The Seattle Seahawks can't count on getting a full season out of right guard D.J. Fluker after injuries limited him to nine starts last season.
Who knows what they can count on from linebacker Mychal Kendricks as he heads toward possible sentencing after pleading guilty to insider trading charges.
That's why the deals Seattle re-signed Fluker and Kendricks to in the first week of free agency are structured to protect the team against potential unavailability. Those two will have to earn their money.
Fluker, who dealt with injuries to his hamstring, knee and calf last season, had only $1 million guaranteed at signing in his two-year, $6 million deal. Each season, he has $1 million tied to being active on game day, meaning the Seahawks would save $62,500 in cash and cap space every time an injury lands Fluker on the inactive list. An additional $1.5 million per season in playing-time incentives pushes the max value of Fluker's deal to $9 million.
His first-year payout is similar to the one-year deal Seattle gave to left guard Mike Iupati, which carries a base value of $2.75 million with another $500,000 available in playing-time incentives. Both deals are discounts from what J.R. Sweezy -- the player Iupati is replacing in Seattle -- got from the Arizona Cardinals: a two-year, $9 million contract. Fluker's deal in particular carries less risk for the team than Sweezy's, which has $3 million guaranteed and $500,000 in annual per-game active roster bonuses.
Kendricks' one-year deal includes no signing bonus and no guaranteed money. The $4.5 million base value includes $2 million in per-game active bonuses plus two bonuses worth $250,000 apiece that are tied to Kendricks reporting to training camp and being on the 53-man roster in Week 1. He could make an additional $1 million in incentives tied to playing time and sacks, bringing the max value of the deal to $5.5 million.
It's an abnormal contract structure but a sensible one under the circumstances. One source familiar with the situation said in October that Kendricks could be facing 30 to 37 months in prison -- as had been reported -- based on federal guidelines and the amount of money involved in his case. It may help Kendricks' case that he was contrite and transparent. According to a report by ESPN's Tim McManus, a financial adviser to the stars said of Kendricks: "He's going to pay a penalty. He may or may not get time if he cooperated and told the truth. You don't always go to jail for insider trading. You go to jail for lying to the authorities."
The Seahawks are protected either way.
Here's a closer look at the Kendricks, Fluker and Iupati contracts as well as that of kicker Jason Myers:
Mychal Kendricks
Overview: One year, $4.5 million (zero guaranteed)
Signing bonus: none
2019: $2 million base salary; $250,000 reporting bonus for training camp; $250,000 roster bonus for Week 1; $2 million in per-game active roster bonuses ($125,000 apiece); up to $1 million in incentives for sacks and playing time
D.J. Fluker
Overview: Two years, $6 million ($1 million guaranteed)
Signing bonus: $1 million
2019: $850,000 base salary; $150,000 roster bonus for Week 1; $1 million in per-game active roster bonuses ($62,500 apiece); up to $1.5 million in incentives for playing time
2020: $2 million base salary, $1 million in per-game active roster bonuses ($62,500 apiece); up to $1.5 million in incentives for playing time
Mike Iupati
Overview: One year, $2.75 million ($2.25 million guaranteed)
Signing bonus: $1.25 million
2019: $1 million base salary (fully guaranteed); $500,000 in per-game roster bonuses ($31,250 apiece); up to $500,000 in incentives for playing time
Jason Myers
Overview: Four years, $15.45 million ($7 million guaranteed)
Signing bonus: $4 million
2019: $1.5 million base salary (fully guaranteed)
2020: $2.6 million base salary ($1.5 million of which is guaranteed for injury only and becomes fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the league-year waiver period)
2021: $3.35 million base salary
2022: $4 million base salary
K.J. Wright
Overview: Two years, $14 million ($6.5 million guaranteed)
Signing bonus: $5 million
2019: $1.5 million base salary (fully guaranteed); $1.5 million in per-game roster bonuses ($46,875 apiece for every game on the 46- and 53-man rosters)
2020: $3.5 million base salary; $1 million roster bonus (fifth day of the new league year); $1.5 million in per-game roster bonuses ($46,875 apiece for every game on the 46- and 53-man rosters); playing time escalator of up to $1.5 million