Antonio Brown will be back with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2017 NFL season, after the team inked him to a lucrative five-year deal Monday.
For all the talk of the Pittsburgh Steelers possibly cutting ties with Antonio Brown after his Facebook incident during the playoffs, the team made a long-term investment in him on Monday. Brown signed a five-year deal with the Steelers which includes $68 million in new money, making him the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL. Brown will receive a $19 million signing bonus as part of the deal, making his total compensation over the next five years over $74 million.
Staying with the Steelers, the team placed the franchise tag on star running back Le’Veon Bell on Monday. While the two are expected to hammer out a long-term deal, if none can be made by July 15, he will have to play under the tag next season. Bell’s tag is exclusive, which means no other team can negotiate with him prior to the 2017 NFL season. Bell is one of the biggest stars in the NFL, and the Steelers definitely want him in their long-term plans.
The Los Angeles Chargers made a significant move on Monday, placing the franchise tag on linebacker Melvin Ingram. Ingram was a key piece to the Chargers defense, and as one of the better linebackers in this free agency period, it was important the Bolts locked him up. His tag is non-exclusive, which means another team can certainly sign him if the Chargers do not decide to match that team’s offer for his services.
Jason Pierre-Paul proved that he can be just as dominant with 7.5 fingers last season, playing a key role in the Giants making the playoffs for the first time in five years. JPP recently stated that he will not play on a one-year deal, so it is a bit surprising that the Giants would use the franchise tag on him. It is the second time in his career that the Giants have tagged him, and at 28 years old, he is bound to get another big pay day by the time he is done.
The Kansas City Chiefs had one of the better defenses in the NFL last season, and it was led by two men who are free agents right now. Eric Berry, the team’s star safety, is expected to get the franchise tag, though the teams are working on a long-term deal that would make him the highest paid safety in the league. Nose tackle Dontari Poe is expected to walk, as the Chiefs do not want to spend the kind of money that will keep him with the team in 2017.
Another star player who is expected to change teams next season is Alshon Jeffery, the Chicago Bears’ top wide receiver. Jeffery suffered through a rough 2016 NFL campaign, as he was suspended for four games, and also missed time due to injuries. Jeffery is likely to get a big pay day from somebody, but it is clear that his time in Chicago is over. The Bears also may say goodbye to quarterback Jay Cutler, as they really begin to clean house prior to the 2017 season.
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Finally, the Arizona Cardinals placed a franchise tag on Monday, as they locked up Chandler Jones for at least the 2017 season. Jones was a beast on defense for the Cardinals last season, collecting 11 sacks for a team that played very consistent football throughout. The Cardinals are expected to be very good in 2017, and bringing back someone like Jones is certainly going to go a long way towards them making the playoffs after a one-year hiatus.