The San Francisco 49ers signed Vance McDonald to a contract extension that was leaked as being five years and $35 million. As is always the case with any multi-year extension, the numbers are never what are first leaked. Generally agents are the ones leaking numbers to make the contract look better than it actually is.
In the case of McDonald’s extension, the five-year, $35 million deal is actually three years and $19.7 million. Matt Maiocco got a look at the contract and has learned that the deal is for three years with options for the fourth and fifth seasons.
The deal includes a $7 million signing bonus, which for cap purposes prorates to $1.4 million per season over the life of the deal. If the 49ers do not pick up the fourth year option, they would take a dead money hit of $2.8 million. If they pick up the fourth year option but not the fifth year option, they would take a dead money hit of $1.4 million.
During the first three years of the deal, the cap figures climb from $4.4 million to $6 million to $6.5 million. They are then $7.8 million each of the final two years. Per Maiocco, the deal includes some additional incentives each year. He will receive $75,000 each time he has at least 55 receptions, and another $75,000 each time he surpasses 700 yards. Since he has never reached either mark through his first four seasons, those incentives will be listed as not likely to be earned (NLTBE) and thus do not count against the cap right now. If he reaches the incentives, that money will then count against the cap.
Here’s a full rundown of the deal.
Signing bonus: $7 million
2017
Base salary: $2,100,000 (guaranteed for skill, cap)
Roster bonus: $750,000
Workout bonus: $150,000
NLTBE incentives: $150,000
Cap figure: $4.4 million
2018
Base salary: $3,700,000 (fully guaranteed for skill, cap if he is on roster 4/1/18)
Roster bonus: $750,000
Workout bonus: $150,000
NLTBE incentives: $150,000
Cap figure: $6 million
2019
Base salary: $4,200,000 ($3.2 millionguaranteed for skill, cap if he is on roster 4/1/19)
Roster bonus: $750,000
Workout bonus: $150,000
NLTBE incentives: $150,000
Cap figure: $6.5 million
2020 (team option)
Base salary: $5,500,000
Roster bonus: $750,000
Workout bonus: $150,000
NLTBE incentives: $150,000
Cap figure: $7.8 million
2021 (team option)
Base salary: $5,500,000
Roster bonus: $750,000
Workout bonus: $150,000
NLTBE incentives: $150,000
Cap figure: $7.8 million