53
C.J. AllenLB
Indianapolis Colts. 4-year deal worth $9,128,944.
Signing bonus
$3,099,232
Guaranteed
$7,638,045
Year one, paid
$3,984,232
Year one, kept
$2,218,311
Whole contract, after taxes and the agent: 56% 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 $29,093 a week, during the season only. The real money for a pick like this is the $3,099,232 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 Indiana, 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. Allen's rookie contract?+
C.J. Allen, pick 53 in the 2026 NFL draft, signed a 4-year contract worth $9,128,944 with the Indianapolis Colts, including a $3,099,232 signing bonus.
How much does C.J. Allen take home after taxes?+
About $2,218,311 of the $3,984,232 paid in the first year, and about $5,146,624 of the full $9,128,944 contract, living in Indiana 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.