Miami Dolphins cornerback Darrell Baker Jr. recently disclosed that he earned only $5,500 per week while on an NFL practice squad. In a video statement, Baker said, “Everybody thinks we’re rich…” This remark did not sit well with social media users, including an X user named “Peckins,” who commented on a post by My Mixtapez, saying, “B*tch you making 22k a month to practice.”
Baker’s Explanation of NFL Practice Squad Pay
In the video, Baker elaborated on the financial realities of being on a practice squad. “You know how these NFL contracts work, coz everybody thinks we’re rich. Let’s get into it. Let’s talk about,” he began. “First year, my base salary was about $150,000. Coming in as a rookie, thinking I’m about to make $750K this year, and I got hit with reality. I didn’t make the $53K off the rip coming out of camp, so I was on the practice squad. When you’re on the practice squad, you don’t make the base salary of whatever’s on your contract. You get the minimum of what is set for the league. At that time, it was about $211,000.”
Baker continued, “Now, you’re probably saying, ‘That’s still great money! What is he talking about?’ But you only get paid during the season. On the practice squad, you don’t really know if you’re gonna be with that team the whole year. So, you can easily be released. With that, you have to pay moving costs, and you might have to break a lease, which is usually about 2 months of rent upfront. So, my first paycheck, and they took about 55 percent of my first check. You know, on the practice squad, I was making about $5,500 every week during the regular season. It’s still great money. But we’re definitely not rich.”
Public Reaction and ESPN Article
After Baker’s video went viral, many social media users expressed disagreement. An X account called FAUX MONIKER shared a screenshot of an alleged ESPN article detailing practice squad salaries. According to the screenshot, “Practice squad members are separated by salary into two groups -- players with two years of service or less and players with two or more years of service. 2025 totals: players with two years of service or less will receive $13,000 per week. And players with two or more years of service will receive a $17,500 minimum weekly salary [$22,000 maximum].”
Commenters quickly reacted. One user wrote, “Darrell Baker Jr. is NASTY for saying ‘they think we’re rich’. $22k per WEEK is MORE than decent pay!!!!” Another said, “Sounds rich to me.” A third post read, “22k RIGHT NOW just one week would take me out of debt lmfao.”
Baker’s Current Contract
Darrell Baker Jr. signed a one-year, $1.4 million contract with the Miami Dolphins in March 2026. The deal includes a $1.22 million salary, $1.08 million in guaranteed money, and a $187,500 signing bonus. He carries a $1.26 million cap hit for the 2026 season.
