On Sunday, the New England Patriots will play their regular-season finale against their divisional rival, the New York Jets. Although the game has no playoff implications, the matchup has significant draft implications. In addition, seven Patriots players can earn bonus incentives on Sunday.
One Patriots player – Lawrence Guy – already received good news on Saturday morning when it was reported the Patriots would be adjusting his contract. This was done, so Guy automatically cashes in on his playing time incentive.
Along with Guy, the Patriots have other players who can earn a bonus on Sunday. With help from Patriots cap expert Miguel Benzan (@patscap), here are the other players who can make extra money.
WR DeVante Parker
Although Parker is listed on the injury report with a ribs injury, if he’s active, he can earn his playing time incentive AND his reception incentive. Parker has 32 receptions and needs eight more to reach his 40 receptions incentive on the season. Furthermore, DeVante Parker has played 54% of the snaps so far this season. He must end with 52% or higher to earn his playing time incentive.
TE Mike Gesicki
The Patriots signed Gesicki in free agency last offseason, and the move hasn’t quite worked out for both sides. However, there’s a chance the tight end can still earn his incentives. He needs 13 catches to reach 40 receptions and receive a $300K prize. Also, if he plays 25-30 snaps against the Jets, he will earn his 46% playing time incentive and net a $350K bonus.
RB Ezekiel Elliott
2023 free-agent addition, Ezekiel Elliott needs 101 to reach 975 total scrimmage yards. If he reaches 975, he’ll activate his $300K bonus. He also has a slight chance to earn his 55% playing time incentive but would need to play close to 100% of the snaps. Elliott has played under 48% of the snaps this season. It’s very unlikely that Elliott would mathematically be able to cash in on his playing-time incentive.
S Jabrill Peppers
Even with Peppers being inactive the last two weeks due to injury, he still can earn his playing time incentive. Peppers has been on the field for 82% of the snaps in 2023 and needs to play 25 to 30 snaps to ensure his 80% threshold and receive a $1M bonus.
LB Jahlani Tavai
Tavai can earn his 70% playing time incentive with 25 to 30 snaps against the Jets. He has played 73% of the total snaps this year. Tavai is questionable with a tooth injury but if he is active he could earn $200K in incentives.
LB Mack Wilson
The young linebacker has been on fire the last couple of weeks of the season, and it could lead to him cashing in on his bonus. Wilson has played 28% of the total snaps this season and needs to stay above the 25% snap threshold to earn his bonus.
S Jalen Mills
Veteran Jalen Mills has a chance to earn his 42% playing time incentive but has currently played 41% of the snaps this season. He must play close to 100% of the snaps against the Jets to cash in on a $600K.
Extra snap-count notes:
Through the first 17 weeks, Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott have the same snap count (486). Elliott has played in all but one game this season for the Patriots, while Stevenson has missed five contests due to injury.
Despite missing five games, DeVante Parker has played the most snaps out of all their receivers this season. Parker has played 553 snaps this season, with JuJu Smith-Schuster next with 461. Although DeMario Douglas leads the Patriots in yards (548), he only played 40% of the snaps this season.
After Week 2, Christian Barmore never saw his snap count dip below 60%. Barmore has had his most productive season this year, recording eight sacks, 11 tackles for loss, and 15 quarterback hits.
Anfernee Jennings has been active in every game since being a healthy scratch in Week 1 and 2. He’ll be a free agent at the end of the season.
Myles Bryant has played more snaps this season than ever in his career. He’s played over 70% of the snaps in 12 games this season. He only has one contest in which he played below 60% of the available snaps.
My name is Ben Belford-Peltzman and I am the creator and writer of The Patriots Beat. I am a 17-year kid who is an optimistic pessimist about the City of Champions. I started The Patriots Beat in August of 2022 and never expected to grow so much but here we are. Feel free to email Thepatriotsbeat@gmail.com with any inquires.
