2 Chiefs Among Nfl’s Top 25 Earners In Performance-based Pay

On Monday, the NFL released calculations for its “Performance-Based Pay” program. Two members of the Kansas City Chiefs are among the top 25 beneficiaries — all of whom will clear at least $1 million from the pool.

Safety Chamarri Conner will receive almost $1.2 million in extra money, while guard Kingsley Suamataia’s allotment will be just under $1.1 million. Over $542 million will be rewarded.

The program was started in 2022 to reward players who outperform their contract based on snaps played. The money is paid from a league pool and is considered a benefit. It is not a salary adjustment that impacts a team’s 2026 salary cap.

Any player who saw the field in the 2025 is technically eligible to be rewarded under the complicated formula, but players most likely to become earners combine a high snap count with a low base salary.

Conner — a former fourth round pick — earned a salary of just over $1 million in 2025. During the season, he was on the field for 98% of Kansas City’s defensive snaps and 21% on special teams.

As a former second rounder, Suamataia had a slightly higher base salary of almost $1.1 million. He took 98% of the Chiefs’ offensive snaps and also saw action on 16% of the special teams snaps.

The is actually the second pay adjustment for Conner based on his snap counts. Because he participated in more than 35% of the Chiefs’ defensive snaps in two of his first three seasons, he also qualifies for a Level 1 raise under the league’s “Proven Performance Escalator.” This raises his base salary for 2026 — his last season under contract for his rookie deal — to about $3.7 million. This amount is equal to the original round tender in restricted free agency.