Terrel Bernard

Buffalo Bills, Inside Linebacker

Age: 25y-10m-19d (May 07, 1999)

Exp: 4 Years

Country: US

College: Baylor

Drafted: Round 3 (#89 overall), 2022

Agent(s): Ronald Slavin (SportStars)

2025 Cap Hit

$2,528,248

2025 Cash

$7,100,000

Career Earnings

$4,297,825

2025-2029 Extension (CURRENT)

Terrel Bernard signed a 4 year, $42,143,000 contract with the Buffalo Bills, including $6,000,000 signing bonus, $23,852,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $10,535,750. In 2025, Bernard will earn a base salary of $1,100,000 and a signing bonus of $6,000,000, while carrying a cap hit of $2,528,248 and a dead cap value of $14,328,248.

Contract Terms:

4 yr(s) / $42,143,000

Average Salary:

$10,535,750

Signing Bonus:

$6,000,000

GTD at Sign:

$14,100,000

Total GTD:

$23,852,000

Free Agent:

2030 / UFA

MANAGE CONTRACT

Year	Age	Status	Cap HitAnnual	Cap % League Cap	Cash Annual	Cash Cumulative	Dead Cap Annual
2025	26		$2,528,248	0.91%	$7,100,000	$7,100,000	$14,328,248
2026	27		$5,472,000	1.78%	$9,672,000	$16,772,000	$11,800,000
2027	28		$11,150,000	3.30%	$8,600,000	$25,372,000	$3,600,000
POTENTIAL OUT: 2028, 3 YR, $25,372,000; $2,400,000 DEAD CAP
2028	29		$12,000,000	3.23%	$9,450,000	$34,822,000	$2,400,000
2029	30		$13,134,000	3.21%	$10,584,000	$45,406,000	$1,200,000
2030	31	Void UFA	$1,350,000	0.30%	-	$45,406,000	-

Year	Age	Status	Base P5 Salary	Signing Proration	Roster Bonus	Roster/Gm Bonus	Option Proration	Workout Bonus	Cap Hit	Cap % League Cap	Dead Cap
2025	26		$1,100,000	$1,428,248	-	-	-	-	$2,528,248	0.91%	$14,328,248	2025 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2025 Dead Cap: $14,328,248 2025 Savings: $-11,800,000 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2025 Dead Cap: $6,228,248 2025 Savings: $-3,700,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2025 Dead Cap: $9,528,248 2026 Dead Cap: $4,800,000 2025 Savings: $-7,000,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2025 Dead Cap: $1,428,248 2026 Dead Cap: $4,800,000 2025 Savings: $1,100,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
2026	27		$2,162,000	$1,200,000	-	$510,000	$1,350,000	$250,000	$5,472,000	1.78%	$11,800,000	2026 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2026 Dead Cap: $11,800,000 2026 Savings: $-6,328,000 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2026 Dead Cap: $4,800,000 2026 Savings: $672,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2026 Dead Cap: $8,200,000 2027 Dead Cap: $3,600,000 2026 Savings: $-2,728,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2026 Dead Cap: $1,200,000 2027 Dead Cap: $3,600,000 2026 Savings: $4,272,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
2027	28		$7,840,000	$1,200,000	-	$510,000	$1,350,000	$250,000	$11,150,000	3.30%	$3,600,000	2027 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2027 Dead Cap: $9,900,000 2027 Savings: $1,250,000 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2027 Dead Cap: $3,600,000 2027 Savings: $7,550,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2027 Dead Cap: $7,500,000 2028 Dead Cap: $2,400,000 2027 Savings: $3,650,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2027 Dead Cap: $7,500,000 2028 Dead Cap: $2,400,000 2027 Savings: $9,950,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
POTENTIAL OUT: 2028, 3 YR, $25,372,000; $2,400,000 DEAD CAP
2028	29		$8,690,000	$1,200,000	-	$510,000	$1,350,000	$250,000	$12,000,000	3.23%	$2,400,000	2028 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2028 Dead Cap: $2,400,000 2028 Savings: $9,600,000 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2028 Dead Cap: $2,400,000 2028 Savings: $9,600,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2028 Dead Cap: $1,200,000 2029 Dead Cap: $1,200,000 2028 Savings: $10,800,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2028 Dead Cap: $1,200,000 2029 Dead Cap: $1,200,000 2028 Savings: $10,800,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
2029	30		$8,824,000	$1,200,000	$1,000,000	$510,000	$1,350,000	$250,000	$13,134,000	3.21%	$1,200,000	2029 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2029 Dead Cap: $1,200,000 2029 Savings: $11,934,000 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2029 Dead Cap: $1,200,000 2029 Savings: $11,934,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2029 Dead Cap: $1,200,000 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Savings: $11,934,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2029 Dead Cap: $1,200,000 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2029 Savings: $11,934,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.
2030	31	Void UFA	-	-	-	-	$1,350,000	-	$1,350,000	0.30%	-	2030 Release/Trade PRE-6/1 RELEASE 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Savings: $1,350,000 PRE-6/1 TRADE 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Savings: $1,350,000 What is a Pre-6/1 Release or Trade? When a player is released or traded before June 1st, all of the dead cap remaining on his contract (including any guaranteed salary) accelerates into the current year. POST-6/1 RELEASE 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2031 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Savings: $1,350,000 POST-6/1 TRADE 2030 Dead Cap: $0 2031 Dead Cap: $0 2030 Savings: $1,350,000 What is a Post-6/1 Release or Trade? When a release or trade is processed after June 1st (including a Post June 1st Designation transaction), the remaining dead cap on the contract is allowed to split across the current year & the following year. Dead cap that is directly associated with the current year plus all future guaranteed salary remains as current year dead cap, while the remaining future year dead cap is allocated to the following season.

Year	Age	Status	Base P5 Salary	Signing Bonus	Roster Bonus	Roster/Gm Bonus	Option Bonus	Workout Bonus	Cash Total	Cash Cumulative	Cash Remaining
2025	26		$1,100,000	$6,000,000	-	-	-	-	$7,100,000	$7,100,000	$45,406,000
2026	27		$2,162,000	-	-	$510,000	$6,750,000	$250,000	$9,672,000	$16,772,000	$38,306,000
2027	28		$7,840,000	-	-	$510,000	-	$250,000	$8,600,000	$25,372,000	$28,634,000
POTENTIAL OUT: 2028, 3 YR, $25,372,000; $2,400,000 DEAD CAP
2028	29		$8,690,000	-	-	$510,000	-	$250,000	$9,450,000	$34,822,000	$20,034,000
2029	30		$8,824,000	-	$1,000,000	$510,000	-	$250,000	$10,584,000	$45,406,000	$10,584,000
2030	31	Void	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	$45,406,000	-

Contract Notes

$14.1M guaranteed at signing (signing bonus + 2025 salary + $7M of 2026 compensation)
Additional $1.912M of 2026 compensation fully guarantees the day following the 2025-26 Super Bowl (injury guaranteed at signing)
$6.3M of 2027 salary fully guarantees the 5th league day of 2026 ($7.84M injury guaranteed)
Additional $1.54M of 2027 salary fully guarantees the 5th league day of 2027
$1.348M of 2028 salary guaranteed for injury only
2026 Option Bonus: $6.75M (guaranteed, must be exercised by the 7th league day of 2026)
2029 Roster Bonus: $1M (5th league day of 2029)
2026-2029 Per Game Active Bonus: $30,000 ($510,000)
All-Pro Escalator (2027-2029 years cumulatively)
2025 1st Team All-Pro: $500,000
2026 1st Team All-Pro: $500,000
2027 1st Team All-Pro: $500,000
2028 1st Team All-Pro: $500,000
2027-2028 salaries can escalate a max $1M
2029 salary can escalate a max $1.5M
2030 year automatically voids 23 days before the start of the league year

Source: NFL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2022-2025 Rookie

Contract Terms:

4 yr(s) / $5,042,992

Average Salary:

$1,260,748

Signing Bonus:

$912,992

GTD at Sign:

$912,992

Total GTD:

$912,992

Free Agent:

2026 / UFA

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Seasons

4 Years

Career Earnings thru 2025

$4,297,825

Earnings w/ Different Teams

1 team

Earnings Per Year

Year	Age	Status	Cash Total	Cash Cumulative
2022	23	Active	$1,617,992	$1,617,992
2023	24	Active	$938,312	$2,556,304
2024	25	Active	$1,741,521	$4,297,825
Total			$4,297,825	$4,297,825
2025	26	Active	$7,100,000
2026	27	Active	$9,672,000
2027	28	Active	$8,600,000
2028	29	Active	$9,450,000
2029	30	Active	$10,584,000
Total			$49,703,825

Earnings Per Team

Years	Team	Base	Signing	Roster	Restructure	Option	Incentives	Cash Cumulative
3		$2,754,936	$912,992	-	-	$60,000	$569,897	$4,297,825

Year	Age	Base	Signing	Restructure	Option	Workout	Incentives	Cash Total	Cash Cumulative
2022	23	$705,000	$912,992					$1,617,992	$1,617,992
2023	24	$908,312				$30,000		$938,312	$2,556,304
2024	25	$1,141,624				$30,000	$569,897	$1,741,521	$4,297,825
Total		$2,754,936	$912,992			$60,000	$569,897	$4,297,825	$4,297,825
2025	26	$1,100,000	$6,000,000					$7,100,000
2026	27	$2,162,000			$6,750,000	$250,000		$9,672,000
2027	28	$7,840,000				$250,000		$8,600,000
2028	29	$8,690,000				$250,000		$9,450,000
2029	30	$8,824,000		$1,000,000		$250,000		$10,584,000
Total		$31,370,936	$6,912,992	$1,000,000	$6,750,000	$1,060,000	$569,897	$49,703,825

Earnings Per Team

Years	Team	Base	Signing	Roster	Restructure	Option	Incentives	Cash Cumulative
3		$2,754,936	$912,992	-	-	$60,000	$569,897	$4,297,825

Mar 07, 2025 Signed a 4 year $42.14 million contract extension with Buffalo (BUF)
Dec 27, 2024 Fined $7,610 Hit to a Defenseless Player against New England (NE)
May 12, 2022 Signed a 4 year $5.042 million contract with Buffalo (BUF)
Apr 29, 2022 Drafted by Buffalo (BUF): Round 3 (#89 overall)

Fines

Date		Reason		Fine Amount
Dec 27, 2024		Hit to a Defenseless Player against New England (NE)		$7,610
Fines: 1				$7,610

Year	Team	GP	GS	Snaps	Snaps%	Sack	Tackles Total	Tackles Solo	Tackles Assisted	Int
2024	BUF	13	13	749	68.30	1	104	55	49	2
2023	BUF	17	17	999	93.20	7	143	84	59	3
2022	BUF	16	1	110	10.50	0	16	7	9	0

Calculated Market Value

$6.7M Avg. Annual Salary

Market Value

3 years, $20,094,690
Avg. Salary: $6,698,230
NFL Rank: 372
ILB Rank: 18

Current Contract

Free Agent: 2030
Avg. Salary: $10,535,750
NFL Rank: 243
ILB Rank: 8

Comparable Players

We've selected the following players based on their age, contract status, and statistical production to compare Terrel Bernard to.

Player	Length	Value	Avg. Salary	Age When Signed
Devin White	1	$1,125,000	$1,125,000	26
Patrick Queen	3	$41,000,000	$13,666,667	24
Jerome Baker	1	$7,000,000	$7,000,000	27
Josey Jewell	3	$18,750,000	$6,250,000	29
Averages	2	$16,968,750	$7,010,417	26.5

Base Calculated Value

After adjusting the above contracts as if signed at Bernard's current age (25), a linear regression is performed, providing us with the following initial value.

Length	Value	Avg. Salary
4	$25,964,648	$6,491,162

Statistical Comparisons

Now we'll compare our variables and Bernard statistically over the two seasons prior to their signing. In this case we're analyzing: GP%, Tackles/Gm, Sacks/Gm, Stops/Gm, Catch Rate/Yr, QB Hurries/Gm, Rating

Player	GP%	Tackles/Gm	Sacks/Gm	Stops/Gm	Catch Rate/Yr	QB Hurries/Gm	Rating
Devin White 2022-2023	91.18	3.97	0.26	2.61	73.25	1.00	45.75
Patrick Queen 2022-2023	100.00	4.79	0.25	2.91	79.35	0.79	71.55
Jerome Baker 2022-2023	88.24	3.90	0.18	2.50	83.45	0.43	72.30
Josey Jewell 2022-2023	85.29	4.48	0.19	2.52	82.15	0.48	69.45
Average	91.18	4.29	0.22	2.64	79.55	0.68	64.76
Terrel Bernard 2023-2024	88.24	4.63	0.25	3.00	72.95	0.43	55.45
Pct Change	-3.22	7.93	13.64	13.64	8.30	-36.76	-14.38
Median Prime % Change							7.93%
Average Prime % Change							-1.55%

Calculated Market Value: Terrel Bernard

After applying our Prime % figures into our base calculated value, we're given two values. The average of these values becomes our current calculated market value.

Terms	Avg. Salary
3 years, $20,094,690	$6,698,230

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