A per-game roster bonus (PGRB) is a payment earned for each game a player is on the active 46-man gameday roster. It rewards availability and is commonly used in veteran contracts.
Per-game roster bonuses (PGRBs) are a contract mechanism that pays players a set amount for each regular-season game they are on the active 46-man gameday roster. The total PGRB is divided by the number of regular-season games (18 in the current format), and the player earns one installment for each game they are active. If a player is inactive, on injured reserve, or suspended for a game, they do not earn that week's PGRB installment.
PGRBs have become increasingly popular in veteran contracts because they align the team's payment with the player's actual availability. A team signing an injury-prone veteran might offer a lower base salary but a significant PGRB, ensuring that the bulk of compensation flows only when the player is available to contribute. For example, a contract might include a $1.08 million PGRB, paying $60,000 per game for 18 games. If the player misses 4 games due to injury, the team saves $240,000 compared to paying a flat salary.
From a cap perspective, PGRBs are treated as LTBE incentives at the start of the season if the player was on the active roster for the majority of games the prior season. This means the full PGRB amount is charged against the cap upfront, with adjustments made the following year if the player earns more or less than projected. PGRBs also interact with the veteran minimum salary benefit: for players on minimum-salary contracts, the PGRB can be structured so that the cap charge remains at the minimum while the player receives additional cash compensation, benefiting both the team (lower cap hit) and the player (more money).
Veteran minimum contracts frequently include per-game roster bonuses. A player on a $1.21 million minimum salary might have $500,000 structured as a PGRB, earning roughly $27,778 per active game.
Per-Game Payment = Total PGRB / Number of Regular Season Games (18)
Category: Contract Structure. Part of the StickToTheModel NFL Encyclopedia.