Tag: contract extension

Dec 29, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford (47) enters the field before a game against the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

Bills, CB Christian Benford reach 4-year, $76M extension

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford reached agreement on a four-year, $76 million extension, his agents told multiple media outlets on Saturday.

Benford, 24, was entering the final season of his rookie deal. He is now under contract through the 2029 campaign.

The Bills have been busy with contract extensions, including NFL MVP Josh Allen (six years, $330 million), defensive end Greg Rousseau (four years, $80 million), wide receiver Khalil Shakir (four years, $53 million) and linebacker Terrel Bernard (four years, $42 million).

Benford recorded 64 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a sack in 15 games (all starts) last season.

He has 142 tackles, five interceptions, four forced fumbles and one sack in 39 career games (34 starts) since being selected by the Bills in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media

Nov 29, 2024; Boulder, Colorado, USA; Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders runs onto the field before the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Colorado keeps Deion Sanders with contract extension, huge raise

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Deion Sanders will remain the head coach at Colorado through the 2029 season under terms of a contract extension announced Friday.

He will earn a base salary of $10 million in 2025, making him the highest-paid football coach in the Big 12 and among the top 10 highest-paid head football coaches in the country, the university announced.

ESPN reported that his total compensation over five years will be $54 million, with his pay rising to $11 million annually in 2027 and $12 million in 2029.

Last season, he earned $5.7 million, according to the USA Today coaches’ salary database. Mike Gundy of Oklahoma State earned $7.75 million to top the Big 12, per the database.

Sanders took over a team that was 1-11 in 2022 and saw an improvement to 4-8 in his first season. In 2024, the Buffaloes were 9-4 and earned an invitation to the Alamo Bowl.

In a news release, the school called Sanders’ two seasons as head coach as “transformational” and credited his leadership for turning the Colorado football team into one of the “most-watched teams in sports,” citing 54 million viewers in 2024 as evidence.

“Coach Prime has revolutionized college football and in doing so, has restored CU football to our rightful place as a national power,” athletic director Rick George said. “This extension not only recognizes Coach’s incredible accomplishments transforming our program on and off the field, it keeps him in Boulder to compete for conference and national championships in the years to come.”

Campus leaders also said Sanders’ presence and visibility has influenced the academic side of Colorado, which has seen a 20 percent increase in applications, including an increase of 50.5 percent from students who classify themselves as Black/African American. He also speaks in classes and special campus events.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to continue building something special here at Colorado,” said Sanders, 57. “We’ve just scratched the surface of what this program can be. It’s not just about football; it’s about developing young men who are ready to take on the world. I’m committed to bringing greatness to this university, on and off the field. We’ve got work to do, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but here, making history with these incredible players and this passionate fan base.

“Lastly, anybody got at least a five-bedroom home with acreage for sale?”

Sanders played 14 seasons as a defensive back in the National Football League, won two Super Bowls and was named a first-team All-Pro six times. He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

Concurrently, he played nine Major League Baseball seasons, retiring with a career average of .263 with 186 stolen bases and 43 triples in 641 games.

Immediately before accepting the Colorado job, Sanders spent three seasons as the head coach at Jackson State, finishing with a 27-6 record.

–Field Level Media

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (left) laughs as he watches a video on the scoreboard during the second quarter of a preseason football game against the Washington Redskins at FirstEnergy Stadium, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal/Ohio.com]

Trade off: Browns star Myles Garrett agrees to record extension

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Myles Garrett’s trade request from the Cleveland Browns has been canceled.

The Browns said Sunday they have agreed to a four-year contract extension through the 2030 season. While the Browns did not disclose his salary, multiple outlets reported he will earn an average of $40 million a year and that the contract includes $123 million in guaranteed money.

Garrett will become the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league, easily surpassing the three-year, $106.5 million contract that defensive end Maxx Crosby agreed to with the Las Vegas Raiders last week.

On Feb. 3, Garrett requested a trade from the Browns, adamant that he wanted to play for a Super Bowl contender and that money wasn’t the issue. Cleveland.com reported Feb. 27 that a lucrative contract extension would not wipe out Garrett’s trade request.

A stalemate ensued when the Browns said they would not trade, Garrett, who was the No. 1 overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft.

He is a four-time All-Pro, a six-time Pro Bowl selection and the winner of the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year award.

Garrett, 29, has racked up 102.5 sacks, 20 forced fumbles, 200 quarterback hits and 116 tackles for loss in 117 career games (114 starts).

He is the only player in NFL history with 14 or more sacks in four consecutive seasons (2021-24).

He signed a five-year, $125 million extension with the Browns in 2020 and is set to count $19.7 million against the team’s cap in 2025. He would have become an unrestricted free agent ahead of the 2027 season, according to Spotrac.

–Field Level Media

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) gets grabbed by and then sacked by Buffalo Bills defensive end Greg Rousseau (50) during the second half of the Buffalo Bills wild card game against the Denver Broncos at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Jan. 12, 2025.

Bills DE Greg Rousseau agrees to 4-year extension

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Buffalo Bills defensive end Greg Rousseau agreed to terms on a four-year contract extension Saturday.

Financial terms were not disclosed by the team, however multiple media outlets reported that the deal totals $80 million and includes $54 million in guaranteed money.

Rousseau, 24, is now under contract through the 2029 season.

The news comes one day after the Bills signed linebacker Terrel Bernard to a four-year deal worth a reported $50 million and $25.2 million guaranteed.

Rousseau recorded eight sacks last season for the second time in his four-year career with the Bills. He also had a career-high 53 tackles and three forced fumbles while starting all 16 games in which he played in 2024.

Rousseau has totaled 182 tackles, 25 sacks and six forced fumbles in 62 career games (all starts) since being selected by the Bills with the 30th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media

Oct 6, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals punter Ryan Rehkow (8) during warmups before the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

Bengals sign P Ryan Rehkow to 2-year extension

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The Cincinnati Bengals signed punter Ryan Rehkow to a two-year contract extension that spans through the 2026 season.

The agreement — but not the financial terms — was announced Tuesday by the Bengals, who are looking to sign wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins as well as star defensive end Trey Hendrickson to long-term deals.

Rehkow, 26, is coming off a rookie season in which he set single-season franchise records in gross punting average (49.1 yards) and net average (42.9). He played in all 17 games and was set to be an exclusive rights free agent this offseason.

Rehkow set an NFL single-game record in his debut on Sept. 8 with 64.5 yards per punt (minimum four attempts) and a team record for longest punt (80 yards).

–Field Level Media

Nov 3, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (30) celebrates after scoring the winning touchdown in the fourth qarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard signs 4-year extension

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Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard signed a four-year contract extension on Thursday that spans through the 2028 season.

Financial terms were not disclosed by the team. NFL Network reported it was worth $33.2 million with a maximum value of $37.2 million and $15 million fully guaranteed.

Hubbard, 25, ranks fifth in the NFL with 665 rushing yards on a career-high 5.0 yards per carry in nine games (all starts) this season. The Alberta native has matched a career high with a team-leading six total touchdowns (five rushing, one receiving).

Hubbard has 638 carries for 2,645 yards and 17 touchdowns in 58 career games (33 starts) since being selected by the Panthers in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma State. He has 104 catches for 686 yards and two scores.

–Field Level Media

Aug 10, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Harrison Phillips (97) after the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

Report: Vikings DT Harrison Phillips agrees to 2-year extension

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Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Harrison Phillips has agreed to a two-year contract extension worth up to $19 million with more than $13 million guaranteed, NFL Network reported on Tuesday.

Phillips, 28, has started all 35 games in which he has played since signing a three-year contract with the Vikings in 2022. He is now locked in with the team through the 2026 season.

Phillips recorded a sack and five tackles during Sunday’s season-opening 28-6 win against the New York Giants.

A 2023 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee, Phillips has totaled 263 tackles, seven sacks and four fumble recoveries in 80 career games (46 starts) with the Buffalo Bills (2018-21) and Vikings.

–Field Level Media

Aug 23, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel looks on against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Dolphins sign coach Mike McDaniel to extension

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Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel has signed a multiyear contract extension through the 2028 season, multiple outlets reported Friday.

Financial terms were not revealed.

McDaniel, 41, assumed the job before the 2022 season, signing a four-year contract as he took over for the fired Brian Flores. It was the first head-coaching job for McDaniel, who was the offensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers when the Dolphins lured him away.

In two seasons under McDaniel, the Dolphins have posted 9-8 and 11-6 records, earning playoff berths both seasons. They lost to the Buffalo Bills in the wild-card round after the 2022 season and to the Kansas City Chiefs last season as a wild card.

Last season, the Dolphins ranked No. 1 in total offense and passing offense and No. 2 in scoring offense.

The Dolphins, who recently signed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to an extension, are expected to vie with the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets for the AFC East title. Miami opens the season at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 8.

–Field Level Media

Jared Goff celebrates during the Lions' wild-card playoff win over the Rams.

Lions QB Jared Goff: ‘More fired up than ever’

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Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff made his goals clear on Thursday, the day the team announced his signing to a contract extension through the 2028 season.

“I’m more driven and more fired up than ever to go even harder and put the pedal to the metal even more to bring a Super Bowl to the city and that’s what’s most important,” Goff said.

The team didn’t disclose financial terms, but multiple outlets reported the four-year extension was for $212 million with $170 million guaranteed.

Goff, acquired in the 2021 trade that sent veteran QB Matthew Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams, is entering his fourth season as the starter in Detroit. In 48 regular season games with the Lions, he has completed 66.5 percent of his passes for 12,258 yards with 78 touchdowns and 27 interceptions — resulting in a 96.5 passer rating.

Among NFL QBs last season, he was first in passing first downs (227), second in passing yards (4,575), second in 20-yard completions (69) and tied for third in 300-yard games (five).

Detroit finished 12-5 last season and won its first division title in 30 years. The Lions posted playoff victories over the Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers and held a 24-7 halftime lead before falling 34-31 to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game.

The Rams selected Goff with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Goff’s reported $53 million annual average value ranks second in the NFL behind Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, who has a $55 million AAV. Burrow signed a five-year, $275 million deal last September.

–Field Level Media

Jan 7, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Derrick Brown (95) reacts in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers, DT Derrick Brown agree to reported 4-year, $96M contract

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The Carolina Panthers and record-setting defensive tackle Derrick Brown agreed to a multi-year contract extension.

The team announced the extension on Friday but not the financial terms. Multiple reports put the value of the four-year deal at $96 million, with $63 million guaranteed.

Among interior defensive linemen, Brown’s annual average salary of $24 million trails that of only Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs, Christian Wilkins of the Las Vegas Raiders and the Baltimore Ravens’ Justin Madubuke, per Spotrac.

Brown, who turns 26 later this month, set the NFL record last season for most tackles by a defensive lineman with 103. He was selected to his first Pro Bowl and Carolina’s new head coach, Dave Canales, retained defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.

The No. 7 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Brown has appeared in 66 games (63 starts) over four seasons. He has tallied 245 tackles, 48 quarterback hits, eight sacks and two interceptions.

Brown will be counted on to lead the improvement on defense for the Panthers, who finished 2-15 last season.

The team begins its offseason program next week.

–Field Level Media