Austin Johnson will join the Buffalo Bills in 2024. His contract is fully guaranteed, and while they could release or transfer him, there would be little benefit to doing so.
Buffalo paid more than half of the contract up front as a signing bonus to spread the cap burden across three seasons with void years. His base pay in 2024 is the league minimum, but it is also totally guaranteed.
The signing bonus ($1.835 million) will only count $611,666 in 2024, with equal amounts in 2025 and 2026. If he is not re-signed, the 2026 cap hit will accelerate to 2025, bringing his total dead-cap hit to $1,223,334 in 2025, even though he’s not on the team.
Like the majority of general manager Brandon Beane’s contracts, there includes a workout bonus ($200,000) and a per-game roster incentive ($15,000 per game up to $255,000). Johnson played 17 games in 2023, therefore his roster bonus will be fully counted against the cap during the season.
Johnson is the 47th-highest paid defensive tackle in the NFL, placing him firmly in the starter/heavy-rotation category. For comparison, DaQuan Jones earns $8 million per year, whereas Ed Oliver earns $17 million. Harrison Phillips earns $6.5 million annually with the Minnesota Vikings.
With the level of his contract, Johnson does enter the compensatory pick conversation. He and Curtis Samuel are the two qualifying free-agent signings by the Bills, per Over the Cap. they are currently canceled out by Dane Jackson and Tyrel Dodson signing elsewhere.
Here is the yearly breakdown.
2024
Signing bonus: $611,667
Workout bonus: $200,000
Per-game roster bonus: $15,000 per game up to $255,000 ($255,000 LTBE)
Base salary: $1.21 million (fully guaranteed)
Yearly cash: $3.5 million
Cap hit: $2,276,667
2025
Signing bonus: $611,667
Dead cap if not re-signed: $1,223,334
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