Does Drake Maye Earn Contract Bonus for Patriots' Super Bowl Berth? Explaining NFL Rookie Deals

Even though New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye is only one win away from a Super Bowl title in his second NFL season, playing on a rookie contract limits the incentives he can earn.

Since rookie deals are structured by the wage scale, the NFL's collective bargaining agreement states a player's salary "may not change based upon any contingency."

Examples of those contingencies include offseason workout participation, playtime honors, individual- or team-based performance incentives.

Maye, whose four-year rookie deal as the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 draft was worth a fully-guaranteed $36.6 million, made roughly $8.4 million this season between his signing bonus ($5.9 million), roster bonus ($1.5 million) and base salary ($960,000).

He will get a bump up to around $10 million in 2026 thanks to an increased roster bonus ($3.1 million) and base salary ($1.1 million).

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By comparison, the other starting quarterback in Super Bowl 60 has already earned more through incentives than Maye did between his roster bonus and base salary this season.

Sam Darnold signed a three-year, $110.5 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks in free agency last March. He has made an additional $3 million in incentives so far, including $1.5 million for reaching the Super Bowl.

If the Seahawks win the Super Bowl, Darnold's playoff incentive payout will be $2.5 million.

The first significant contractual payday for Maye will come after next season when the Patriots presumably pick up the fifth-year option on his rookie deal for 2028.

While the value of Maye's fifth-year option has yet to be determined, the projected value for Will Anderson Jr., the No. 3 pick in the 2023 draft, will be $26.6 million since he is a two-time Pro Bowler.

Maye made the Pro Bowl this season, so his fifth-year option will be at least one step above the playtime slot. He could hit the highest-option level if he is able to make the Pro Bowl again in 2026.

Even though Maye won't earn any incentives from the Patriots as a result of making the Super Bowl, his endorsement earning power has almost certainly increased from this playoff run.

Maye already has endorsement deals with at least seven brands, including Abercrombie & Fitch and Gillette.

The Patriots and Seahawks will play Super Bowl 60 at Levi's Stadium on Feb. 8, 2026.