- Signed
- 2021
- Average / year
- $1.05M
- Signing bonus
- $722,416
- Guarantee rate
- 17.2%
$4,202,416 in reported contract value across 4 seasons, including $722,416 guaranteed at signing and a $722,416 signing bonus.
Capologist / NFL contract file
Washington Commanders
Washington CommandersJohn Bates Contract
John Bates signed a three-year, $21 million contract with the Washington Commanders. The deal includes $11.52 million guaranteed and can reach $25.5 million with incentives. It carries a $5.79 million cap hit in 2026.
Contract record last updated .
3-year contract$21M
- Guaranteed
- $11.52M
- Average / year
- $7M
- Free agency
- 2028 UFA
Tight End #87Age 286 NFL seasons6' 6" / 256 lbsBoise State
WSHTE / 87
2026 contract ledger
Select a label for a plain-language definition.
| 2026 | $3,010,000 | $2,333,333 | $3,500,000 | $0 | $5,793,333 |
|---|
Cap hit: The total amount charged against the team salary cap for this league year.
View full accounting breakdown13 contract fields
| Year | Base salary | Signing proration | Option bonus | Option proration | Roster bonus | Per-game bonus | Workout bonus | Available incentives | Cap incentives | Guaranteed salary | Cash due | Cap hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026contract | $3,010,000 | $2,333,333 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $150,000 | $1,500,000 | $300,000 | $0 | $3,500,000 | $5,793,333 |
Cap equation · 2026
BASE $3,010,000 + SIGNING $2,333,333 + OPTION PRORATION $0 + ROSTER $0 + PER-GAME $0 + WORKOUT $150,000 + CAP INCENTIVES $300,000=$5,793,333$1,200,000 in additional incentives is available but does not count in the current cap hit.
Career cash flow
Earned through 2025Hatched bars are scheduled, not yet earnedSwipe across seasons →
$8.96M$4.48M$0
WSH2021–2027BaseSigningRosterRestructureOptionOther earnedBonus mixNew dealScheduled
CASH · 2026=
BASE $3,010,000 + SIGNING $0 + ROSTER $0 + RESTRUCTURE $0 + OPTION $0 + WORKOUT $150,000 + EARNED INCENTIVES $0 + ADJUSTMENT $340,000$3,500,000Annual career ledger
Swipe for annual and career totals →
| Season | Salary | Bonuses and cash adjustments | Potential | Cash totals | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Age | Team | Base salary | Signing | Roster | Restructure | Option | Workout | Incentives paid | Other cash | Available | Annual cash | Career cash |
| 2021NEW DEAL | 24 | WSH | $660,000 | $722,416 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $1,382,416 | $1,382,416 |
| 2022 | 25 | WSH | $825,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $825,000 | $2,207,416 |
| 2023 | 26 | WSH | $940,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $940,000 | $3,147,416 |
| 2024 | 27 | WSH | $3,116,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $3,116,000 | $6,263,416 |
| 2025NEW DEAL | 28 | WSH | $1,510,000 | $7,000,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $150,000 | $0 | $300,000 | $0 | $8,960,000 | $15,223,416 |
| 2026SCHEDULED | 29 | WSH | $3,010,000 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $150,000 | $0 | $340,000 | $0 | $3,500,000 | $18,723,416 |
| 2027SCHEDULED | 30 | WSH | $7,260,000 | $0 | $0 | $750,000 | $0 | $150,000 | $0 | $340,000 | $0 | $8,500,000 | $27,223,416 |
| Career totals | $17,321,000 | $7,722,416 | $0 | $750,000 | $0 | $450,000 | $0 | $980,000 | $0 | $27,223,416 | $27,223,416 | ||
Contract history
2 reported agreements · guarantees at signing
- 20212021
- 20252025
- Signed
- 2025
- Average / year
- $7M
- Signing bonus
- $7M
- Guarantee rate
- 54.9%
$21,000,000 in reported contract value across 3 seasons, including $11,520,000 guaranteed at signing and a $7,000,000 signing bonus.