Jimmy Graham gets 3 years, $30 million, but Packers can bail after one year

GREEN BAY – The three-year contract tight end Jimmy Graham received from the Green Bay Packers is worth $30 million and includes $11 million in guaranteed money, but the Packers can limit his take to $13 million if they decide after one season that things aren't working out.

According to a source with access to NFL Players Association salary data, Graham's contract features a $5 million roster bonus due on the third day of the 2019 league year, which will take place in mid-March. If the Packers don't pay the roster bonus, they will owe nothing more than the $13 million Graham is due to earn in 2018.

The structure limits Graham's 2018 salary-cap number to $5,666,667.

His 2019 salary-cap number jumps to $12,666,667. The Packers can cut that by $2.5 million if they guarantee Graham's $5 million roster bonus.

If they don't pay Graham his roster bonus, they will carry $7,333,333 of dead money on their 2019 salary cap.

With Graham's signing, the Packers are $25.07 million under the salary cap. That does not include the one-year free agent deal defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson signed.

Here are details of Graham's deal:

JIMMY GRAHAM

Signing bonus: $11 million.

2018 

Base Salary: $1.45 million.

Per game roster bonus (total): $300,000.

Workout bonus: $200,000.

Salary cap number: $5,666,667.

2019

Base salary: $3,450,000.

March roster bonus: $5 million.

Per-game roster bonus: $300,000.

Workout bonus: $250,000.

Salary-cap number: $12,666,667.

2020

Base salary: $7,450,000.

Per-game roster bonus total: $300,000.

Workout bonus: $250,000.

Salary-cap number: $11.67 million.

* Deal includes $250,000 Pro Bowl incentive each year.