Two years after he held out for a couple of games, safety Kam Chancellor signed a three-year, $36 million contract extension with the Seattle Seahawks with $25 million in guaranteed money, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network Insider. The 29-year-old Chancellor will play the final year of a five-year, $29.323 million deal he signed back in 2013 next season. The new deal guarantees that Chancellor will play his prime years with the Seahawks.
After the signing, Chancellor said he loves the Seahawks as they gave him his first and only opportunity to play in the NFL and “I would love to retire here." Recognized as the best defensive player in the Seahawks’ “Legion of Boom” defense, Chancellor was tasked with doing the dirty work for head coach Pete Carroll.
With his new deal, Chancellor’s $12 million annual salary will place him slightly behind Eric Berry and Tyrann Mathieu. However, the percentage of his guaranteed money in the deal is incredibly high compared to Berry and Mathieu. The Seahawks’ key defensive players, composed of Chancellor, Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett, are now signed to long-term deals.
Chancellor emerged as leader in locker room
A 5th round pick by the Seahawks in 2010, Chancellor started his career playing on special teams while serving as a backup to Lawyer Milloy. When he took over the starting role in 2011, he established himself as one of the top safeties in the league and an outstanding leader in the in Seattle’s locker room.
In his seven-year stint with the Seahawks, he made it to the Pro Bowl four times and was selected to All-Pro second-team twice. Last season, Chancellor racked up 85 combined tackles, eight passes defended, two interceptions and a forced fumble in 12 games for the Seahawks. If the Seahawks didn't sign Chancellor, he would have been a top target in the free agent market in 2018.
Ryan Clady retires after 8 NFL seasons
Pro Bowl left tackle Ryan Clady of the Denver Broncos announced his retirement after nine seasons in the NFL. A 12th overall pick by Denver in 2008, Clady played eight seasons with the Broncos, making it to the Pro Bowl four times and was selected twice to the All Pro first-team. He also won a Super Bowl ring with the Broncos before he signed with the New York Jets in 2016 where he ended the season on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.
Before he retired, the 30-year-old Clady was the top veteran left-tackle option on the free-agent market. According to Rapoport, the Detroit Lions and the Seattle Seahawks were eyeing Clady’s services. Clady's retirement came a day after veteran left tackle Branden Albert of the Jacksonville Jaguars decided to hang up his cleats for good.
