Written by Mike Klis at USAToday.com
Malik Jackson, a key player on the Denver Broncos’ Super Bowl 50-winning defense, is headed to Jacksonville to play for the Jaguars, sources tell 9NEWS.
The defensive end has reached an agreement on a six-year, $90 million contract that will make him the NFL’s fourth highest-paid defensive lineman — fifth highest defensive player overall — based on annual average over the first three, four and five years of a long-term deal.
Jackson’s deal is for $85.5 million over six years. He can also make an additional $4.5 million in playing-time incentives in the last three years of his deal.
The framework of the deal was negotiated late Monday night by Jackson’s agent Jack Scharf and Jacksonville executive John Idzik. The contract is expected to be executed shortly after the NFL free-agent market officially opens at 4 p.m. ET Wednesday.
The Broncos, Chicago Bears and Oakland Raiders were also bidding for Jackson during the free-agent tampering period that opened Monday. The Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Redskins were among the other teams that also expressed interest.
A big reason why Jacksonville won the Jackson sweepstakes: He is receiving $45 million in the first three years of the deal with $42 million of that fully guaranteed against skill, injury and salary cap. Jackson’s three-year average of $15 million surpasses the $14.8 million three-year average Tampa Bay gave defensive lineman Gerald McCoy two years ago.
Only defensive linemen Ndamukong Suh, J.J. Watt and Marcell Dareus, and outside linebacker Justin Houston are higher paid than Jackson.
This will be the third consecutive year, the Broncos have lost a prominent player to the Jaguars via free agency. Following the team’s Super Bowl XLVIII appearance to finish the 2013 season, Broncos left guard Zane Beadles signed a five-year, $30-million contract with Jacksonville. (Beadles was released last week after collecting $12 million in two seasons).
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