The two-year deal for new Green Bay Packers linebacker Christian Kirkey is worth $13 million in base pay with only $4 million guaranteed, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.
The deal includes $3.75 million in total roster and per-game bonuses and another $3.5 million in incentives and escalators, including a $1.75 million Pro Bowl incentive in 2021.
Kirksey has a base salary of just $1.75 million in 2020 and $3 million in 2021. His $4 million signing bonus will be prorated over two years against the cap.
The Packers appear to have protected themselves with a big chunk of the deal’s total money committed to playing time bonuses and incentives, forcing Kirksey – who played in only nine games the last two seasons – to be healthy and available to earn the full total.
Kirksey will have a cap hit of just $4.25 million in 2020. Judging by the numbers, the contract is essentially a one-year deal with a team option in 2021, allowing the Packers to get out if Kirksey underperforms or is injured again. Kirksey has a $1.5 million roster bonus due in 2021, but the Packers would save $6 million of the $8 million in cap charges by releasing him before paying the bonus.
| Year | Base | Signing | Roster | Per game | Workout | Cap hit |
| 2020 | $1,750,000 | $2,000,000 | $125,000 | $250,000 | $4,250,000 | |
| 2021 | $3,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $1,500,000 | $1,250,000 | $250,000 | $8,000,000 |
CPA Ken Ingalls assisted in creating the structure of the deal.
