Luke Fortner

Carolina Panthers, Center
Age: 27y-10m-3d (May 15, 1998)
Exp: 4 Years
Country: US
College: Kentucky
Drafted: Round 3 (#65 overall), 2022
Agent(s): Murphy McGuire, Casey Muir (Octagon)
2026 Cap Hit

$2,750,000

2026 Cash

$2,750,000

Career Earnings

$6,864,743

2026-2026 Free Agent (CURRENT)

Luke Fortner signed a 1 year, $2,750,000 contract with the Carolina Panthers, including $825,000 signing bonus, $1,325,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $2,750,000. In 2026, Fortner will earn a base salary of $1,215,000, a signing bonus of $825,000 and a workout bonus of $30,000, while carrying a cap hit of $2,750,000 and a dead cap value of $1,325,000.
Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $2,750,000
Average Salary:
$2,750,000
Signing Bonus:
$825,000
GTD at Sign:
$1,325,000
Total GTD:
$1,325,000
Free Agent:
2027 / UFA
MANAGE CONTRACT
Year Age Cap HitAnnual Cap % League Cap Cash Annual Cash Cumulative Dead Cap Annual
2026 28 $2,750,000 0.91% $2,750,000 $2,750,000 $1,325,000
2027 29
UFA
Year Age Base P5 Salary Signing Proration Active/GM Roster Bonus Workout Bonus Cap Hit Cap % League Dead Cap
2026 28 $1,215,000 $825,000 $680,000 $30,000 $2,750,000 0.91% $1,325,000
2027 29
UFA
Year Age Base P5 Salary Signing Bonus Active/Gm Roster Bonus Workout Bonus Cash Total Cash Cumulative Cash Remaining
2026 28 $1,215,000 $825,000 $680,000 $30,000 $2,750,000 $2,750,000 $2,750,000
Contract Notes

  • $1.325M guaranteed (signing bonus + $500,000 of salary)
  • Per Game Active Bonus: $40,000 ($680,000)

Source: NFL contract specifics generally collected from verified reports.

2025-2025 Extension

Contract Terms:
1 yr(s) / $1,500,000
Average Salary:
$1,500,000
Signing Bonus:
$100,000
GTD at Sign:
$300,000
Total GTD:
$300,000
Free Agent:
2026 / UFA
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2022-2025 Rookie

Contract Terms:
4 yr(s) / $5,500,065
Average Salary:
$1,375,016
Signing Bonus:
$1,180,048
GTD at Sign:
$1,180,048
Total GTD:
$1,180,048
Free Agent:
2026 / UFA
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Seasons

4 Years

Career Earnings thru 2026

$6,864,743

Earnings w/ Different Teams

2 teams

Earnings Per Year

Year Age Team(s) Status Cash Total Cash Cumulative Awards
2022 24
Active
$2,704,734
$2,704,734
2023 25
Active
$955,003
$3,659,737
2024 26
Active
$1,205,006
$4,864,743
2025 27
Active
Retained
$1,850,000
$150,000
$6,714,743
$6,864,743
Total      
$6,864,743
$6,714,743
$6,864,743
2026 28
Active
$2,750,000
Total
$9,614,743

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
4 $2,815,009 $1,280,048 - - $100,000 $819,686 $5,014,743
1 $1,150,000 - - - - $500,000 $1,850,000
Year Team(s) Age Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Workout Incentives Cash Total Cash Cumulative
2022
24
$705,000
$1,180,048
$819,686
$2,704,734
$2,704,734
2023
25
$905,003
$50,000
$955,003
$3,659,737
2024
26
$1,205,006
$1,205,006
$4,864,743
2025
27
$1,150,000
$100,000
$50,000
$500,000
$1,850,000
$150,000
$6,714,743
$6,864,743
Total
$3,965,009
$1,280,048
$100,000
$1,319,686
$6,864,743
$6,714,743
$6,864,743
2026
28
$1,215,000
$825,000
$30,000
$2,750,000
Total
$5,180,009
$2,105,048
$130,000
$1,319,686
$9,614,743

Earnings Per Team

Years Team Base Signing Roster Restructure Option Incentives Cash Cumulative
4 $2,815,009 $1,280,048 - - $100,000 $819,686 $5,014,743
1 $1,150,000 - - - - $500,000 $1,850,000
  • Mar 10, 2026 Signed a 1 year $2.75 million contract with Carolina (CAR)
  • Aug 18, 2025 Traded to New Orleans (NO) from Jacksonville (JAX) for Khalen Saunders
  • May 26, 2022 Signed a 4 year $5.5 million contract with Jacksonville (JAC)
  • Apr 29, 2022 Drafted by Jacksonville (JAC): Round 3 (#65 overall)
Year Team GP GS Snaps Snaps%
2025 NO 17 10 678 60.32
2024 JAX 17 0 13 1.26
2023 JAX 17 17 1,164 99.91
2022 JAX 17 17 1,123 100.18

Calculated Market Value

$6.2M Avg. Annual Salary

Market Value

  • 3 years, $18,540,624
  • Avg. Salary: $6,180,208
  • NFL Rank: 417
  • C Rank: 12

Current Contract

  • Free Agent: 2027
  • Avg. Salary: $2,750,000
  • NFL Rank: 684
  • C Rank: 23

Comparable Players

We've selected the following players based on their age, contract status, and statistical production to compare Luke Fortner to.

Player Length Value Avg. Salary Age When Signed
Robert Hainsey 3 $21,000,000 $7,000,000 26
Nick Martin 1 $1,035,000 $1,035,000 28
Jake Brendel 4 $16,500,000 $4,125,000 30
Luke Wattenberg 4 $48,000,000 $12,000,000 28
Averages 3 $21,633,750 $6,040,000 28.0

Base Calculated Value

After adjusting the above contracts as if signed at Fortner's current age (27), a linear regression is performed, providing us with the following initial value.

Length Value Avg. Salary
4 $26,061,708 $6,515,427

Statistical Comparisons

Now we'll compare our variables and Fortner statistically over the two seasons prior to their signing. In this case we're analyzing: GP%, Snaps %, QB Hurries Allowed/Gm, QB Sacks Allowed/Gm, Rating

Player GP% Snaps % QB Hurries Allowed/Gm QB Sacks Allowed/Gm Rating
Robert Hainsey
2023-2024
 100.00 54.15 0.91 0.17 63.05
Nick Martin
2020-2021
 100.00 50.30 0.94 0.06 46.90
Jake Brendel
2021-2022
 97.06 49.35 0.47 0.05 62.35
Luke Wattenberg
2023-2024
 82.35 50.90 0.35 0.12 60.60
Average 94.85 51.18 0.67 0.10 58.23
Luke Fortner
2024-2025
 100.00 30.80 0.47 0.16 59.50
Pct Change 5.43 -39.82 29.85 -60.00 2.18
Median Prime % Change 2.18%
Average Prime % Change -12.47%

Calculated Market Value: Luke Fortner

After applying our Prime % figures into our base calculated value, we're given two values. The average of these values becomes our current calculated market value.

Terms Avg. Salary
3 years, $18,540,624 $6,180,208
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