The Pittsburgh Steelers claimed wide receiver Devin Gardner off waivers from the New England Patriots Tuesday and while the former Michigan quarterback appears to be a project player, he does appear to have some guaranteed money attached to him.
When Gardner signed his three-year contract with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent, he was given a $5,000 signing bonus in addition to having $10,000 of his 2015 base salary guaranteed, according to Joel Corry of CBS Sports.
While the Patriots will eat the full signing bonus given to Gardner against their 2015 salary cap, the Steelers are more than likely now on the hook for the $10,000 being as they claimed him off waivers. Had Gardner cleared waivers and then been signed by the Steelers, the Patriots would’ve been responsible for that $10,000.
In the grand scheme of things, Gardner’s $10,000 is not a big deal as it relates to the Steelers salary cap, but it will be important to track that amount as dead money should he ultimately not make the team’s 53 man roster out of training camp.
