During the negotiations for the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement, the NFL and the NFL Players Association agreed on the establishment of a performance-based pool intended to specifically benefit players on low-level rookie contracts. Basically, it works like this: if a player was drafted in the third round or later, he is eligible to be awarded an increased salary in the final year of his deal through so-called proven performance escalators.
With only two players from the 2016 draft remaining on the New England Patriots’ roster on their respective rookie deals, the world champions’ list of potential benefactors under the performance-based system is rather short: only starting left guard Joe Thuney and rotational linebacker Elandon Roberts are eligible.