Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland lands in top 20 for performance-based payouts

Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland landed in the top 20 this week for performance-based payouts, which go toward a player’s salary from the previous season. Bland, who set an NFL record for most pick-sixes in a single season with five and led the league in interceptions with nine, earned an additional $759,756 in salary for his efforts.

The NFL’s performance-based payouts reward the players with the smallest contracts who, in contract, have played and contributed most significantly to their team. The distribution model was established as a part of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. This season, only his second in the league, Bland started 15 games for Dallas. He was able to make those starts only after the season-ending injury to starter Trevon Diggs.

Though he’s had a meteoric rise to stardom in Dallas, Bland was a fifth-round pick for the Cowboys. They snagged him out of Fresno State but he began his collegiate career at Big Sky program Sacramento State. He’s had more ball-hawking success in the league than he ever did at either Sacramento State or Fresno State.

The Cowboys have yet to re-sign veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore for the 2024 season, which means Bland is likely in line to begin the season as a starter for the first time in his career. He has two more seasons left on his rookie contract, which he signed for $3.96 million.

Another top earner, Brock Purdy, who led the 49ers to the Super Bowl in only his second season, earned a check for $739,795. That almost was as much as his entire paycheck of $985,000. He’s still playing under the terms of his rookie contract. John Simpson, an offensive guard for the Ravens last season, earned the most at $974,613 after missing only seven offensive snaps for his team.

Aaron Rodgers earns league-low $81.14 payout

Aaron Rodgers played fewer snaps than just about any player in the NFL last season. As a result, he was the lowest on the list for a performance-based bonus system. The NFL paid him $81.14.

Maybe Rodgers can use the check to pick up lunch for some friends at a local food truck. But that bonus won’t go far, especially in NYC or in California, where he spends the offseason.

So why did he not receive very much money? Simple. He was in on only four offensive snaps. That amounted to .33 percent of the plays for all of last season.

Jets fans waited for months through the offseason to see their new quarterback debut in the season opener. But his premiere was disappointing and so very brief. Rodgers lasted four offensive plays before he ruptured his Achilles tendon. No amount of cutting-edge treatment or rehab could get him on the field again.

On3’s Suzanne Halliburton contributed to this report.