The final week of the NFL regular season is the time to rest some key stars for teams that have already clinched as much as they will before the NFL Playoffs kick off next weekend. That being said, two teams who are expected to rest starters during their Week 17 matchups took the time to lock in some important assets before Sunday's season finale. That includes the Baltimore Ravens, who locked in mid-season acquisition on defense, cornerback Marcus Peters with a three-year contract extension on Saturday night. The deal is reportedly worth $42 million, and includes $32 million in guaranteed money, which makes up 76% of the total value. He will make $20.5 million during the first year of the deal, and it will allow him to be a free agent at the prime age of 29 years old.
Peters was acquired by the Ravens from the Los Angeles Rams on October 15th for a draft pick and linebacker Kenny Young, boosting up the Ravens' defense even more than it already was. He went on to be selected to his third-career Pro Bowl this season, as the Ravens have allowed the fewest points and second-fewest yards in the league since he came over. And since the beginning of the 2015 season, Peters leads the league with 27 interceptions and seven defensive touchdowns, and he is now doing it with the team that scouted him during the NFL Draft.
Another team that could clinch home-field advantage with a win over the Tennessee Titans, along with some help, on Sunday, but are still resting some starters is the Houston Texans. Instead, they were focused on signing linebacker Whitney Mercilus to a four-year contract extension, which they were able to on Saturday. The deal is worth $54 million and includes $28.5 million in guaranteed money. The former first-round draft pick in the 2012 NFL Draft was set to become a free agent this spring. Entering the season finale on Sunday, the 29-year-old has 7.5 sacks and two interceptions this season for the AFC South Champions. Another important part of Mercilus is his durability, which has been real high outside of a torn pectoral muscle in 2017, and because of that, head coach Bill O'Brien has nothing but great things to say about their defensive force.
Peters was acquired by the Ravens from the Los Angeles Rams on October 15th for a draft pick and linebacker Kenny Young, boosting up the Ravens' defense even more than it already was. He went on to be selected to his third-career Pro Bowl this season, as the Ravens have allowed the fewest points and second-fewest yards in the league since he came over. And since the beginning of the 2015 season, Peters leads the league with 27 interceptions and seven defensive touchdowns, and he is now doing it with the team that scouted him during the NFL Draft.
Another team that could clinch home-field advantage with a win over the Tennessee Titans, along with some help, on Sunday, but are still resting some starters is the Houston Texans. Instead, they were focused on signing linebacker Whitney Mercilus to a four-year contract extension, which they were able to on Saturday. The deal is worth $54 million and includes $28.5 million in guaranteed money. The former first-round draft pick in the 2012 NFL Draft was set to become a free agent this spring. Entering the season finale on Sunday, the 29-year-old has 7.5 sacks and two interceptions this season for the AFC South Champions. Another important part of Mercilus is his durability, which has been real high outside of a torn pectoral muscle in 2017, and because of that, head coach Bill O'Brien has nothing but great things to say about their defensive force.
