Cowboys announce $5M in performance-based bonuses; this unlikely player got biggest bump

Cooper Beebe found out this week that he earned a hefty bonus for what he did in his rookie season, as did several other Cowboys players for their on-the-field contributions during the 2024 season.

The league announced its performance-based pay totals for the past season on Wednesday. The bonuses are given out annually, meant primarily as a way to reward players with relatively low salaries for turning in high snap counts.

The Performance-Based Pay program was first implemented in 2002 as part of the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement with the players union. Payouts were calculated using a formula that accounts for a player's total snaps in a season, his base salary, and this year's $452 million pool of cash.

The size of the bonuses given varied wildly in 2024. Jets linebacker Jamien Sherwood got an extra $1.09 million, essentially doubling his salary. Buccaneers linebacker Shaquil Barrett earned the smallest bonus, just $342, for the 12 snaps he played in Tampa Bay.

Beebe was one of a dozen Cowboys to have his bonus announced. Here's a look at who was rewarded- and by how much- for their playing time in 2024.

OC Cooper Beebe: $705,000

Sep 8, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) lines up behind center Cooper Beebe (56) for the snap during the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

Beebe was a rock in his first year as a pro and his first year playing center. The third-round draft pick played just over 90% of the Cowboys' offensive snaps last season and was in on nearly 12% of the special teams plays. Beebe's bonus almost doubled his base salary for the season.

WR Jalen Tolbert: $593,000

Sep 15, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; New Orleans Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) defends a pass intended for Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert (1) during the first half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Tolbert actually led all Cowboys wide receivers in snaps in 2024, with the third-year man lining up on over 76% of offensive plays on the year. He appeared in every game (but logged stats in just nine of those contests) to ensure a nice end-of-year boost to his $1.17 million base salary.

DE Chauncey Golston: $580,000

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 20: Chauncey Golston #99 of the Dallas Cowboys looks on against the Minnesota Vikings during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 20, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)

Golston agreed to terms with the New York Giants for the 2025 season, but he played enough (over 71%) of the Cowboys' defensive snaps- plus more than a third of the special teams snaps- in 2024 to rack up a $580K bonus before leaving. His base salary for last year was $1.33 million.

OL Brock Hoffman: $497,000

Oct 8, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; Dallas Cowboys center Brock Hoffman (67) gestures during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

The undrafted Hoffman has become a key piece of the Dallas offensive line, stepping in when future Hall of Famer Zack Martin went down. With 44% of offensive snaps and over 26% of all special teams snaps played, Hoffman pulled down just under half a million in bonus money, to go with his base salary of $985,000.

LB DeMarvion Overshown: $484,000

Sep 8, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (13) tackles Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford (34) during the third quarter at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

The homegrown linebacker missed the final four games of the season but still saw action on over 64% of the defense's snaps. That was enough to warrant a performance-based bump that represented over 48% of the base salary earned by the team's second-leading tackler.

LB Marist Liufau: $449,000

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - AUGUST 17: Linebacker Marist Liufau #35 of the Dallas Cowboys reacts after a play during the first half of a game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on August 17, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)

Liufau benefitted the most from Overshown's knee injury; the rookie saw his snap count go up significantly in the final four games of the season. That extra action helped him haul in a bonus that was more than half of his $795,000 base salary.

WR Jalen Brooks: $443,000

Aug 11, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Brooks (83) runs the ball against Los Angeles Rams cornerback Shaun Jolly (38) during the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The second-year receiver out of South Carolina caught just 12 balls on the year, but he played 31% of the offensive snaps and almost 44% of the special teams snaps in 2024. Originally a seventh-round draft pick, his $443,000 bonus stacks up nicely with his $915,000 base salary.

RB Rico Dowdle: $423,000

Oct 6, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle (23) runs the ball against Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Payton Wilson (41) during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Dallas won 20-17. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Dowdle's breakout season also proved to be financially lucrative for the 26-year-old. Being on the field for 54% of the Cowboys' offensive snaps brought him an extra $423K on top of a $1.06 million base salary. His performance earned him an even bigger payday for next year with Carolina.

TE Jake Ferguson: $417,000

Jan 5, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson (87) cannot catch a pass in the end zone during the fourth quarter against the Washington Commanders at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

The third-year tight end had a down year when compared to his Pro Bowl season of 2023, but he was nevertheless the Cowboys' second-leading receiver. In the huddle for over half the offense's plays, Ferguson's bonus adds to his $985,000 base salary.

DB Israel Mukuamu: $411,000

Aug 18, 2022; Costa Mesa, CA, USA; Dallas Cowboys safety Israel Mukuamu (24) during joint practice against the Los Angeles Chargers at Jack Hammett Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

It was a good week for Mukuamu. The versatile defensive back and special teams mainstay added a tidy bonus on top of his $1.06 million base... and then earned a contract to remain in Dallas for another year that could see him on the field even more.

QB Dak Prescott: $10,500

Dec 30, 2023; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) throws as Detroit Lions defensive end Aidan Hutchinson (97) rushes during the second half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

A $10K performance bonus hardly shows up against Prescott's $2.79 million base salary for 2024, and it's a not even a drop in the bucket compared to his $28.89 million signing bonus. But the face of the franchise saw just under 43% of the offense's snaps this season, and that entitles him to this chunk of change under the system's formula.

DE DeMarcus Lawrence: $7,700

Jun 5, 2024; Frisco, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence (90) goes through a drill during practice at the Ford Center at the Star Training Facility in Frisco, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports

This bonus stings just a little, with Lawrence leaving Dallas after 11 great years... and then trashing the team in comments upon arriving in Seattle. The four-time Pro Bowler took home $10 million in base salary for playing on just 15% of the defense's snaps, and then he pocketed another $7,700 as he left for the Seahawks.

This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cooper Beebe, DeMarvion Overshown, Dak Prescott earn 2024 bonuses