GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Sometimes, NFL players outperform their contracts.
Without tearing up those deals, there is a way for players who fit that description to earn more money. It’s called the NFL's performance-based pay distribution in which each team can allot a total of $3.46 million in additional play to its players.
It typically benefits players in their first NFL contracts or minimum-salaried free-agent signings who become key contributors.
For example, Green Bay Packers left tackle David Bakhtiari, a fourth-round pick with a base salary of $405,000 last year, will receive an additional $256,882.22 in performance-based pay, according to documents obtained by ESPN.com. Bakhtiari started every game last season as a rookie. He received the largest pay increases among Packers' players. According to the NFL, those payments will be made on April 1, 2016.
The smallest distribution to a Packers' player went to backup tackle Derek Sherrod, who will receive $2,154.55. He was active for seven games but only took six snaps on offense all season.
Here’s a list of the top-10 and bottom-10 performance-based bonuses on the Packers’ roster:
Top 10
T David Bakhtiari: $255,882.22
T Don Barclay: $236,693.64
S M.D. Jennings: $201,938.58
WR Jarrett Boykin: $172,727.89
CB Micah Hyde: $169,675
CB Davon House: $145,556.19
OLB Andy Mulumba: $145,179.21
DE Mike Daniels: $138,212.73
S Chris Banjo: $131,400.05
RB Eddie Lacy: $122,371.61
Bottom 10
T Derek Sherrod: $2,145.55
DE C.J. Wilson: $2,451.84
TE Jermichael Finley: $3,320.04
K Mason Crosby: $4,834.67
QB Aaron Rodgers: $5,391.36
WR Chris Harper: $5,489.49
RB Michael Hill: $5,548.49
G Greg Van Roten: $7,101.54
DT Ryan Pickett: $8,568.53
RB Kahlil Bell: $8,612.56