They kept it interesting as it went down to the wire, but in the final moments of the Franchise Free Agent Tender period, All-Universe outside linebacker Von Miller and the Denver Broncos got their deal done.
The overall numbers haven’t changed from the Broncos’ original offer of six-years and $114.5 million. What did change was the guaranteed money, which was the only sticking point this whole time. Miller will get $61 million guaranteed after signing the contract and it jumps up to $70 million after the second year. If the Broncos and Miller hadn’t gotten the deal done Friday, Miller would have been forced to play all season on a one-year franchise tag or sit out, something he reiterated just recently he was prepared to do.
FOR LIFE pic.twitter.com/ayvzpJ1WZh
— Von Miller (@VonMiller) July 15, 2016
Miller’s deal, both overall and in guaranteed money, is the largest ever signed by a defensive player in the history of the NFL. Only Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who just recently signed his own new long term deal, will make more in guaranteed money ($87 million).
Miller celebrated a little, and rightly so, posting this video to his Twitter account.
"It's been a great 5 years, here's to 6 more amazing years! Thanks Bronco Nation, I love you and I appreciate you! pic.twitter.com/2EEcgXylgV
— Von Miller (@VonMiller) July 15, 2016
Last year Miller had 30 tackles, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, one pass defended and 11 sacks in the regular season. Which is outstanding. But here’s what he did in the playoffs – 11 tackles, two forced fumbles, two passes defended, one interception and five sacks. Miller also won the Super Bowl 50 MVP Award.
Justin Tucker and Ravens make it work
For those of you who thought the trouble kicker Justin Tucker and the Baltimore Ravens had getting a deal done was ridiculous, well, Tucker got the last laugh Friday. The Ravens and Tucker agreed on a four-year, $16.8 million contract with a $6 million signing bonus and $10.8 million guaranteed.
“Justin has become a cornerstone for our team, and we are happy to get this contract completed,” Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome said in a statement. “What is good for the Ravens right now is that we have our Pro Bowl special teams group – (punter) Sam (Koch), (long snapper) Morgan (Cox) and Justin – signed through the next three seasons.”
THIS JUST IN: Justin Tucker & Ravens agree to 4-year, $16.8M deal. His $10.8M guaranteed is most ever for a kicker. pic.twitter.com/Y2CRtz1EfD
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) July 15, 2016
Tucker will now make more guaranteed money than any kicker in NFL history. Last year Tucker went 33-of-40 on field goals and was 29-of-29 on extra points. He’s already the second most accurate kicker in the history of the league.
Wilkerson gets his money from the Jets
I honestly didn’t think this one would happen, but defensive tackle Muhammad Wilkerson and the New York Jets came to their own long-term agreement Friday with a five-year, $85 million deal.
Official! #JetUp pic.twitter.com/xEEX1R3N1p
— New York Jets (@nyjets) July 15, 2016
Wilkerson seemed like the odd man out on the Jets’ defensive line with both Sheldon Richardson and last year’s first-round pick, Leonard Williams ready to step into his spot. But Richardson has been suspended for the first game of 2016 and is already a couple of strikes into his NFL substance abuse at-bat. It could be the Jets didn’t want to take the chance he’d strike out.
Last year Wilkerson had 39 tackles, three force fumbles, seven passes defended and 12 sacks. It was only his second double-digit sack season of his five-year career.
Raiders extend Amerson
It wasn’t just franchise tagged guys that got some boosts to their bank accounts Friday. Oakland Raiders cornerback David Amerson and agreed to a four-year, $38 million contract extension with $17.5 million in guaranteed money.
It’s a massive deal for Amerson who was out of a job in the early part of the 2015 season after being cut by the Washington Redskins. Amerson started 12 games for the Raiders last season and started 12, recording 54 tackles, 26 passes defended, one forced fumble, four interceptions and one pick six.
#Raiders & CB David Amerson have reached an agreement on a 4-yr extension worth a max value of $38M, source said. Almost $18M in guarantees
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 15, 2016
Amerson was a former second round draft choice of the Redskins back in 2013. He became a full time starter midway through his rookie season and started 15 games in 2014. Amerson originally signed a four-year, $3.85 million deal coming out of North Carolina State. Last year when the Raiders picked him up off waivers they only had to pay $622,131 of that total, a bargain considering he was Pro Football Focus’ most improved player of 2015.
