When the Atlanta Falcons gave Dontari Poe a one-year contract earlier this week, it was seen as a major upgrade for the defending NFC champs.
Poe, 26, has earned two Pro Bowl trips since being selected No. 11 overall by the Kansas City Chiefs back in 2012. He can be an absolutely dominant player at times. Though, Poe himself is seen as a bit too inconsistent. Some have called him out for taking plays off. Meanwhile, weight has been an issue for the former Memphis standout.
Now, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Poe’s one-year, $8 million contract (up to $10 million with incentives) includes a whopping $500,000 weight clause.
“Per a source with knowledge of the deal, Poe’s one-year contract with the Falcons includes a half-million bonus tied to Poe making weight on a consistent basis,” Florio reported. “Failure to meet his goals will eat (pun not intended) into his $8 million base package.”
He can also earn incentives for a Pro Bowl trip and by meeting a certain threshold in terms of sacks.
This has become a bit more common in recent years, as evidenced by the Seattle Seahawks adding a weight clause to Eddie Lacy’s contract earlier in the week (more on that here).
Per Pro Football Talk, Poe’s incentives are classificed as “not likely to be earned,” which means even if he were to meet them it wouldn’t count against the Falcons’ cap.