Rams S Jordan Fuller Earns Raise After Career Milestone
Los Angeles Rams safety Jordan Fuller will be earning a bit more dough this season after reaching a major milestone.
Fuller made less than $1 million in each of his first three seasons, but will now make around $2.785 million in 2023. The reason for the raise is due to the NFL's Proven Performance Escalator program, which is designed to help players drafted outside the first round earn more money in their fourth seasons, provided certain conditions are met.
There are three levels to the program, with most players, including Fuller, falling into the first. To reach this tier, players must take a certain amount of their team's snaps, 60 percent for Round 2 picks and 35 percent for Rounds 3-7, in two of their first three seasons, or average that percentage across their first three years.
Even after missing most of last season with an injury, Fuller, a 2020 sixth-round pick, still met the criteria for the bonus. As such, his base salary has risen to the amount of the Right of First Refusal RFA tender, which is $2.743 million according to Over the Cap.
Had he not gotten injured last year, Fuller likely would've qualified for Level Two PPE, which requires players to play 55 percent of their team's snaps in each of their first three seasons. If Fuller had reached this tier, he would've earned an extra $250,000 in base salary.
Finally, Level Three PPE requires players to earn a Pro Bowl selection in their first three seasons, and substitutions don't count. For reaching this tier, a player's base salary will rise to that of a second-round RFA tender, which is about $4.3 million this season. The only three players to reach this level this year were Baltimore Ravens receiver Devin Duvernay, Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor and Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs.
Fuller was the only Ram to qualify for any level of the program this season. However, linebacker Ernest Jones and receiver Ben Skowronek are projected to qualify next year if they keep playing the same amount they have.
Fuller is entering a huge season, as it's the final year on his rookie deal and he's actually one of the veterans on L.A.'s young defense, despite only having three years of experience. Ahead of such a big season, a raise should only add even more motivation.
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