The Oakland Raiders shocked the NFL when they lured Marshawn Lynch out of retirement and convinced the Seattle Seahawks to trade them the rights to him. As a result, the Raiders improved a team that made the playoffs last season with one of the top running backs of the last decade. ESPN reported today that sources revealed that Marshawn Lynch will make an extra $7.5 million on top of his contract if he meets certain incentives.
Marshawn Lynch performance bonuses
After arriving and becoming the starter for the Seattle Seahawks in 2010, Marshawn Lynch averaged 1,338 yards per season from 2012 through 2014.
He scored a total of 46 touchdowns in those four seasons as well. Those numbers make it look like he will get some nice bonus money as long as he remains healthy in 2017 at the age of 31.
The yardage bonus that the Oakland Raiders will pay Lynch will see him make a lot of bonus money if he just performs at half of what fans are used to. All Lynch has to do is hit 500 rushing yards to make an additional $400,000. He gets $800,000 if he rushes for more than 600 yards. He gets an additional $600,000 if he hits 800 rushing yards and another $600,000 if he hits 1,000 yards. That means a 1,000-yard rushing season will net Marshawn $2 million in incentives.
Marshawn Lynch also has more bonus steps at 1,100, 1,200, 1,300, 1,400, 1,500, and 1,600 yards, which is $250,000 in each step.
The maximum incentive bonus that Marshawn will earn on rushing yards is $3.5 million. There is also a touchdown bonus where Lynch makes $250,000 if he scores nine touchdowns and $500,000 if he scores 12 of them.
Marshawn Lynch bonuses for awards
Marshawn Lynch has complete control over the yardage and touchdown bonuses, which could pay him a total of $4 million if he maxes out at all the numbers.
However, the Oakland Raiders will also pay Lynch bonus incentives for things he has little control over.
First of all, if the Oakland Raiders make the playoffs, Lynch runs for 1,000 yards, and he scores 12 touchdowns, Oakland will pay him an extra $500,000. If Lynch returns to play in 2018, the bonuses are $250,000 for 1,200 yards and an extra $250,000 for each 200 yards after that up to 1,600 yards.
If the Associated Press award Marshawn Lynch with the NFL MVP award, he makes $250,000. If he wins the MVP award in 2018, he wins $500,000. If the Oakland Raiders play in the Super Bowl and Marshawn Lynch is the MVP there, he makes another $500,000. If Lynch makes the Pro Bowl and plays in the game, he makes $250,000. That counts for 2017 and 2018.
