It looks like the dominoes are beginning to fall when it comes to soon-to-be free agent edge rushers as the Chicago Bears will reportedly sign defensive end/outside linebacker Pernell McPhee to a five-year, $40 million deal with roughly $16 million guaranteed on Tuesday.
McPhee, who was drafted by the Ravens in the fifth-round of the 2011 NFL Draft, registered 7.5 sacks in 2014 even though he failed to start a game. Including the playoffs, McPhee played 616 snaps in 2014 on his way to registering 24 quarterback hits and 40 hurries, according to Pro Football Focus.
In addition to McPhee agreeing to terms, it is also being reported that Jerry Hughes will be staying with the Buffalo Bills as he has agreed to sign a five-year deal worth more than $45 million, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Now that we know how much McPhee and Hughes are getting per year on average, I think there’s a good chance that Brandon Graham and Jason Worilds will get less than that. The Philadelphia Eagles and Tennessee Titans are both reportedly interested in signing Worilds, but if his average yearly value indeed comes in much less than that of Hughes’ and McPhee’s, perhaps the Steelers will re-sign him.
Worilds earned $9.754 million last season after being given the transition tag.
