Corey Linsley Contract Makes Him Highest-Paid Center
The Los Angeles Chargers came into the free agency and trade market looking to see if they could bolster their offensive line, and they have secured one of the marquee names.
March 15th, 2021, will be a day that Center Corey Linsley will never forget. That is the day that Corey Linsley became the highest-paid center in the NFL. This deal with the Chargers gave Lindley a 5-year contract worth $62.5 million. The contract will pay Linsley $26 million over his first two seasons with the Chargers. .This deal will help pass the previous highest-paid center that was held by Ryan Kelly of the Indianapolis Colts, who is only making $12.4 million a year. Linsley will have an average value of $12.5 million. Not only is Linsley getting all this money, but he is also looking to be taking over as Justin Herbert’s newest protector in the AFC West.
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Corey Linsley Contract Details
• $17 million in Year 1, with a $13 million signing bonus.
• $26 million over 2 years.
• $36.5 million over 3 years.
• Total guarantee: $26 million.
The Green Bay Packers wanted Linsley to come back after spending 7 long years with them. Green Bay could not match what was being offered by the Chargers because of the cap space they are sitting over.
Linsley started his career in 2014 as a fifth-round pick by the Packers. Linsley has played 99 games with Green Bay over that time frame of 7 years, including 11 playoff games, which came out to a total of 6,253 snaps. Linsley’s rookie season, he started all 16 games and was named to the 2014 NFL All-Rookie Team.
Linsley’s presence up front was a major reason for the success of the Packers. Linsley anchored an offensive line that consistently kept Aaron Rodgers upright and provided running lanes for Aaron Jones and the rest of the backfield.
During the 2020 season, Linsley was named to his first All-Pro team, where he played 734 snaps and did not commit one penalty on offense. Linsley also only allowed four total pressures and one sack. During that time, Linsley was also the Packer’s nominee for the Walton Patron NFL Man of the Year award.
When the Chargers noticed that Linsley was not going to be re-signed by Green Bay, they decided to take the chance to jump on an amazing opportunity that was present. Linsley is becoming the eighth center in the NFL to have a contract that is averaging at least $10 million per season.
This was money well spent for a center that was the best in the NFL in 2020, finishing with the top offensive grade (89.9) for that position, per Pro Football Focus, despite only starting 13 games.
Despite Linsley getting ready to turn 30 in July, the Chargers have opened the offers for one of the game’s most important positions less than a year after discovering that they have drafted their franchise quarterback.
What was once seen as a looming weakness for the Chargers and new head coach Brandon Staley is not a strength, at least to one of the three interior positions that needed help. Linsley will be replacing the retired Mike Pouncey. Linsley will be in charge of making sure that quarterback Herbert will stay on his feet after the promising rookie season he had. Herbert also now has a center with whom he can build a rapport and return to contention in the years ahead.
