The franchise tag deadline came and went on Friday at 4 p.m. EST, with most of the players not expected to reach deals. Three of them were able to avoid the tag with major contracts, including Super Bowl MVP, Von Miller.
Miller received a six-year deal through the 2021 season, worth $114.5 million, with $70 million in guaranteed money. That gives him the largest contract for a defensive player, and the most guaranteed money for a non-quarterback in league history. He is also now the highest-paid player in Broncos' franchise history.
Miller posted a picture of himself on Twitter with the caption "FOR LIFE" to express his excitement over the agreement.
The deal ends a five-moth negotiation period, which got a little testy at times, including Miller refusing to play under the tag, and taking shots at the front office. He now receives a $23 million signing bonus, $42 million guaranteed at signing, $61 million guaranteed after the first year, and $70 million after the second.
In February, the Broncos named Miller the team's franchise player, giving him a one-year guaranteed tender worth $14 million for the 2016 season. If no deal was agreed upon by 4 p.m. Friday, Miller would have to choose to play the season under the franchise tag, or sit out for the year. And he had no plans of playing under the tag.
Another offer to Miller came in June, which included $38.5 million in guaranteed money. This was declined, as Miller was looking for much more, and got just that, despite it looking questionable for most of this off-season.
Another player that got a record deal was Ravens kicker Justin Tucker. The Ravens gave Tucker a four-year, $16.8 million deal, including a $6 million signing bonus. The deal also gives the kicker $10.8 million in guaranteed money.
The second-most accurate kicker in NFL history was tagged on February 26th, and signed it on March 4th. This new deal makes him the highest-paid kicker in NFL history in terms of guaranteed money.
The 26-year-old has converted 87.8 percent of his field goal attempts, which is only behind Dallas' Dan Bailey for best conversion rate. Since his NFL debut in 2012, he has 130 field goals and 529 points, both second to only Stephen Gostkowski in that span.
The undrafted player had his toughest season this past year, converting only 82.5 percent of his field goal attempts. That number was not enough to avoid him getting paid big time heading into the 2016 season.
Jets defensive lineman Mo Wilkerson also avoided the tag with a long-term deal, getting a five-year, $86 million contract. He receives $36.75 million in guaranteed money at signing, with a $15 million signing bonus.
The 26-year-old tweeted out how grateful he was for the deal after it was announced around 4:30 p.m. His average of $17.2 million per year is the highest in team history, while the guaranteed money ranks second.
He recorded a career-high 12 sacks last season, en route to his first Pro Bowl. He suffered a major injury when he broke his right leg in the off-season, which is a six-month recovery. He did claim that he was ahead of schedule in February.
The former first-round pick had 64 tackles and two forced fumbles in 16 games this past season. Wilkerson has been a starter since joining New York, and his stability on the defensive line has him as the Jets' most valuable asset on the defensive side of the ball.
Miller received a six-year deal through the 2021 season, worth $114.5 million, with $70 million in guaranteed money. That gives him the largest contract for a defensive player, and the most guaranteed money for a non-quarterback in league history. He is also now the highest-paid player in Broncos' franchise history.
Miller posted a picture of himself on Twitter with the caption "FOR LIFE" to express his excitement over the agreement.
The deal ends a five-moth negotiation period, which got a little testy at times, including Miller refusing to play under the tag, and taking shots at the front office. He now receives a $23 million signing bonus, $42 million guaranteed at signing, $61 million guaranteed after the first year, and $70 million after the second.
In February, the Broncos named Miller the team's franchise player, giving him a one-year guaranteed tender worth $14 million for the 2016 season. If no deal was agreed upon by 4 p.m. Friday, Miller would have to choose to play the season under the franchise tag, or sit out for the year. And he had no plans of playing under the tag.
Another offer to Miller came in June, which included $38.5 million in guaranteed money. This was declined, as Miller was looking for much more, and got just that, despite it looking questionable for most of this off-season.
Another player that got a record deal was Ravens kicker Justin Tucker. The Ravens gave Tucker a four-year, $16.8 million deal, including a $6 million signing bonus. The deal also gives the kicker $10.8 million in guaranteed money.
The second-most accurate kicker in NFL history was tagged on February 26th, and signed it on March 4th. This new deal makes him the highest-paid kicker in NFL history in terms of guaranteed money.
The 26-year-old has converted 87.8 percent of his field goal attempts, which is only behind Dallas' Dan Bailey for best conversion rate. Since his NFL debut in 2012, he has 130 field goals and 529 points, both second to only Stephen Gostkowski in that span.
The undrafted player had his toughest season this past year, converting only 82.5 percent of his field goal attempts. That number was not enough to avoid him getting paid big time heading into the 2016 season.
Jets defensive lineman Mo Wilkerson also avoided the tag with a long-term deal, getting a five-year, $86 million contract. He receives $36.75 million in guaranteed money at signing, with a $15 million signing bonus.
The 26-year-old tweeted out how grateful he was for the deal after it was announced around 4:30 p.m. His average of $17.2 million per year is the highest in team history, while the guaranteed money ranks second.
He recorded a career-high 12 sacks last season, en route to his first Pro Bowl. He suffered a major injury when he broke his right leg in the off-season, which is a six-month recovery. He did claim that he was ahead of schedule in February.
The former first-round pick had 64 tackles and two forced fumbles in 16 games this past season. Wilkerson has been a starter since joining New York, and his stability on the defensive line has him as the Jets' most valuable asset on the defensive side of the ball.
