Saturday’s arrival worth $8.5 million to former Alabama safety

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The Detroit Lions released Greenville High School product Za’Darius Smith on Monday. The termination of the pass-rusher’s contract kept the NFL team from paying Smith a roster bonus of $2 million on Saturday.

Alabama alumnus Dalvin Tomlinson had a similar, but less expensive, experience when the Cleveland Browns let him go on Wednesday. Had the defensive tackle been on the team’s roster on Saturday, he would have received $750,000.

The third full day and the fifth full day of the NFL’s business year are major calendar dates for roster bonuses and contract guarantees in players’ contracts throughout the league, making Saturday and Monday offseason paydays for some of the best current players from Alabama high schools and colleges. The NFL’s 2025 business year started at 3 p.m. CDT Wednesday.

At the top of the roster-bonus riches is Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney. On Saturday, the former Alabama defensive back is due a roster bonus of $8.5 million.

Other players with Alabama football roots who have roster bonuses coming due and salary guarantees taking effect in the first five days of the NFL’s 2025 business year include:

Saturday

Washington Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne (Shades Valley, Alabama) will have $4 million of his 2025 salary of $19.56 million become guaranteed. (On March 15, 2024, $9 million of the salary had become guaranteed.)

Carolina Panthers defensive end A’Shawn Robinson (Alabama) will have $3 million of his 2025 salary of $5.735 million become guaranteed.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (Alabama) will have $14 million of his 2026 salary become guaranteed.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama) will have his 2026 salary of $39 million become guaranteed.

Monday

Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins (Clay-Chalkville) will have $10 million of his 2026 salary become guaranteed.

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (Alabama) will have his 2025 salary of $9 million become guaranteed.

Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry (Alabama) will receive a roster bonus of $1 million.

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (Hoover, Alabama) will receive a roster bonus of $4 million.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (Alabama) will have $30.804 million of his 2026 salary become guaranteed.

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (Alabama) will receive a roster bonus of $5.93 million.

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley (Alabama) will have $3.02 million of his 2026 salary become guaranteed.

Indianapolis Colts offensive tackle Braden Smith (Auburn) will receive a roster bonus of $2 million.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (Alabama) will have his 2026 salary of $16.631 million become guaranteed.

Los Angeles Rams cornerback Darious Williams (UAB) will receive a roster bonus of $3 million and have his 2025 salary of $5 million become guaranteed.

Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Jonah Williams (Alabama) will receive a roster bonus of $1.5 million and have $2.5 million of his 2025 salary become guaranteed. (When the contract was signed last year, $2.5 million of the 2025 salary were guaranteed.)

New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams (Wenonah, Alabama) will have the remainder -- $10.509 million -- of his 2025 base salary, his per-game bonus of $64,705 for 2025 and $5 million of his 2026 salary of $20.75 million become guaranteed.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.

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