Veterans prosper as business season opens
As the NFL opened its business year Wednesday, veterans Trent Williams, A.J. Green and Emmanuel Sanders prospered.
Some teams officially announced deals that consistently leaked during the “legal tampering ” period that began Monday, and others stayed pretty silent. That trio of players with a total of 31 pro seasons made out well despite not getting big offers immediately.
The 49ers held onto the best tackle who could have become a free agent by giving Williams the richest contract ever for an offensive lineman. His agents at Elite Loyalty Sports said the deal agreed to early Wednesday will pay Williams $138.1 million over the next six years, surpassing the $138 million deal David Bakhtiari got from Green Bay a year ago. Williams also will get the biggest signing bonus ever for an offensive lineman at $30.1 million, as well as $55.1 million guaranteed.
Green joins the Cardinals and ends a decade in Cincinnati, though he has been plagued by injuries recently and sat out 2019. Arizona also acquired center Rodney Hudson from the
Raiders for a third-round draft pick. Green got a one-year deal worth $8 million.
Sanders didn’t make out quite so well as he heads to Buffalo. He’ll get about $6 million in 2021.
Giants: Tackle Nate Solder renegotiated his contract with New York and will return after opting out of last season because of family concerns about COVID-19. Solder was to earn $9.9 million in the upcoming season under his old contract and will earn roughly $4 million instead. The team also re-signed receiver C.J. Board, defensive tackle Austin Johnson and long snapper Casey Kreiter.
Jets: New York agreed to terms with former New Orleans Saints special teams standout Justin Hardee on a three-year contract and re-signed running back Josh Adams.
Patriots: New England agreed to sign free agent center Ted Karras to a oneyear, $4 million contract.
Colts: Indianapolis officially announced they’d acquired quarterback Carson Wentz from the Philadelphia Eagles for two draft picks. Indy gave up a third-rounder this year and a secondrounder in 2022, which could become a first-round pick if Wentz takes 75 percent of Indy’s snaps this season.
Chiefs: Kansas City agreed to a $5 million contract for next season with three-time Pro Bowler Kyle Long, who will come out of retirement to help their rebuilt offensive line. The Chiefs also plan to sign defensive lineman Taco Charlton and running back Darrel Williams to one-year deals.
Raiders: Las Vegas agreed to oneyear contracts with free agent receiver John Brown and defensive lineman Solomon Thomas. The Raiders also are bringing back versatile offensive lineman Denzelle Good on a two-year contract and reserve receiver Zay Jones on a one-year deal. Las Vegas also signed guard Richie Incognito back on a cheaper deal after cutting him last week, traded center Rodney Hudson and a seventh-round pick to Arizona for a third-round selection, and signed free agent defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson.
Lions: Detroit gave a two-year contract to running back Jamaal Williams. The Lions also traded with the Rams for defensive tackle Michael Brockers.
Falcons: Atlanta acquired tight end Lee Smith from the Bills for a seventhround draft pick next year.
Washington: Washington reached an agreement to sign cornerback William Jackson to a contract worth $42 million over three years with $26 million guaranteed. Placekicker Dustin Hopkins will return, as will running back Lamar Miller.
Cardinals: Signed two-time Pro Bowl kicker Matt Prater.
Dolphins: Defensive tackle Adam Butler signed a $9.5 million, two-year contract.
Note: A Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman has been arrested in Northern Virginia after police say he was trying to break into parked cars. Arlington County Police say Broderick Washington, 24, of Baltimore was charged with destruction of property, both as a felony and a misdemeanor, and tampering with a vehicle.