Of Course Cam Meredith Took No Guaranteed Money to Play for the Patriots
By Max Scoli
The New England Patriots are doing what they do best as an organization: Taking advantage of the opportunities presented to them.
Cameron Meredith struggled to stay on the field for the New Orleans Saints in 2018, playing in only six games due to a knee injury. Now, with his market value lower than ever before following a surprise early camp cut, the Pats managed to sign the talented wide receiver to a contract with zero guaranteed money.
Cam Meredith gets nothing guaranteed, a year after getting $5.4 million https://t.co/Jt20V509Xu
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) August 7, 2019
If Meredith makes the roster, the Patriots will have to pay him a $720,000 salary this season, with the potential of dishing out $1.3 million to him next year. However, if they decide to cut the wideout, the transaction will not cost the franchise a single dime.
Here’s how Cam Meredith’s contract breaks down:
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) August 7, 2019
2019
Base: $720K
Cap number: $720K
2020
Base: $820K
Roster bonus: Up to $400K ($25K per game on the 53)
Workout bonus: $80K
Cap number: $1.3 million
Zero guaranteed money
That's a pretty big pay cut from the two-year deal he signed with the Saints in 2018 for nearly $10M, with $5.35M of that guaranteed.
He had earned that contract though, recording 888 yards on 66 receptions with four touchdowns in his 2016 season with the Chicago Bears before being held out in 2017 due to injury.
His most recent NFL campaign was much less memorable, totaling only 114 yards on nine catches. Worth the risk for the Pats without a doubt, especially for free.