Sean Rhyan loses over $2 million due to two plays
In professional American football, every play counts. For Green Bay Packers guard Sean Rhyan, the difference between two plays and over two million dollars is abysmal.
If Rhyan had participated in two additional plays in his first three NFL seasons (2022-2024), he would have qualified for the “Proven Performance Escalator” (PPE). This would have meant that his base salary for 2025 would increase to $3.406 million instead of the $1,363,571 he will receive under his original rookie contract.
The difference, of $2,042,429, is due to Rhyan falling two plays short of the 35% required according to Article 7, Section 4 of the NFL collective bargaining agreement.
According to this agreement, a player selected between rounds three and seven (Rhyan was chosen in the third round in 2022) who participates in at least 35% of their team’s offensive or defensive plays in two of their first three regular seasons, or who has a “cumulative average” of at least 35% of offensive or defensive plays in those three seasons, qualifies for the salary increase, which is essentially equivalent to the restricted free agent tender for the following season.
- In his rookie season, he played in a single game without participating in any offensive plays.
- In 2023, he played 183 plays out of a possible 1,096 (16.7%).
- Last season, he played 961 of 1,082 possible offensive plays (88.8%).
In total, Rhyan participated in 1,144 of 3,272 possible offensive plays for the Packers in the last three seasons, representing 34.952% of the plays from 2022-24.
We were sure he was getting to 35% of the plays. However, the NFL and the NFLPA put it just below. Therefore, according to the Packers, they will not give him the upgrade. We are very disappointed about that, of course.
Cameron Foster, agent of Sean Rhyan
Rhyan’s original rookie contract was for four years and $5.12 million, with a signing bonus of $905,712. However, he lost $235,000 of his base salary in his rookie season due to a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy.
In March, Rhyan received an additional $697,006 through the NFL’s performance-based pay program. This was the third-highest compensation on the team.
Rhyan is expected to compete again for a starting position at the right guard position this season.
