NFL Franchise Players That Got Their Money

With guys like Houston Texans QB Brock Osweiler and Philadelphia Eagles DT Fletcher Cox getting fat contracts for no production, a couple of guys that deserve to get paid, got paid. Denver Broncos

OLB Von Miller and New York Jets DE Muhammad Wilkerson got theirs.

Miller signed a six-year, $114.5 million deal that features $70 million in guarantees, a record for a non-quarterback. It works out to $42 million fully guaranteed at signing, $61 million fully guaranteed by March 2017, and $70 million fully guaranteed by March 2018.

The guaranteed money, which held things up at first, was finally solved between the Miller and the Broncos. The Jets announced around 30 minutes after the 4 p.m. deadline for signing franchise-tagged players that they had an extension a deal done for Wilkerson.

Of course, that tells us that the deal cane right before the deadline. Remember, this is a deal that didn’t look like it would get done as Wilkerson and the Jets were very far apart. But Wilkerson got his five-year extension that will pay Wilkerson about $17 million per year at the 13th hour.

The one deal I have to question is between the Baltimore Ravens and kicker Justin Tucker. He signed a four-year deal that will pay him $16.8 million a year. Tucker isn’t a bad kicker but the Ravens could have used that money to keep G Kelechi Osemele, who is now an Oakland Raider.

That leaves Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry as the great player that didn’t get the big contract he deserves this offseason. Berry hasn’t signed his franchise tag so we’ll see when he decides to show up for the Chiefs.