C.J. Gardner-Johnson was a great pick by the New Orleans Saints back in the 2019 draft; that’s become more clear day by day, with the latest proof of it being the performance based pay benefit Gardner-Johnson cashed in after a strong second season. This system was recently introduced as a way to reward players on rookie contracts or near-league minimum salaries for playing more often than their peers; the Saints have drafted well lately, and Gardner-Johnson’s new windfall is a testament to it.
The NFL and the players union announced these bonuses for all qualifying players across the league on Tuesday, with Gardner-Johnson leading 40 of his Saints teammates in bonus pay (you can find the full list at this NFL release).