Chris Paul Drives Dream Team Toward 25-Game Playoff Run!
Commanders left guard Chris Paul received a nice payout from the NFL.
The NFL revealed on Monday that the league paid out more than $542 million in performance-based pay in 2025. And one member of the Washington Commanders received a big payday. Left guard Chris Paul, a 2022 seventh-round pick, had appeared in 17 games, making only eight starts in his first three NFL seasons.
However, before the Week 3 game against the Las Vegas Raiders, the Commanders benched second-year offensive lineman Brandon Coleman and inserted Paul into the starting lineup at left guard. Paul took advantage of the opportunity, starting the last 15 games and becoming a bright spot for Washington in an otherwise disappointing season. His starting opportunity also came at the right time, as Paul was scheduled for unrestricted free agency after the 2025 season.
Paul received just over $1. 2 million in 2025 performance-based pay, which was the fifth-highest in all of the NFL for 2025. It more than doubled Paul's contractual earnings for the final season of his rookie deal, which was $1.
1 million. NFL players will receive more than $542 million in Performance-Based Pay for their performance during the 2025 season. The Performance-Based Pay program is a collectively bargained benefit that compensates all players based upon their playing time and salary levels.