San Francisco 49ers cornerback Dontae Johnson, who is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, led the team in performance-based pay for the 2017 season, according to a report released by the NFL. After starting all 16 games for the 49ers, he will receive $91,021.05 for his play last season.
"The Performance-Based Pay program is a collectively-bargained benefit that compensates all players, including rookies, based upon their playing time and salary levels," reports the NFL.
Johnson's base salary for 2017 was $690,000. His 16-game season as a starter comes after starting just six games during his previous three seasons. In 2017, Johnson registered 77 combined tackles, an interception, and seven passes defensed. He is not expected to be re-signed by the 49ers. He led the defense with 1,026 snaps played, according to Pro Football Focus.
While Johnson saw his playing time increase, he was the 49ers' worst-graded defensive back in 2017, according to Pro Football Focus. He started opposite Rashard Robinson at the beginning of the season and then Ahkello Witherspoon following Robinson's trade to the New York Jets.
Johnson entered the NFL as the 49ers' fourth-round draft pick out of NC State in 2014. Over his four-year career, he registered 158 combined tackles, two interceptions, and 21 passes defensed.
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