Rashawn Slater's Big Payday: Breaking Down the Numbers

Rashawn Slater just got a huge deal from the Chargers. It's a four-year extension. The money is big. Really big. Let's break it down. First, there's a signing bonus of $29 million. That's a lot of cash upfront. Then, in 2025, he gets a $7 million roster bonus and a $2 million base salary. Both are fully guaranteed. That means he gets that money no matter what. In 2026, he gets another $7 million roster bonus and an $11 million base salary. Again, fully guaranteed. The following year, 2027, he's looking at a $26 million base salary. It's guaranteed for injury now and becomes fully guaranteed in March 2026. The deal gets even bigger in 2028. He's set to earn $23. 290 million. $10 million of that is guaranteed for injury at signing and becomes fully guaranteed in March 2027. In 2029, he gets a $7 million roster bonus and a $20. 750 million base salary. This deal makes Slater the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history. His average yearly pay is $28. 5 million. The deal is structured so that $82 million is practically guaranteed at signing, with $56 million fully guaranteed. Another $10 million kicks in after the second year. The deal also includes the largest year-one cash flow for an offensive lineman in NFL history. That's $38 million. And the largest cash through March 31 of the following year is $44. 5 million. It's also the largest two-year and four-year cash flow for an offensive lineman. Only one other offensive lineman, Trent Williams, has received more cash through three years. But his deal is backloaded and non-guaranteed. The 2029 roster bonus is interesting. It forces the Chargers to make a decision early in the final year of his contract. Slater was entering his fifth-year option. This extension gives him a shot at free agency in 2030. He'll be close to turning 31 then.