Jets rookie quarterback Sam Darnold got something rather interesting as part of his three-practice training camp holdout: His $20.078 million signing bonus will be paid up front, in full.
That is atypical of NFL rookie contracts, even for high draft picks. It is something Darnold's agent, CAA Sports' Jimmy Sexton, wanted -- and got.
But from a tax standpoint, would Darnold have been better off getting the bonus in two or three payments? Or is a single lump-sum payment more advantageous?
These are important questions for Darnold because they involve something everyone can relate to -- actual take-home pay, after Uncle Sam (the more powerful Sam, in this case) gets his cut.