The contract standoff between the Los Angeles Chargers and linebacker Melvin Ingram is over after they agreed to a four-year deal worth $66 million, with $42 million in guaranteed money. The deal was first reported by Ian Rapaport of NFL Network Insider. With the deal, Ingram finally got what he wanted, matching the annual pay of Arizona Cardinals franchise player Chandler Jones, who will earn an average of $16.5 million from the five-year, $82.5 million contracts that he signed in March.
The two sides reached the deal more than one month before the July 15 deadline to negotiate a multiyear contract.
If not, Ingram would be playing next season under the tender worth roughly $14.129 million for 2017. Last February, the Chargers placed a franchise tag on Ingram, who said he would consider skipping minicamp and portions of training camp without a long-term deal.
Ingram vital piece in the Chargers’ defense
An 18th overall pick by the Chargers in 2012, Ingram played 16 games in his rookie year, but injuries bothered him in the next two seasons, playing just 13 games with just 37 tackles and five sacks. Ingram turned things around with a new regimen, helping him become productive in 2015 and 2016 seasons.
He started all 32 games, tallying 125 tackles and 18.5 sacks, becoming the second player behind 2016 Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack as the only players with at least to have at least 50 tackles and eight sacks in each of the last two seasons.
Ingram-Joey Bosa tandem one of the best pass-rushers in NFL
The Chargers now boast of one of the best pass rushing tandem in the league in Ingram and Joey Bosa, who are both signed through the 2020 season. The two will be complemented by Pro Bowl cornerbacks Jason Verrett and Casey Hayward. With their beefed-up defense, the Chargers are expected to vie for a playoff spot in their first season back in Los Angeles since 1960.In his rookie year, Bosa had a contract stalemate with the Chargers.
Offensive tackle Russell Okung, who was signed by the Chargers in the offseason, said he was impressed by the 21-year-old Bosa, who won the 2016 Defensive Rookie of the Year honors after tallying 10.5 sacks last season. Okung, for his part, is one of the best blockers in the league, allowing the second fewest sacks (20) during his first six years among players with at least 70 career starts.
During his stint with the Broncos, Okung faced off with Bosa twice, and he was impressed by the young pass rusher. “The guy works hard! It’s crazy. He is so young but his technique, and the way he works that hard, I’ve never seen it in a young guy like that. The sky’s the limit for him,” said Okung.
