197
C.J. DanielsWR
Los Angeles Rams. 4-year deal worth $4,655,240.
Signing bonus
$275,240
Guaranteed
$275,240
Year one, paid
$1,160,240
Year one, kept
$584,274
Whole contract, after taxes and the agent: 50% 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 $25,613 a week, during the season only. The real money for a pick like this is the $275,240 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 California, 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 C.J. Daniels's rookie contract?+
C.J. Daniels, pick 197 in the 2026 NFL draft, signed a 4-year contract worth $4,655,240 with the Los Angeles Rams, including a $275,240 signing bonus.
How much does C.J. Daniels take home after taxes?+
About $584,274 of the $1,160,240 paid in the first year, and about $2,342,958 of the full $4,655,240 contract, living in California 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.