Jay Ajayi is finally getting his $5 million loss-of-value insurance settlement after fighting for it for almost four years:

Shout out to Jay Ajayi showing more fight here than on the eMLS circuit:

Some background on the insurance policy Ajayi took out, going back to a 2018 Rapoport story::

Eagles running back Jay Ajayi was slated to have surgery today on a torn ACL, one that ended his season after just four games and 184 rushing yards. That also complicates things going forward for his free agency.

Ajayi’s contract is up after 2018, and a long-term deal in Philly was no guarantee. For a player whose right knee had already given him issues during his career, a ligament tear in his other knee is less than ideal.

However, according to his business manager Josh Sanchez, Ajayi bought a loss-of-value insurance policy this past year (and the year before) to protect him against exactly what ended up happening. Ajayi was valued as a significant free agent based on the policy. If the injury takes his market down to a point where he would be a lower-level free agent, he can receive a maximum payout $5 million net — after taxes.

In other words, if Ajayi’s free-agent value goes down, the policy will help make up the difference. Let’s say he’s valued as being able to earn a four-year, $16-million contract before the injury. But now, he ends up earning just $8 million over four years. The policy should end up paying him to make up the difference with $5 million tax-free. Similar policies generally can cost as much as $80,000-$100,000. It’s not what any player wants. But at the least, Ajayi has prepared for the worst-case scenario.

Jay Ajayi bought the policy a year before he tore his ACL after only playing three games in 2018. I don’t know if luck is the word because he did lose out on a long term deal and making millions, but let’s call it being ahead of the curve. It’s like driving around with no insurance and then buying some from State Farm before you trade your car, get in an accident, and make money off the payout. I hope Ajayi breaks off a little to whoever told him to get this policy.