Tank Bigsby currently plays under a four-year rookie contract valued at $5,392,918. Signed on May 12, 2023, following his selection as the 88th overall pick in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the deal provides a structured progression of earnings through the 2026 season.

The contract features a total of $922,120 in guaranteed money, all of which was delivered in the form of a signing bonus at the time of the initial agreement. With an average annual value (APY) of $1,348,230, Bigsby’s deal is a standard representation of the NFL’s rookie wage scale for mid-round selections. Following a significant trade in September 2025, the financial obligations of this contract shifted from the Jacksonville Jaguars to the Philadelphia Eagles, creating new salary cap implications for both franchises.

Core Financial Components of the Contract

The structure of Tank Bigsby’s contract is dictated by the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the NFL and the NFL Players Association, which pre-determines the value of rookie deals based on draft position. Because Bigsby was selected in the third round, his contract lacks the fifth-year option reserved for first-round picks, making him eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2027.

Total Contract Value

The total commitment of $5,392,918 represents the maximum cash Bigsby can earn over the four-year duration, excluding performance-based pay or incentives that may be triggered by league-wide pools.

Signing Bonus and Guarantees

Bigsby received a signing bonus of $922,120. In the NFL, signing bonuses are paid upfront but are prorated over the life of the contract for salary cap purposes. For Bigsby, this results in a $230,530 annual cap charge attributed to the bonus. The entirety of his guaranteed money was tied to this bonus, meaning his base salaries in the later years of the deal were not initially guaranteed against skill or injury at the time of signing.

Average Annual Value (APY)

At $1,348,230 per year, Bigsby ranks within the middle tier of NFL running back salaries. This APY is highly cost-effective for a team receiving high-end rotational production, especially considering the escalating market for veteran starters like Saquon Barkley or Christian McCaffrey.

Year-by-Year Salary Schedule

To understand Bigsby’s impact on a team's balance sheet, it is essential to look at the cash flow and cap hits allocated to each season.

Year Age Base Salary Signing Bonus (Prorated) Workout Bonus Cap Hit
2023 22 $750,000 $230,530 $0 $980,530
2024 23 $945,133 $230,530 $50,000 $1,225,663
2025 24 $1,240,265 $230,530 $0 $1,470,795
2026 25 $1,485,398 $230,530 $50,000 $1,715,928

In 2023, his rookie season, Bigsby earned a total of $1,672,120 in actual cash, which included his base salary and the full signing bonus. By 2024, his base salary increased to $945,133, complemented by a $50,000 workout bonus. As he moves into the 2025 and 2026 seasons, the base salary figures rise significantly, reflecting the standard "step-up" structure of NFL rookie deals.

Impact of the Trade to the Philadelphia Eagles

The landscape of Bigsby's contract changed on September 8, 2025, when the Jacksonville Jaguars traded him to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for 2026 fifth-round and sixth-round draft picks. In the NFL, when a player is traded, the "prorated" portion of the signing bonus stays on the books of the original team as dead money, while the acquiring team takes over the remaining base salary and any future bonuses.

Financial Responsibility for the Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles are now responsible for Bigsby's base salaries for the remainder of 2025 and the full 2026 season. Because the trade occurred early in the 2025 season, the Eagles will pay a prorated portion of his $1,240,265 base salary.

For the 2026 season, the Eagles will carry a cap hit of approximately $1,535,398 (base salary plus workout bonus), but they will not be responsible for the $230,530 prorated signing bonus, which remains with Jacksonville. This makes Bigsby an incredibly cheap asset for Philadelphia, as they are essentially acquiring a high-upside backup for less than $2 million per year in cap space.

Dead Money for the Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars, by moving Bigsby, accelerate the remaining prorated signing bonus onto their current or future salary cap. Since Bigsby had two years remaining on his deal at the time of the trade, the Jaguars face a dead money charge of approximately $461,060. While this is a "loss" in terms of cap space without a player on the roster, it frees up the $1.24 million and $1.48 million base salaries they would have otherwise paid him in 2025 and 2026.

The Strategic Context of the Trade

The trade of Tank Bigsby was a result of both financial strategy and roster composition. In Jacksonville, Bigsby was part of a crowded backfield led by Travis Etienne Jr. Despite a breakout 2024 campaign where Bigsby rushed for 766 yards and 7 touchdowns, the Jaguars’ front office, under new offensive leadership, prioritized draft capital and a different style of depth.

From the Eagles' perspective, the move was a response to an injury to backup running back Will Shipley. By acquiring Bigsby, the Eagles secured a physical runner who averaged 2.8 yards per carry after contact in 2024—a metric that tied him with league leaders like Derrick Henry. Financially, the Eagles are utilizing a "low-risk, high-reward" model. They are paying Bigsby roughly 0.5% of their total salary cap to serve as the primary backup to Saquon Barkley. If Bigsby performs well, they have him under contract for the 2026 season at a very manageable rate.

Comparative Value: Bigsby vs. the RB Market

When evaluating Tank Bigsby’s contract, it is helpful to compare it to other running backs drafted in the same range or playing similar roles.

  1. Rookie Peer Group: Other third-round running backs from the 2023 class, such as Tyjae Spears (Tennessee Titans) and Devon Achane (Miami Dolphins), have nearly identical contract structures. The variations in their cap hits usually stem from the specific slot they were drafted in (e.g., #81 vs #88).
  2. Veteran Backup Market: Veteran "journeyman" running backs often command salaries between $2.5 million and $4 million on one-year "prove-it" deals. Bigsby, by contrast, offers the Eagles a younger player with fresher legs at nearly half the cost.
  3. Efficiency Metrics: Bigsby’s 2024 valuation by Over The Cap was approximately $1.2 million based on his performance. His actual cap hit for the Eagles in 2025 is lower than this valuation, suggesting that Philadelphia is getting positive "surplus value" from this acquisition.

The Mechanics of the NFL Rookie Wage Scale

To understand why Bigsby's contract is exactly $5,392,918, one must look at the NFL's Rookie Wage Scale. Introduced in the 2011 CBA, this system ended the era of massive holdouts by high-round rookies.

Each pick in the draft is assigned a "Total Rookie Compensation Pool" value. The third round is particularly interesting because it is the transition point where players still receive significant signing bonuses but do not yet command the "premium" salaries of the first and second rounds. Bigsby’s agent, Tory Dandy of CAA, had little room for negotiation on the total value, as the numbers are largely fixed by the NFL based on the #88 slot. Negotiations for players in this range typically focus on the timing of payments and small workout bonus structures rather than the total dollar amount.

Future Outlook and Free Agency (2027)

Tank Bigsby’s current contract is set to expire after the 2026 season. He will become an Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA) in March 2027 at the age of 25.

The next two seasons in Philadelphia will determine his future earning potential. If he thrives in the Eagles' system—which often utilizes multiple backs to complement their mobile quarterback—he could position himself for a significant second contract. In the current NFL market, a productive 25-year-old running back with limited "tread on the tires" can expect to target deals in the range of $6 million to $9 million per year, depending on his utility in the passing game.

However, if he remains strictly a backup or special teams contributor, his next contract likely falls into the "backup/specialist" category, which typically sees one- or two-year deals at near-minimum levels with small incentives.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tank Bigsby’s Contract

How much of Tank Bigsby's contract is guaranteed?

Tank Bigsby had $922,120 in total guarantees, all of which was provided as a signing bonus. His base salaries for 2024, 2025, and 2026 were not guaranteed at the time of signing.

Who pays Tank Bigsby's salary after the trade?

The Jacksonville Jaguars are responsible for the $922,120 signing bonus (already paid), but the Philadelphia Eagles are responsible for his base salary and any workout bonuses for the remainder of 2025 and all of 2026.

When does Tank Bigsby become a free agent?

Bigsby is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2027. He will have completed four accrued seasons by that time, allowing him to sign with any team.

What is Tank Bigsby's salary cap hit for the Eagles in 2025?

The Eagles carry a cap hit for Bigsby that consists only of his base salary. Since the Jaguars already accounted for the prorated signing bonus, the Eagles' cap charge is roughly $1.1 million to $1.2 million, depending on the exact timing of the trade and games played.

Did the trade change the total value of Bigsby's contract?

No, the total value of the contract remains $5,392,918. The trade only changed which team is responsible for paying the remaining installments of that total.

What happens to Bigsby's contract if he is released by the Eagles?

If the Eagles were to release Bigsby before the end of his contract, they would not owe him any further money because his remaining base salaries are not guaranteed. There would be no "dead money" for the Eagles because the signing bonus stays on the Jaguars' books.

Summary of Tank Bigsby’s Financial Outlook

Tank Bigsby’s contract represents a classic mid-round NFL investment. For the Jaguars, it was an affordable rookie deal that eventually turned into trade capital. For the Philadelphia Eagles, it is a low-cost acquisition of a proven producer who fits a specific need in their backfield.

As of 2025, Bigsby’s financial standing is secure with over $3.9 million in career earnings already realized. His move to Philadelphia provides a platform on one of the league's most visible teams, where his performance over the next 24 months will dictate whether his next contract is a modest veteran extension or a multi-million dollar windfall in free agency. In the high-attrition world of NFL running backs, Bigsby’s current $5.39 million deal is the foundational block of what could be a long professional career.