11
Caleb DownsS
Dallas Cowboys. 4-year deal worth $28,951,992.
Signing bonus
$17,515,992
Guaranteed
$28,951,992
Year one, paid
$18,400,992
Year one, kept
$10,643,140
Whole contract, after taxes and the agent: 58% of the headline.
Where the money goes
Every 2026 NFL rookie earns the same $885,000 base salary in year one, paid in 18 weekly game checks. After taxes that is about $30,334 a week, during the season only. The real money for a pick like this is the $17,515,992 signing bonus, which lands as one lump sum.
Bonus checks are withheld at a flat 22% federal on the first $1 million and 37% above that, plus Medicare and state tax. Many states tax a signing bonus only where the player lives, which is why where a rookie lives the day it is paid can matter.
These figures assume he lives in Texas, files single, and pays a standard agent fee. Change any of that in the calculator to see your own version.
Quick answers
How much is Caleb Downs's rookie contract?+
Caleb Downs, pick 11 in the 2026 NFL draft, signed a 4-year contract worth $28,951,992 with the Dallas Cowboys, including a $17,515,992 signing bonus.
How much does Caleb Downs take home after taxes?+
About $10,643,140 of the $18,400,992 paid in the first year, and about $16,784,878 of the full $28,951,992 contract, living in Texas and paying a standard agent fee. Estimates for education.
Contract figures from Spotrac, Over The Cap, and Hoops Rumors (2026). Take-home is a KeepMyCheck estimate using 2026 tax rules. Not affiliated with the player, team, or league. Education only.