The Seattle Seahawks and defensive end Michael Bennett have reportedly come to an agreement on a three-year contract extension.
This deal was first reported by Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report.
#Seahawks have agreed to three-year contract extension with Pro Bowl defensive end Michael Bennett, per source.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) December 30, 2016
NFL insiders quickly confirmed this report, with NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport providing contractual context.
#Seahawks are signing DL Michael Bennett to a 3-yr extension worth $31.5M, source said. $17.5M in guarantees. Big payday for a 32-year old
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 30, 2016
In Michael Bennett’s deal, he earns $16M in 2017 & $19M by Mar. 5 of 2018. His reps worked on it for months, cashed in huge before playoffs
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 30, 2016
This is a huge deal that benefits both Bennett and the Seahawks. A key cog in the team’s dynamic defense, Bennett plays all over the line for Seattle, moving inside and outside with an ease and effectiveness that is rarely seen.
Though he has only tallied four sacks this year, thanks in part to a knee injury that required surgery, Bennett’s stat sheet never does him justice as it concerns his impact on the field. Whether he’s pushing the pocket from a defensive tackle spot or collapsing it from the outside as a defensive end, the defensive lineman is constantly making life difficult for opposing offensive lines.
At the age of 32, this is likely the last big payday Bennett will receive. He’s long lamented he wasn’t getting paid what he’s worth. Now he finally has a big contract he can live up to.