26
Keylan RutledgeG
Houston Texans. 4-year deal worth $19,276,448.
Signing bonus
$10,479,236
Guaranteed
$19,276,448
Year one, paid
$11,364,236
Year one, kept
$6,586,475
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 $10,479,236 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 Keylan Rutledge's rookie contract?+
Keylan Rutledge, pick 26 in the 2026 NFL draft, signed a 4-year contract worth $19,276,448 with the Houston Texans, including a $10,479,236 signing bonus.
How much does Keylan Rutledge take home after taxes?+
About $6,586,475 of the $11,364,236 paid in the first year, and about $11,223,107 of the full $19,276,448 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.