The collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the NFL Players Association features a provision that helps high-performing players on low-dollar rookie contracts earn a significant bonus in their fourth season. The Proven Performance Escalator allows players who meet certain snap count thresholds to get a significant one-time boost in their base salaries for their fourth NFL seasons.
The intent of the program is to reward players who carve out a significant role for themselves as young players, one that often outshines a humble draft status. However, it’s not hard to imagine cases where this could backfire for the player; the increase is not guaranteed, and it makes these players a more significant salary cap liability.