $176,470.59 for every game in which Wilson participates in 50% or more of the team’s total offensive plays and the Giants win.
It is understandable, therefore, why Wilson was so adamant that he intends to be on the field playing rather than on the sideline mentoring.
The presence of that clause also should lead the Giants to give Wilson a real chance at holding the starting job early in the season to earn his money. Otherwise, they might be accused of acting in bad faith with a clause like that in the fine print.
On the flip side, if and when the Giants hypothetically decide to pivot to Winston or a rookie like Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart, Quinn Ewers or Jalen Milroe, that clause allows them to hedge on just how much they have invested in a one-year rental who didn’t produce and isn’t long for the Big Apple.
Not that Joe Schoen and the Giants would mind if Wilson cashed in around $2 million of that playtime and wins incentive. If he does, Schoen and Brian Daboll will still have jobs in 2026.
JAMEIS WINSTON: two years, $8 million, $5.25 million guaranteed, up to $8 million more in incentives
Winston’s guaranteed money is spread across both his 2025 and 2026 salaries, which could keep Winston cheaply as the Giants’ bridge into 2026 if Schoen drafts a developmental rookie to groom and take over the offense next year.
Winston, 31, received a $2 million signing bonus. His $1.95 million salary this season is fully guaranteed. And $1.3 million of his scheduled $3.95 million salary for 2026 is guaranteed, as well. His deal includes a $50,000 offseason workout bonus in each season, and his cap charges are $3 million for 2025 and $5 million for 2026.
He also has $8 million of incentives built into his contract: up to $4 million in 2025 and up to $4 million in 2026. So he can earn up to $16 million on the two-year contract if he hits those markers.
The Giants wouldn’t mind if he hit those incentives, since there is $2 million each season tied to making the playoffs and winning postseason games.
On the other hand, the other $2 million in incentives each season relates to minimums in playing time, passer rating, completion percentage and touchdown passes. So if Winston reaches those stats, it means the investment on Wilson fell through.
Continue reading...
Here are how Wilson and Jameis Winston‘s contracts break down to reflect their dynamic entering the spring, with Wilson poised to take the first-team snaps, Winston lined up as the No. 2 and a possible rookie draft pick arriving in East Rutherford, N.J., soon:
RUSSELL WILSON: one year, $10.5 million, $10 million guaranteed, up to $10.5 million more in incentives
Wilson, 36, is receiving $8 million of his $10.5 million in 2025 as a signing bonus paid in three installments between April and October. His guaranteed 2025 salary is only $2 million, and he has a $500,000 offseason workout bonus. His cap charge will be $11.029 million because of $529,412 in incentives that are classified as “likely to be earned” based on his previous stats.
The $10.5 million available in incentives is the most interesting part of Wilson’s deal: he can earn up to $3 million extra on a “playtime and wins incentive” clause and another $7.5 million tied to the playoffs, playing time, passer rating and completion percentage.
The playtime and wins incentive states that Wilson will receive a bonus of $176,470.59 for every game in which Wilson participates in 50% or more of the team’s total offensive plays and the Giants win.
It is understandable, therefore, why Wilson was so adamant that he intends to be on the field playing rather than on the sideline mentoring.
The presence of that clause also should lead the Giants to give Wilson a real chance at holding the starting job early in the season to earn his money. Otherwise, they might be accused of acting in bad faith with a clause like that in the fine print.
On the flip side, if and when the Giants hypothetically decide to pivot to Winston or a rookie like Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart, Quinn Ewers or Jalen Milroe, that clause allows them to hedge on just how much they have invested in a one-year rental who didn’t produce and isn’t long for the Big Apple.
Not that Joe Schoen and the Giants would mind if Wilson cashed in around $2 million of that playtime and wins incentive. If he does, Schoen and Brian Daboll will still have jobs in 2026.
JAMEIS WINSTON: two years, $8 million, $5.25 million guaranteed, up to $8 million more in incentives
Winston’s guaranteed money is spread across both his 2025 and 2026 salaries, which could keep Winston cheaply as the Giants’ bridge into 2026 if Schoen drafts a developmental rookie to groom and take over the offense next year.
Winston, 31, received a $2 million signing bonus. His $1.95 million salary this season is fully guaranteed. And $1.3 million of his scheduled $3.95 million salary for 2026 is guaranteed, as well. His deal includes a $50,000 offseason workout bonus in each season, and his cap charges are $3 million for 2025 and $5 million for 2026.
He also has $8 million of incentives built into his contract: up to $4 million in 2025 and up to $4 million in 2026. So he can earn up to $16 million on the two-year contract if he hits those markers.
The Giants wouldn’t mind if he hit those incentives, since there is $2 million each season tied to making the playoffs and winning postseason games.
On the other hand, the other $2 million in incentives each season relates to minimums in playing time, passer rating, completion percentage and touchdown passes. So if Winston reaches those stats, it means the investment on Wilson fell through.
Continue reading...
