The contract by the numbers: Brandon LaFell

Length of contract: 3 years
Total: $9 million
Guaranteed: $8 million
Signing bonus: $3 million

Year 1
Guaranteed: $800,000
Bonuses: $200,000 (12,500 per game on active roster)
Total cap hit: $1 million

The bottom line: In what will be a real trial year for LaFell in the Patriots roster, 1 million dollars is a pretty fair salary. In terms of the likelihood that he might earn the majority of his bonuses, the length of time that it takes for Brady to develop chemistry with his new receiver will likely limit his targets and therefore keep him healthy for most of the year. This is a good start for both LaFell and his team.

Year 2
Guaranteed: $1.8 million
Bonuses: $400,000 (25,000 per game on active roster)
Total cap hit: $3.2 million

The bottom line: In 2015, LaFell will double his salary from the year before earning 1.8 million guaranteed and up to  400,000 in potential bonuses. The increase in salary greatly reflects the plan for more targets for LaFell in 2015.

Year 3
Guaranteed: $2.4 million
Bonuses: $400,000 (25,000 per game on active roster)
Total cap hit: $3.8 million

The bottom line: In the final year of this team friendly contract, LaFell will likely grab at the very least 2.6 million dollars. Even if he misses 2 or 3 games, the team projects him to be a primary target for Tom Brady that season and plan to pay him accordingly.