Earlier this week, the Minnesota Vikings signed free agent tight end John Carlson to a reported five-year, $25 million contract. However, the real numbers for Carlson’s deal could end up looking more like a two-year, $11 million deal, according to 1500 ESPN.
Citing a source who saw the contract, Tom Pelissero said that the only $9.1 million of Carlson’s contract was “truly guaranteed.” The guaranteed money includes a $5 million signing bonus, a $2.9 million base salary this year and $1.2 million of his $2.9 million base salary in 2013.
After 2013, Carlson’s base salary jumps, a well-timed feature of the contract to matches up with the date the NFL gets a big increase in its television revenues, which is expected to bump up the salary cap for each team.
For more on the Minnesota Vikings, go to Daily Norseman. You can also get all of your professional football news over at SB Nation’s NFL hub.