One good thing the NFL does is allowing players to earn more via their performance in a given season, aptly called "performance-based pay." Players who play a lot and don't make a lot in base salary get rewarded for being key players for their teams, some very handsomely.
On Monday, the NFL released the list of the 25 players who made the most in performance-based pay from the 2023 season. New York Jets guard John Simpson (and possible Lions free agent target before he signed with them) received the most in the league ( $974,613) for his work with the Baltimore Ravens last season. In total, NFL players will receive $393.8 million in performance-based pay for the 2023 season.
No Detroit player made that top-25 list, but according to Justin Rogers of the Detroit News 74 Lions' players received performance-based pay. Via the Collective Bargaining Agreement, every team had a performance-based pay pool of $12.305 million for last season and every player got a payout.
Cornerback Emmanuel Mosely, who played two snaps before tearing his ACL, got the lowest amount ($464.20) for the Lions. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown got the most.
A lot of Detroit Lions players got noticeable performance-based pay for 2023 season
Rogers offered up the top-10 performance-based earners for the Lions from last season.
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown: $700,473
S Kerby Joseph: $680,454
CB Jerry Jacobs: $647,873
DT Benito Jones: $558,685
LB Derrick Barnes: $543,931
TE Brock Wright: $484,491
TE Sam LaPorta: $438,311
DB Brian Branch: $395,363
DT Alim McNeill: $393,610
S Ifeatu Melinfonwu: $387,508
St. Brown is line for a big contract extension that will make him one of the highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL. But last season, he had a $940,000 base salary as he finished top-five in the league in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, 41 Lions players made at least $100,000 in performance-based pay for last season and 16 topped $250,000. So a lot of players were able to add a notable supplement to their pay, as reward for making a contribution to the NFC runner-ups.