NFL rewards Steelers defender with a big-time bonus despite him being benched during the 2025 season
He meets the threshold.
It’s almost St. Patrick’s Day, which means the NFL is giving out green. Every year around this time, the NFL announces and rewards players who don’t have high salaries but play a high number of snaps. It’s called performance-based pay, and two Pittsburgh Steelers are among the top 25 in terms of the biggest bonuses received.
One of them is starting right guard Mason McCormick. A former fourth-round pick who started and played in every game in 2025. The other is a linebacker who began the season alongside Patrick Queen, but was then demoted before finding his best role, and now is being rewarded.
Payton Wilson ranks 14th in performance-based pay for 2025
Wilson started the season alongside Patrick Queen at the onset of the 2025 season, forming an exciting stacked back duo heading in. It was evident quickly, however, that the Steelers defense could not hold up in the run game, and they were outmatched and out-levearged at the point of attack.
Pittsburgh made the move to Malik Harrison instead, who ended up starting nine games and playing more of that run-stopping role, while Patrick Queen stayed in his point and chase role. Wilson, however, developed into a good dimebacker for the Steelers, and he still played a ton of snaps because of the Steelers’ propensity to get into lighter personnel packages against heavy passing offenses.
What happens next with Wilson remains to be seen, but after logging 64% of the defense’s snaps despite being drafted in the third round, he will take a nice chunk of change in the middle of his offseason.
Mason McCormick also among the top performance-based pay earners
McCormick finished eighth on the list after playing every single snap of his 2025 season. The former South Dakota State Jackrabbit has been a solid addition for the Steelers since being drafted in the fourth round back in 2024.
He plays with a no-nonsense brand of football, and the right side of that line looks strong for years to come with him and Troy Fautanu.
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