CB Star Thomas tops Arizona Cardinals in pay-for-performance bonus

The Arizona Cardinals had no players in the top 25 of those in the NFL who will receive performance-based pay bonuses this year, but several benefitted significantly from the system that was collectively bargained in 2002 and that is part of player benefits over and above the salary cap.

Cornerback Star Thomas V was at the top among Cardinals players, with a payout of $797,669.80 after playing 77.3 percent of the snaps. Thomas' salary last season was $915,000. He wasn’t far from the player that ranked 25th: Pittsburgh Steelers guard Mason McCormick, who was paid $819,102.

NFL players have been paid close to $2.8 billion since the start of the program and each team’s total this year is $14.128 million for a combined league amount of $452.096 million. Players are compensated based on a formula that takes into account playing time on offense, defense and special teams, and salary levels.

Players become eligible to receive a bonus distribution in any regular season in which they play at least one official down. In general, players with higher playtime percentages and lower salaries benefit most from the pool.

Five NFL players received more than $1 million led by New York Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood, whose payment is $1.092 million. A fifth-round pick in 2021, Sherwood played 100 percent of the team’s snaps during the 2024 season when his compensation was $1.308 million.

Cards Wire has obtained the entire distribution list for the Cardinals.

Cardinals' pay-for-performance bonuses and playing time percentage

CB Star Thomas V: $797,669.80 (77.30%)
WR Michael Wilson: $623,939.80 (71.40%)
CB Garrett Williams: $599,323.09 (71.14%)
TE Trey McBride: $599,137.64 (82.24%)
DL Dante Stills: $531,519.30 (52.86%)
TE Elijah Higgins: $524,923.96 (50.87%)
WR Greg Dortch: $486,471.27 (47.14%)
DL Roy Lopez: $477,528,78 (46.27%)
TE Tip Reiman: $473,819.12 (55.37%)
DL L.J. Collier: $467,062.52 (51.47%)
OL Evan Brown: $429,661,36 (99.31%)
CB Max Melton: $416,633.94 (67.33%)
S Dadrion Taylor-Demerson: $416,394.02 (47.14%)
LB Krys Barnes: $400,317.85 (44.11%)
LB Owen Pappoe: $394,246.91 (40.12%)
OL Isaiah Adams: $382,768.79 (45.75%)
LB Julian Okwara: $327,725.11 (34.75%)
LB Jesse Luketa: $319,246.77 (30.94%)
LB Victor Dimukeje: $315,057.36 (31.54%)
OL Hjalte Froholdt: $303,508.20 (100.00%)
DL Naquan Jones: $281,761.07 (27.30%)
OL Kelvin Beachum: $279,721.31 (68.37%)
OL Trystan Colon: $273,880.25 (40.12%)
S Joey Blount: $257,543.61 (24.96%)
LB Mack Wilson Sr.: $217,558.53 (67.42%)
LB Xavier Thomas: $192,892.17 (20.02%)
RB Emari Demercado: $192,369.36 (18.72%)
CB Kei’Trel Clark: $176,664.05 (17.85%)
RB DeeJay Dallas: $172,299.42 (28.51%)
OL Jackson Barton: $155,599.27 (15.08%)
LB Kyzir White: $153,437.30 (88.48%)
OL Paris Johnson Jr.: $151,230.57 (80.24%)
DL Khyiris Tonga: $142,883.35 (20.71%)
WR Zach Pascal: $140,872.43 (29.98%)
WR Marvin Harrison Jr.: $137,766.01 (74.96%)
RB Michael Carter: $113,393.84 (11.44%)
CB Sean Murphy-Bunting: $112,366.66 (67.68%)
LS Aaron Brewer: $105,388.20 (11.61%)
DL Ben Stille: $101,944.35 (9.88%)
- Stille played 1.15 percent of the snaps with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was paid $10,947.58.
RB Trey Benson: $98,330.29 (11.87%)
LB Zaven Collins: $92,593.25 (52.77%)
LB Dennis Gardeck: $87,558.26 (23.83%)
S Jalen Thompson: $82,422.08 (81.63%)
K Chad Ryland: $79,014.70 (11.35%)
LB Baron Browning: $77,506.56 (20.54%)
- Browning also played with the Denver Broncos, played 12.56 percent of the snaps and was paid an additional $45,720,98.
OL Christian Jones: $69,283.14 (7.11%)
DL Darius Robinson: $67,903.39 (15.86%)
P Blake Gillikin: $63,710.64 (8.15%)
OL Will Hernandez: $62,840.30 (25.13%)
OL Jon Gaines II: $62,206.47 (6.93%)
RB James Conner: $60,125.47 (53.64%)
OL Jonah Williams: $59,764.79 (29.81%)
S Budda Baker: $53,712.73 (95.93%)
WR Xavier Weaver: $50,821.26 (4.94%)
S Andre Chachere: $44,712.43 (4.33%)
DL Bilal Nichols: $43,281.52 (16.64%)
CB Darren Hall: $38,452.69 (3.73%)
OL Charlie Heck: $37,068.99 (4.77%)
- Heck ended the season with the San Francisco 49ers and played 8.53 percent of the snaps and was paid $68,804.75.
P Michael Palardy: $33,362,84 (3.21%)
WR Zay Jones: $32,213.82 (22.27%)
QB Clayton Tune: $25,863.55 (2.69%)
QB Kyler Murray: $22,407.26 (92.29%)
LB Milo Eifler: $20,567.72 (1.99%)
DL Justin Jones: $18,399.19 (9.27%)
DL Angelo Blackson: $18,188.14 (1.99%)
WR Chris Moore: $16,068.27 (2.34%)
LB Markus Bailey: $14,367.33 (1.39%)
RB Tony Jones Jr.: $13,413.73 (1.30%)
TE Travis Vokolek: $12,519.48 (1.21%)
CB Divaad Wilson: $10,730.98 (1.04%)
- Wilson finished the season with the New York Giants and played 4.06 percent of the snaps and was paid $39,886.02.
K Matt Prater: $8,252.08 (3.12%)
OL Nick Leverett: $3,809.32 (0.52%)
- Leverett played for the New England Patriots and played 11.75 percent of the snaps and was paid $74,281.98.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals 2024 pay-for-performance full list

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