Two of the biggest names in free agency this season have already picked their new teams, according to reports. The big prize of the year, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, will sign six-year, $114 million contract with the Miami Dolphins with $60 million guaranteed when free agency officially begins Tuesday.
Suh was as good as gone from the Detroit Lions when they chose not to place the franchise tag on the All-Pro defensive lineman. The Lions instead tried to work out a deal with Suh in regular free agency, gambling and losing. Suh’s contract with the Dolphins, barring a disaster in the final negotiations, will pay him an average of $19 million a season. The Lions were reportedly offering Suh $17 million a year with $58 million guaranteed. The deal with Suh will be the largest a defender has ever signed in NFL history, beating Houston Texans’ defensive end J.J. Watt’s Contract by around $2.3 million a season.
Suh has dominated the inside for the Lions since being drafted No. 2 overall in the 2010 NFL draft. Last year Suh posted 53 tackles, 8.5 sacks and three passes defended.
Gore replacing LeSean McCoy in Philadelphia
The San Francisco 49ers saw any chance of running back Frank Gore returning to the team next season fly out the window Sunday, when Gore revealed to sources at ESPN that he will sign a free agent deal with the Philadelphia Eagles when free agency officially opens.
No prospective details of the deal have been made public, but it’s reportedly about half what departed running back LeSean McCoy would have made this season. The Eagles traded McCoy to the Buffalo Bills last week for linebacker Kiko Alonso.
In Gore’s 10 seasons with the 49ers, he surpassed 1,000 yards eight times. Last year he averaged 4.3 yards per carry on the way to a 1,106 yard, four touchdown season. Gore is also an underrated weapon in the passing game, something the 49ers couldn’t take advantage of with Colin Kaepernick at quarterback.
Before Kaepernick took over at QB, Gore averaged over 400 yards and two touchdowns a season through the air.
LeSean McCoy gets $40 million from Bills
Just days after acquiring LeSean McCoy via trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, the Bills made sure he was content to play in Buffalo by negotiating a five-year, $40 million contract extension, with $26.5 million guaranteed.
The Bills sent linebacker Kiko Alonso to Buffalo in exchange for McCoy. The trade will not be official until next week.
McCoy has been a star running back in the league since his second season and a top fantasy football pick. His addition to the Bills won’t change that, and, if anything, could make him more valuable. Last year McCoy averaged 4.2 yards per carry for 1,319 yards and five touchdowns, adding 155 yards and 28 catches in the passing game.
Packers won’t let Cobb go
Green Bay will keep it’s big-play passing target on the field for Aaron Rodgers, signing Randall Cobb to a four-year, $40 million contract. Cobb would have been a free agent Tuesday at 4. p.m. if the Packers couldn’t have worked out a deal to keep the 24-year-old wide receiver.
Last year Cobb caught 91 passes for 1,287 yards and 12 touchdowns. Along with Jordy Nelson, Cobb makes up the most productive receiving tandem in the league. Cobb missed most of the 2013 season with an injury, but bounced back as one of Rodgers’ favorite targets in 2014. If he’d hit free agency, he’d likely have been snapped up within the first few days as teams were lining up to court the 5-foot-10, 192-pound wideout. Cobb was drafted by the Packers in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft.
Ingram will remain a Saint
Running back Mark Ingram will not test the free agent market after agreeing to a four-year, $16 million deal to remain with the New Orleans Saints.
Very excited to stay a saint!! God has blessed me beyond belief!! I don’t deserve his grace!! Thank you!!
— Mark Ingram (@MarkIngram22) March 8, 2015
Ingram is coming off his most productive season with New Orleans, averaging 4.3 yards per carry and scoring nine touchdowns. The Saints drafted Ingram in the first round of the 2011 draft, but for years didn’t seem to know how to implement him in with their offense. He split time for most of his career with Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas. Now that he’s the featured back, Ingram should see his production climb significantly.
