What are likely to be earned incentives?

The correct understanding of likely to be earned incentives relates to bonuses that are contingent on a player’s individual performance in the previous season. This assessment is based on how players typically earn bonuses tied to specific benchmarks or achievements in their prior performances, such as total yards, touchdowns, or other statistical milestones. These past performances serve as a reliable basis for predicting future earnings, as they reflect the player's consistent ability and capability to meet or exceed set expectations.

This concept aligns well with the contractual structures often seen in the NFL, where player incentives are designed to reward players for their historical individual contributions, thereby motivating them to maintain or improve their performance in subsequent seasons.

In contrast, incentives newly added each season may not be dependent on individual performance benchmarks, while bonuses guaranteed in the contract do not involve conditions based on prior performance. Similarly, team performance incentives do not exclusively focus on individual metrics, making them less relevant to the context of likely to be earned incentives that emphasize individual achievements.