Breaking down the cap: Chargers QB Justin Herbert’s new contract
Quarterback Justin Herbert’s payday arrived with the Chargers, agreeing to terms on a massive $262.5 million extension, locking him in until 2029.
Here is a full breakdown of the cap from Herbert’s new contract moving forward for the Chargers.
Herbert’s signing bonus is $16.12 million and will be prorated over five seasons. He also has the chance to earn a bonus of $50.61 million in 2024 (prorated over 5 years) and another option bonus of $45 million in 2024 (prorated over 5 years.)
2023: Base salary of $1.01m, signing bonus (including rookie bonus) $7.45m, cap hit $8.46m
2024: Base salary of $6m, signing bonus $3.22m, optional bonus $10.12m, cap hit $19.35m
2025: Base salary of $15m, signing bonus $3.22m, optional bonus $19.12m, cap hit $37.35m
2026: Base salary of $24m, signing bonus $3.22m, optional bonus $19.12m, cap hit $46.35m
2027: Base salary of $36m, signing bonus $3.22m, optional bonus $19.12m, cap hit $58.35m
2028: Base salary of $47m, roster bonus $5m, optional bonus $19.12m, cap hit $71.12m
2029: Base salary of $40.5m, roster bonus $10m, optional bonus $9m, cap hit $59.5m
Though the cap numbers above are shockingly high, Herbert should be restructured going into the 2027 season – five years after his initial signing. His contract is mostly likely to be either extended again or reworked to push the cap into further years, extending his time on this current deal before striking up another one. The salary cap also increases every season, allowing Herbert to stay well under 20% of the team’s total projected cap space in the seasons to come.
