WhoDat!656

New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Akiem Hicks and cornerback Corey White each had their 2015 salaries increase by nearly $1 million based on playing time -- as The Times-Picayune first pointed out.

Veteran linebacker Curtis Lofton also received salary bumps of $250,000 over each of the next two seasons for earning an unspecified escalator in his contract.

Hicks and White earned their raises as part of the new wage scale for draft picks that was written into the 2011 collective bargaining agreement. Players drafted between Rounds 3-7 can trigger a Proven Performance Escalator by playing at least 35 percent of the offensive or defensive snaps in two of their first three seasons. Hicks, a third-round pick, and White, a fifth-rounder, both qualified.

As a result, Hicks’ salary has increased from $660,000 to $1,561,500 and White’s from $660,000 to $1,574,000, according to ESPN Stats and Information. It’s unclear why the salaries are different. They’re based on the lowest restricted free agent tender for the year.

The pay increases will add another degree of difficulty to the Saints' salary cap situation. They're already more than $20 million over the projected 2015 salary cap -- though general manager Mickey Loomis insisted it's not nearly as bad as it sounds.

The pay hike is obviously good news for Hicks -- who will no doubt earn an even bigger payday when he becomes an unrestricted free agent after the season.

It might complicate matters for White though, since his future with the Saints is less guaranteed. White went from a starting cornerback to a backup to being benched to being moved to safety as the 2014 season went on -- leaving him admittedly feeling like he’s “just out here floating.”

As for Lofton, his salaries went from $2.4 million and $5.4 million over the next two seasons to $2.65 million and $5.65 million. He’s also due a roster bonus of $4.5 million this year, bringing his 2015 total to $7.25 million in salary and bonuses.

That’s pretty steep, especially considering the Saints' cap situation. But as I wrote Thursday, Lofton probably earned it with a strong 2014 campaign in which he ranked fourth in the NFL with 145 tackles.

Akiem Hicks, Corey White, Curtis Lofton get raises for New Orleans - ESPN

"A Veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."

dizzle88

Wow.....really.....

All of them were complete garbage...

QBREES9

makes you think.

jnormand

White definitely was. Hicks...meh...he was a huge let down.

I don't think Lofton was garbage. He did have 145 tackles. I know he's poor in coverage but at least he makes stops. At least our top tackler wasn't a safety ....of course that would've been impossible anyway since we couldn't find one to play the entire season.

|Mitch|

maybe y'all misunderstood, pay raises based on playing time has nothing to do with their on-field effectiveness...

SloMotion

Two guys are getting a million more and one guy is getting an extra $250k over the next two seasons? ... not a money-guy, but havta' think there's other issues when you're already $20mil over the 2015 salary cap ... just sayin', .

I've seen/heard Loomis' expertise in this area, so in the infamous word of Aaron Rodgers (GB), I'd just "Relax".

saintsfan1976

These were playing time bonuses I believe. The money is only guaranteed if they make the roster next year. White's likely the only one in danger of that not happening.

Hicks had a bad year. Don't deny the kid has talent and a huge upside.

Lofton led our team in tackles with little help. He doesn't suck.

hagan714

think Rob learned what we all knew before the 2014 season started?

1 - White does not belong outside he belongs inside to take advantage of his excellent tackling skill.

2 - Vacarro is not a true SS

give them the cash they earned it despite Robs stupidity.

if Lofton's contract is not redone i will be amazed so give him the pocket change.

Hicks is still a bargain

NonieT

For White yeah it was stupidity, but not Vacarro. Vacarro wanted to play SS. I believe if he had been told he was better as a hybrid he would not have believed it. He had to find it out for himself. It took him almost the entire season to realize he was better as a hybrid.

Cruize

White is very replaceable. I would look hard at saving that $1.5 mil.