Cowboys player has a chance to make a whole lot of money in Wild Card Round

Dallas Cowboys WR T.Y. Hilton has quickly made an impact on the team, especially in his first couple of games active. His signature moment came on the emblematic 3rd & 30 catch for 52 yards that kept the Cowboys alive against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16. But against the Tennessee Titans, he also came […]

Mauricio Rodriguez — Dallas Cowboys News Writer
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Dallas Cowboys
Dec 24, 2022; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup (13) and quarterback Dak Prescott (4) and wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) in the huddle during the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Dallas Cowboys WR T.Y. Hilton has quickly made an impact on the team, especially in his first couple of games active.

His signature moment came on the emblematic 3rd & 30 catch for 52 yards that kept the Cowboys alive against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16. But against the Tennessee Titans, he also came up big with crucial catches on third down.

And while Hilton's day against the Washington Commanders was unimpressive (like everyone else's on the Cowboys roster), the wide receiver lined himself up to get PAID in the playoffs.

Why? Playing time. Week 18 was the first game in which Hilton's snap count went over 30%.

Here's why that matters.

Per Spotrac, Hilton's contract with the Cowboys has playing-time incentives for the team's playoff games.

The three-time Pro Bowler signed a one-year deal for $800,000 late in the season but could almost double that if Dallas makes a Super Bowl run.

Hilton would be looking at $100,000 if he plays 30% of the snaps against the Bucs and the Cowboys win. That amount would increase by $50,000 per game throughout the playoffs.

Here's a quick rundown of how that would look like:

  • Incentives ($700,000)
  • Wildcard Win (30% snaps): $100,000
  • Divisional Win (30% snaps): $150,000
  • Conf. Championship (30% snaps): $200,000
  • Super Bowl Win (30% snaps): $250,000

Does that mean an extra motivated version of T.Y. Hilton for the Cowboys? Probably. But motivation only gets you so far in a league as competitive as the NFL.

Hilton's ability to find the soft spots versus zone coverage and separate from defensive backs with speed in man-to-man situations will be what really makes the difference for the Cowboys.

Clearly, he arrived at Dallas well-prepared to be a difference maker and the Cowboys are expected to play him a lot on Monday Night. It would be a major surprise if Hilton doesn't play in over 30% of the snaps.

Cowboys Nation hopes T.Y. Hilton earns every cent of his incentives as those are tied with the hopes and dreams of a fanbase that's been waiting for almost three decades now.

Featured image via Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

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