Kiwi inks $26m NFL deal with New York Giants
An NFL player with Kiwi links, Rhett Ellison, has cashed in big with a $26 million contract with the New York Giants.
The 28-year-old fullback and tight end was involved in a flurry of action as the annual NFL free agent period opened yesterday.
His four-year deal with the Giants was worth US$18 million (NZ$26 million), with US$8 million (NZ$11.5 million) fully guaranteed - meaning he will be paid it even if the Giants cut ties with him before the end of his contract.
Ellison is the son of Riki Ellison, the first New Zealander to play in the NFL and a three-time Superbowl winner. He is also the grandnephew of the first All Blacks captain Thomas Ellison.
Ellison spent the first five years of his career with the Minnesota Vikings after being drafted in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft.
His career figures of has 51 catches for 515 yards and three touchdowns in 73 career games may look lean, but his main attribute is his blocking.
The Giants have plenty of receiving options having just paired all-star wide receiver Odell Beckham with veteran Brandon Marshall. Most of his job will be ensuring that quarterback Eli Manning has enough time to get the ball off and the team’s running backs have lanes to run through.
While Ellison’s deal looks big compared to New Zealand standards, it was fairly minor compared to others made on the opening day of free agency.
Former Texans cornerback AJ Bouye was signed by the Jaguares on a five-year US$67.5 million deal (NZ$98 million). He will join defensive tackle Calais Campbell at the team after he inked a fouryear US$60 million deal (NZ$87 million).
The Chargers signed tackle Russell Okung to a four-year US$53 million contract (NZ$77 million) and the Eagles agreed to a one-year US$14 million deal (NZ$20 million) for wide receiver Alson Jeffery.
With the free agency period having only just opened, plenty more big deals are still to come.