This week, offensive lineman David Edwards was re-signed by the Buffalo Bills to a contract extension. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC in Houston, it’s a $6.195 million base contract with incentives that lasts for two years.
With two guards per team and rookie agreements taken into account, that average would have placed 41st among guards in the NFL in 2023. It is also low-end starting money.
The value of this deal likely works whether Edwards stays in that top reserve role or enters the starting lineup because in 2023 he played about 13% of the offensive snaps as the sixth lineman and 19% of the special teams snaps.
He also receives a roster bonus of $10,000 per game, up to a total of $170,000 per season. In 2023, he participated in 16 games, thus this season, just $160,000 is LTBE.
Given that his salary and $1.75 million signing bonus are guaranteed, Edwards will undoubtedly be with the team in 2024. It’s a standard “one year and we’ll see” kind of contract because none of the guarantees carry into the second year.
Based on how much he plays in 2024, there are incentives for playing time built into the contract for both seasons. The amount of playing time required is unknown, however it is more than the totals he achieved in 2024. (I’m going to assume it’s a lot more than 13% of the offensive snaps.) He will receive a split of $2.5 million if he reaches the target in 2024: $1.25 million up front plus a $1.25 million base pay increase for 2025.
The only offensive linemen on the Bills with a higher cap hit than him are Spencer Brown, Connor McGovern, and Dion Dawkins.
This is the comprehensive analysis.
2024 Signing Bonus, prorated to $875,000
Bonus for working out: $75,000 Bonus for roster: $10,000 for each game up to $170,000 ($160k LTBE in 2024)
Base pay: $1.2 million; incentive for playing time: $1.25 million
$2.31 million is the cap hit.
Cash in hand: $3.195 million
2025
$875,000 is the prorated signing bonus.
$75,000 as a workout bonus; $10,000 per game as a roster bonus up to $170,000
Base pay: $2.56 million; incentive for playing time in 2024: $1.25 million
$3.68 million is the cap hit.
Cash on hand: $2.805 million
$875,000 is the dead cap.
Reduction in the cap of $2.805 million
