The Jacksonville Jaguars are signing a lineman to one of the richest contracts in NFL history adding to their active offseason. Brandon Linder, who played 909 snaps at center in 2016, is getting inked to an extension with the Jaguars for five-years worth an estimated $51.7 million.
Following comes from Ian Rappoport of NFL Network.
The #Jaguars made Brandon Linder the highest-paid center in @NFL history. He is signing a 5-year extension worth $51.7M, source said. ???
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 25, 2017
On his 5-yr, $51.7M extension, #Jags C Brandon Linder gets $24M guaranteed. The deal was done by Alan Herman & Jared Fox of @SPORTSTARSNYC.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 25, 2017
Linder broke into the league in 2014 as a third round pick out of the University of Miami. He played right guard for all of his 918 snaps as a rookie for the Jags. This summer, Linder said he was focusing on playing guard during OTAs. His new deal will assure he is the highest paid center in NFL history, as long as he stays as the man in the middle.
Linder appeared in 14 games for the Jaguars in 2016 and he was rated by Pro Football Focus as the No.5 center out of 38 qualifying centers. Linder was also topping the NFL in both pass protection, ranking eighth among centers (84.5 pass-block grade) and run blocking, ranking fifth (84.0 run-block grade), also according to Pro Football Focus.
