Mason Foster is a 24-year-old linebacker who has played in all 82 games over the past 4 seasons with minimal injury risk. In his first 2 NFL seasons, Foster had more tackles than several established linebackers had in their first 2 seasons. Foster's production and durability in 2012 most closely matches those of Jon Beason, Patrick Willis, and Lawrence Timmons in their contract years prior to receiving contracts averaging over $10 million annually. The document concludes Foster deserves a similar contract based on his consistency, tackling ability, and direct comparisons to peers who received large guaranteed contracts.

1. Mason Foster
Age: 24
Height: 6-2
Weight: 242
College: Washington

2. Age (24)
• According to research done by Football
Outsiders, linebackers don’t start to decline
until after age 30.
Minimal Injury Risk
• Dating back to his four years at Washington,
Foster has played in ALL 82 of the last 82
games.

3. Quick Start: First 2 Seasons
• In his first 2 seasons, Mason Foster had more tackles (189)
than the following linebackers did in their first 2 seasons:
- London Fletcher (4x Pro Bowl, 2x second-team AllPro, 2011 NFL season leader in tackles)
- Daryl Washington (Pro Bowl, second-team All-Pro, NFL
Top 100)
- Derrick Johnson (2x Pro Bowl, All-Pro)
- Paul Posluszny (Buffalo Bills Defensive MVP)
- Dannell Ellerbe, Stephen Tulloch, Lawrence Timmons

4. Quick Start: First 2 Seasons
Tackles in first 2 NFL Seasons
200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
ELLERBE
TIMMONS
TULLOCH
FLETCHER
POSLUSZNY
JOHNSON
WASHINGTON
FOSTER

5. Similar Contracts
• Mason Foster’s recent season is most similar to
the performances the following players had in the
year preceding their contract.
- Jon Beason ($11,083,333.00 3APY)
- Patrick Willis ($10,833,333.00 3APY)
- Lawrence Timmons ($10,515,250.00 3APY)
- David Harris ($10,333,333.00 3APY)
- DeMeco Ryans ($8,766,667.00 3APY)

6. Foster vs. Beason (Contract Year)
Jon Beason, Carolina Panthers
Contract: 7/30/2011
3-year APY
$11,083,333.00
APY
$10,000,000.00
Signing Bonus
$20,000,000.00
Total Guarantee
$25,250,000.00
Player
Games
Solo Tack.
TFL
Sacks
FR + Int
Stuffs
Beason (2010)
16
90
10
1
1
9
Foster (2012)
16
82
13
2
2
11

7. Foster vs. Willis (Contract Year)
Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers
Contract: 4/25/2013
3-year APY
$10,833,333.00
APY
$10,000,000.00
Signing Bonus
$1,687,000.00
Total Guarantee
$29,000,000.00
Player
Games
Solo Tack.
TFL
Sacks
FR + Int
Stuffs
Willis (2012)
16
88
6
0.5
3
5
Foster (2012)
16
82
13
2
2
11

8. Foster vs. Timmons (Contract Year)
Lawrence Timmons, Pittsburg Steelers
Contract: 2/26/2013
3-year APY
$10,515,250.00
APY
$9,559,150.00
Signing Bonus
$7,125,000.00
Total Guarantee
$7,125,000.00
Player
Games Solo Tack. TFL
Sacks
FR + Int Stuffs
Timmons (2012)
16
75
10
6
4
5
Foster (2012)
16
82
13
2
2
11

9. Foster vs. Harris (Contract Year)
David Harris, New York Jets
Contract: 8/3/2011
3-year APY
$10,333,333.00
APY
$9,000,000.00
Signing Bonus
$8,000,000.00
Total Guarantee
$29,400,000.00
Player
Games
Solo Tack.
TFL
Sacks
FR + Int
Stuffs
Harris (2010)
16
69
6
3
1
3
Foster (2012)
16
82
13
2
2
11

10. Foster vs. Ryans (Contract Year)
DeMeco Ryans, Philadelphia Eagles
Contract: 3/20/2012
3-year APY
$8,766,667.00
APY
$7,800,000.00
Signing Bonus
$0.00
Total Guarantee
$21,475,000.00
Player
Games
Solo Tack.
TFL
Sacks
FR + Int
Stuffs
Ryans (2011)
16
44
6
0
0
6
Foster (2012)
16
82
13
2
2
11

11. Solo Tackles/Game (2012)
3 YR APY
WILLIS, PATRICK
SOLO TACKLES
GAMES
SOLO/GM
$10,833,333.00
88
16
5.50
82
16
5.13
FOSTER, MASON
HARRIS, DAVID
$10,333,333.00
79
16
4.94
TIMMONS, LAWRENCE
$10,525,250.00
75
16
4.69

12. Conclusion
• Based on the analysis and data presented,
Mason Foster is deserving of a contract with
an estimated $10.7 million 3-year APY and $25
million guarantee.