The new NFL collective bargaining agreement included a fourth-year proven performance escalator for rookie contracts, which rewards players who weren’t selected in the first round for earning more snaps over their first three years in the league. And that’s great news for New Orleans Saints wideout Tre’Quan Smith, who is set to receive a nice pay raise in 2021 after triggering the Level One escalator.
Because Smith, a 2018 third round pick, has played more than 35% of snaps in each of his first three seasons, his base salary is going to jump from $950,000 to an estimated $2,133,000; an increase of about $1.