The numbers are in for Jerick McKinnon’s four-year $30 million deal. And it’s a solid deal that will pay him plenty to become a key piece of the 49ers offense.
The breakdown appears below.
1. Signing bonus: $2 million.
2. 2018 base salary (fully guaranteed): $4.2 million.
3. 2018 roster bonus (fully guaranteed, due fifth day of league year): $5.5 million.
4. 2019 base salary (guaranteed for injury at signing; fully guaranteed on 4/1/19): $3.7 million.
5. 2020 base salary ($2.6 million guaranteed for injury at signing; fully guaranteed on 4/1/20): $6.5 million.
6. 2021 base salary: $6.9 million.
McKinnon also has workout bonuses of $50,000 each year, per-game roster bonuses totaling $250,000 per year. The 2021 season will be a team option to be exercise prior to the end of the 2020 league year.
At a minimum, it’s a one-year, $12 million deal -- not a bad amount to make if the 49ers would decide to part ways with McKinnon before April 1, 2019. They likely won’t; the 2019 cash is merely $4 million, making it a $16 million deal over two years.
The 49ers then have to decide whether to invest another $4.8 million for 2020 and $7.2 million for 2021.
Regardless, it’s a solid contract for a career backup who has never rushed for more than 570 yards in any NFL season. He aspires to be “the guy,” and he’ll definitely be getting paid that way.
