Jerry Jones is a big spender. And it results in some of his Dallas Cowboys raking in big bucks. However, it doesn’t always come down to base salary. A lot goes into bonuses. And that means some of the biggest stars are making less than one would think. Information via Spotrac.com.
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20. DeMarcus Lawrence
The great defensive end comes in at a paltry $1.5 million. Don’t feel for him, though, as part of his five-year, $105 million contract, DeMarcus Lawrence receives a $25 million signing bonus and a $4.6 million roster bonus in 2019. That totals overall $31.1 million.
19. Joe Thomas
Inside linebacker Joe Thomas is on a two-year contract that totals $3.6 million. The base in 2019 is $1.75M with a roster bonus of $187,500.
18. Chris Jones
Talk about a sweet deal for a punter: Chris Jones is working a four-year, $8.7M contract. In 2019, Jones will earn a base salary of $1.8M. He also received a $2.5M bonus as part of the contract.
14. Jason Witten
Jason Witten returns to the Cowboys after a season in the “Monday Night Football” booth. The All-Pro tight end is looking at a $2 million salary for 2019 and a roster bonus of $2.25M.
14. Sean Lee
One of the foundations of the Dallas defense for years has been linebacker Sean Lee. When healthy, he is a leading force. Lee would be a UFA in 2020. Before that, he will earn a base of $2M with a roster bonus of $937,500.
14. Randall Cobb
Randall Cobb comes to the Cowboys after spending his first eight years in Green Bay. The wideout from Kentucky signed a one-year $5,000,000 contract. Most of the money comes from a $2M salary and $2M roster bonus.
14. Jeff Heath
Strong safety Jeff Heath is in the final year of a four-year deal that was worth $7.671M. His salary in 2019 will be $2,000,000, the most he has made in a single season on the deal.
11. Maliek Collins
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins is also in a contract year. This is the final season of his four-year deal. His $2M-plus salary will be about $1.5M more than he has made as a base in any other season.
11. Dak Prescott
Dak Prescott is going to get big money. He’s looking at the kind of dough other quarterbacks get as his contract comes to a conclusion. His base this season is $2.025M. Don’t feel for the former Mississippi State star as he likely will get 10 times more that or more on average when his next contract comes around.
11. Anthony Brown
The fourth and final year of his contract will see Anthony Brown’s salary jump from $630,000 in 2018 to $2.025M. The cornerback from Purdue received a bonus of almost $135,000 when he signed this deal.
10. Ezekiel Elliott
Ezekiel Elliott has proven to be a generational running back for the Cowboys. The former Ohio State star’s salary will jump from $3.8M in 2018 to $9.099M in 2019. That’s a hefty lift and more money figures to be coming the way of the Buckeye next season.
9. Allen Hurns
Wide receiver Allen Hurns is in the second and final year of a $12,000,000 contract. He is coming back from a gruesome injury suffered last season and says he will be ready to go. Hurns will carry a $4M salary in 2019 and will earn a $1M roster bonus for sticking with the Cowboys.
7. Robert Quinn
Robert Quinn will be in his first year with the Cowboys and it is a contract year as he signed a one-year deal worth $8,000,000. The pact breaks down as follows: $6M in salary and $2M for a roster bonus. Quinn comes to Dallas via a trade for a draft pick with Miami.
7. Travis Frederick
Travis Frederick is on the books for $6M in 2019. He’s looking to return after missing the entire 2018 season while battling Guillain-Barre Syndrome. The four-time Pro Bowler is back working out with the Cowboys and would be a huge asset should he return to form.
6. Byron Jones
Byron Jones parlayed an incredibly athletic showing at the NFL Combine into becoming a Dallas Cowboy. The Cowboys picked up the fifth-year option on the DB’s contract and he will make $6,266,000 in 2019.
5. La’El Collins
In 2019, La’el Collins will earn a base salary of $6,516,750 and a incentive bonus of $2,000,000. It’s been a long road to the big bucks for the offensive lineman who was once thought of as a first-round pick but fell out of the draft when a woman he knew was murdered on the eve of the draft. He signed with Dallas as a free agent and has been a mainstay.
4. Tyrone Crawford
Defensive tackle Tyrone Crawford has two seasons left on a five-year, $45M deal. He will earn a base of $7M this season with $8M on tap in 2020. Crawford’s contract called for a $10M signing bonus.
2. Tyron Smith
Tyron Smith and Zack Martin are keys to the Dallas offensive line. He is playing on an eight-year contract and like his fellow lineman Martin, will earn $10M in 2019.
2. Zack Martin
Offensive guard Zack Martin is riding a six-year, $84M contract. Big bucks for a man who plays a big game. In 2019, he will make a nice, round $10M as his base salary.
1. Amari Cooper
Amari Cooper will make the most of any Cowboy when it comes to a base salary in the final year of his contract, which was signed with the Oakland Raiders. Cooper is looking at $13.924M as his base in 2019.
