Full details of Alex Smith's contract



Alex Smith's second-year base salary of $7.5 million is fully guaranteed only if he remains on the 49ers' roster on April 1, 2013.

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Quarterback Alex Smith's contract counts $9.25 million against the 49ers' 2012 salary cap, according to a document obtained Thursday by CSNBayArea.com through an NFL Players Association source.

Smith signed a three-year, $24 million contract with $9 million in guaranteed money, as reported on Wednesday. The deal can average as much as $11 million annually if Smith maxes out his incentives and escalator.

[REWIND: 49ers raised Smith's offer slightly to $9 million guaranteed]

On the surface, the contract looks as if it contains $16.5 million in guaranteed money. But Smith's second-year base salary of $7.5 million is fully guaranteed only if Smith remains on the 49ers' roster on April 1, 2013.

Smith received no signing bonus, but his $5 million base salary and $3 million roster bonus for 2012 are guaranteed. Also, $1 million of his second-year salary is fully guaranteed.

In figuring Smith's cap figure, likely-to-be-earned incentives of $1.25 million count each of the three seasons because Smith would have reached those incentives with his performance from last season.

Smith's projected cap figures for the three years of his contract are $9.25 million in 2012, $9.75 million in 2013, and $8.75 million in 2014.

Here's how Smith's average salary per season ranks among other quarterbacks in the NFL (with years the deals span):

Average QB salaries per year
Peyton Manning $19.2 million (2012-'16)
Tom Brady $18 million (2010-'14)
Michael Vick $16.67 million (2011-'16)
Eli Manning $16.25 (2009-'15)
Philip Rivers $15.3 million (2009-'15)
Jay Cutler $14.67 (2009-'13)
Ben Roethlisberger $14.67 million (2011-'15)
Drew Brees $14.4 million* (2012)
Mark Sanchez $13.49 (2012-'16)
Sam Bradford $13 million (2010-'15)
Aaron Rodgers $12.7 million (2008-'14)
Kevin Kolb $12.4 million (2011-'16)
Matthew Stafford $12 million (2009-'14)
Tony Romo $11.25 million (2011-'16)
Matt Ryan $11.25 million (2008-'13)
Ryan Fitzpatrick $9.83 million (2011-'17)
Matt Cassel $9.66 million (2009-'14)
Matt Schaub $8 million (2007-'12)
Alex Smith $8 million (2012-'14)
*-Exclusive franchise tag (subject to raise)

Other notable quarterbacks
Matt Flynn $6.5 million (2012-'14)
Cam Newton $5.5 million (2011-'14)
Josh Freeman $5.24 million (2009-'13)
Tim Tebow $4.55 million (2010-'14)
Joe Flacco $4.33 million (2008-'12)
Source: NFL Players Association sources