Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta and edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson have been voted into the Pro Bowl for the first time in their careers. Along with them, right tackle Penei Sewell is going to his second Pro Bowl. What a big honor for the rookie and the second year man. Making the Pro Bowl isn’t the only thing that’s cool for these guys today, They are also now able to collect on their Proven Performance Escalator.
There’s two types of PPE’s. We’ll start with LaPorta’s. His PPE is a mechanism that’s added into the contracts of players that are drafted outside of the first round of the draft. If a player is selected to the Pro Bowl on the original ballot, they can trigger that PPE. In LaPorta case he did just that.
LaPorta will now get at least $2 million added to his salary in 2026. This stems from the fact that his Pro Bowl nod gave him access to the Level Three PPE, which is equivalent to a second-round RFA tender. The current tender is projected to be worth $4.633 million in 2024 – LaPorta is set to earn $1,948,819 in 2026, his fourth year in the league. The PPE bonuses kick in before Year 4, so that’s where the extra money comes in.
What a big year for this kid.
As for Hutchinson and Sewell, players that were drafted in the first round of the draft are also eligible (do you hate that word now?) for a PPE. But it’s different for them. Instead of getting the PPE immediately, they get it on the back end in their fifth year option and they get a lot more because if they make the Pro Bowl once, their fifth year options equates to the transition tag. If they make it twice, it equates to the franchise tag. So Hutchinson could make up to $10 million extra on his fifth year option if he makes the Pro Bowl again in 2024. The exact numbers for Hutchinson are to be determined.
As for Sewell, his number is figured out. He’ll see a $3.72 million increase in his fifth year option. This is his second Pro Bowl, so his option equates to the franchise tag.