The National Football League is a meritocracy. In other words, players' salaries tend to reflect their performance on the field. The NFL’s Performance-Based Pay program is a shining example of this. Beyond standard player contracts, the league and the NFL Players Association reward players who outperform their relatively modest salaries. This is a deep bonus pool often offering a financial boost to players, especially if they’re on lower-paying rookie contracts.
AP photo
Steelers' Mason McCormick smiles during a regular season game in 2024.
Teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers are known for their shrewd drafting and player development, so it has been a great incentive for their lower-paid stars to give 110%. Here’s a list of 4 Steelers to win a big league payout.
How does the PBP system work?
Whenever you see the word ‘bonus,’ you might be tempted to think of receiving something for nothing, much like when you get a no-deposit casino bonus. However, the annual NFL-backed fund is distributed to players based on sheer hard work. It uses a formula that firstly weighs their playing time against their salary and then it assesses what percentage do they contribute to their team’s offensive or defensive snaps.
Young players have often exceeding expectations early in their careers. This mechanism is designed for such players, who can receive extra money that doesn't impact their team's salary cap. The league-wide pool, which totaled $452 million this year, allows teams to reward multiple players, although only the top 25 individual bonuses are publicly announced by the NFL.
Steelers players have been featured in this group of rewarded athletes several times, with Mason McCormick being the latest, when he picked up his bonus earlier this year. Other stars came before him, all raking in several hundred dollars for their exploits.
Read on to find out more about McCormick’s reward, and four other Steelers who have pocketed an NFL bonus over the years.
Mason McCormick - $819,102
McCormick, the Steelers' rookie guard in 2024, earned a well-deserved $819,102 bonus through the NFL's performance-based pay program. This fourth-round pick in 2024, became crucial for the Steelers after season-ending injuries to veteran guards. He stepped into the starting right guard role, forming a young and promising interior alongside fellow rookie Zach Frazier and second-year tackle Broderick Jones.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers fans saw him playing impressive 939 offensive snaps in just 17 games, 14 of them starts, putting him at 4th highest place in the team. After earning a $764,896 signing bonus and a $795,000 salary, he receives more than 100% of his yearly wage.
Kevin Dotson - $746,013
This offensive guard made a big impact in the 2022 season, earning a performance-based pay of $746,013. He was on the field during 100% of the Steelers' offensive snaps, and his reliability was essential for the team’s attacking efforts. He contributed massively to the team's offensive plays by giving protection in pass-blocking scenarios and creating opportunities in the running game. He's now with the Los Angeles Rams.
Dan Moore Jr - $740,319
Dan Moore Jr.'s 2023 season with the Steelers offers a curious case study in NFL compensation. Despite a base salary of $1,114,476 as the starting left tackle, his playing time of 951 offensive snaps triggered a $740,319 bonus through the league's performance-based pay program. However, this financial boost doesn't reflect exceptional performance. Pro Football Focus graded Moore as one of the NFL's lowest-ranking pass-blocking tackles with a poor 39.7. This shows how the program focuses on opportunity over downright skill. However, it wasn’t all good news for Moore. In the following draft the Steelers actively scouted offensive tackles, which showed a lack of faith in having Moore as their cornerstone left tackle. Moore is now with the Tennessee Titans.
Chukwuma Okorafor - $567,469
In 2020, Chukwuma Okorafor, an offensive tackle, received $567,469, which was the highest amount of money given to any Steelers player that year. This payout was a direct result of his high playing time, as he participated in 94.4% of the Steelers' offensive snaps.
Matt Freed / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
As a third-round draft pick in 2018, Okorafor was still playing under his rookie contract in 2020, which usually involves a lower base salary. It was this, combined with his playing time which landed him the money. Earlier this year, he signed a contract with New York Jets.
