Tom Brady Raiders Contract Overview
Tom Brady signed a one-year contract with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023, with a reported base salary of $15 million and a total guarantee of $14.5 million, according to the latest NFL and team filings Forbes. The deal included a $10 million signing bonus and a salary cap hit of $14.5 million for the 2023 season, with no dead money if he was released after Week 1. The contract was structured to minimize long-term risk, as Brady was 45 years old at the time of signing and entering the final season of his career.
The Raiders added Brady as a veteran quarterback to compete for the starting role, though he was placed on the Reserve/Retired list in February 2024 after announcing his retirement for a second time. The contract was fully guaranteed at signing, and the team absorbed the full cap charge in 2023, with no remaining dead cap space after his retirement. The deal was not extended, and Brady did not play a regular-season snap for Las Vegas, making the contract a short-term veteran minimum-style agreement with a high guaranteed base.
Tom Brady Raiders Contract Salary and Cap Details
The base salary for Tom Brady in the Raiders deal was $15 million, with $14.5 million fully guaranteed at signing, according to the latest public contract data from NFL and team sources OverTheCap. The signing bonus of $10 million was paid immediately, and the remaining $5 million in base salary was prorated across the contract year for cap purposes. The total cap hit was $14.5 million in 2023, with no additional dead money charges after his retirement.
The contract did not include team or player options, and there were no incentives tied to playing time or performance milestones. The salary was fully guaranteed regardless of injury or performance, which is unusual for a one-year veteran deal. The Raiders absorbed the full financial commitment in a single season, and the contract did not carry over any cap implications beyond 2023, making it a clean, short-term financial move for the franchise.
Tom Brady Raiders Contract Context and NFL Impact
Tom Brady joined the Raiders after 20 seasons with the New England Patriots and one season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he won a Super Bowl in 2020 ESPN. The Raiders signed him to a one-year deal to add veteran leadership and competition at quarterback, though he did not appear in a regular-season game for the team. The contract was structured with a high guaranteed base but no long-term financial risk for the franchise.
The deal was widely covered as a short-term, low-risk veteran signing, with no option years or future cap implications for the Raiders. The contract did not include any trade kickers or no-trade clauses, and the team retained full control of the roster decision. The move reflected the Raiders' strategy of adding experienced quarterbacks for mentorship and depth without committing to long-term salary cap exposure.