Linebacker Ryan Kerrigan has signed a long-term contract extension with Washington, the team announced on Wednesday. The extension is for five years and will pay him $11.5 million per season, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. That includes a $16 million signing bonus.
Ryan Kerrigan signs long-term extension with Washington
Ryan Kerrigan will earn $11.5 million per season on his new deal.
Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Kerrigan was entering the final year of his rookie contract and is coming off a career year. Washington exercised the fifth-year option on his contract in 2014, and his salary for 2015 was set to be just over $7 million, which was a massive increase over anything else he’s received in his rookie deal. Another leap to $11.5 million means Washington has a lot of confidence that Kerrigan can be the centerpiece of its defense moving forward.
Since being taken 16th overall in the 2011 NFL Draft, Kerrigan hasn't missed a single game, and has compiled 247 tackles, 38 sacks, 15 forced fumbles and two interceptions. Last season alone, he had 64 tackles, 13.5 sacks and five forced fumbles.
Washington lost Brian Orakpo to free agency this offseason, and though Orakpo dealt with injuries in recent years, he still overshadowed Kerrigan by making flashier plays. Kerrigan is now the top outside linebacker in Washington and he's being paid like it. Kerrigan will turn 27 years old in August and certainly has even more room for improvement. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 2012, for a season that wasn't quite as good as his 2014 campaign.
Kerrigan's deal would put him above DeMarcus Ware and the aforementioned Orakpo, but well south of the $16.8 million per year the Kansas City Chiefs are paying Justin Houston after the huge deal he signed this offseason.
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