86
Austin BarberT
Cleveland Browns. 4-year deal worth $6,874,124.
Signing bonus
$1,459,364
Guaranteed
$1,459,364
Year one, paid
$2,344,364
Year one, kept
$1,306,659
Whole contract, after taxes and the agent: 55% 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 $28,109 a week, during the season only. The real money for a pick like this is the $1,459,364 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 Ohio, 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 Austin Barber's rookie contract?+
Austin Barber, pick 86 in the 2026 NFL draft, signed a 4-year contract worth $6,874,124 with the Cleveland Browns, including a $1,459,364 signing bonus.
How much does Austin Barber take home after taxes?+
About $1,306,659 of the $2,344,364 paid in the first year, and about $3,807,693 of the full $6,874,124 contract, living in Ohio 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.