Melvin Ingram - Pro Football Rumors

Contract Details: Landry, Ingram, Bradberry

May 20th, 2022 at 9:00pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are some of the details on deals recently agreed to around the NFL:

Jarvis Landry, WR (Saints): One-year, $3MM. The contract, according to ESPN’s Field Yates, is completely guaranteed with a $1.88MM signing bonus and a base salary of $1.12MM. The deal will have a maximum value of $6MM due to some lofty incentives. One incentive is based on his receptions total, paying out $250,000 if he reaches 55 catches, $500,000 if he reaches 65, and $1MM if he reaches 75 receptions. The receptions bonus does not compound. If he reaches 75 receptions, he will only receive a $1MM bonus, not $1.75MM. Other incentives include $500,000 if he catches five touchdowns, $500,000 if he plays 48.5% of the team’s offensive snaps, $500,000 if he records 60 catches and the team makes the playoffs, and $500,000 if he reaches 607 receiving yards and the team makes the playoffs.
Melvin Ingram, OLB (Dolphins): One-year, $4MM. The deal, also reported by Yates, has a guaranteed amount of $3.32MM composed of a $1.65MM signing bonus and a base salary of $1.67MM. The remaining $680,000 is the potential season-total for Ingram’s per game active bonus of $40,000. Ingram can earn up to $750,000 of additional incentives based on playtime, sack total, and team defense. A Pro Bowl bonus of $250,000 pushes the maximum potential value of the contract to $5MM.
James Bradberry, CB (Eagles): One-year, $7.25MM. Bradberry’s deal, once again reported by Yates, is fully guaranteed with a signing bonus of $6.22MM and a base salary of $1.04MM. Bradberry can earn an additional $2.5MM due to incentives, giving his deal a maximum potential value of $9.75MM. The Eagles continue to divvy up the cap hit with voidable years, spreading Bradberry’s cap number through the 2026 season. The result sees his $7.25MM contract only do $2.28MM-worth of damage to the 2022 salary cap.

Dolphins To Sign Melvin Ingram

May 15th, 2022 at 4:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

Another veteran pass rusher has found a new home. Melvin Ingram is signing with the Dolphins, reports Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network (Twitter link).

The recently-turned 33-year-old spent nine years with the Chargers. Beginning in 2014, he emerged as a disruptive presence against both the pass and the run, eclipsing the 10-sack mark in 2015 and 2017. The latter campaign saw him earn the first of three consecutive Pro Bowl nods.

Ingram ended his tenure with the team this offseason, signing with the Steelers to bookend All-Pro T.J. Watt. The move was met with optimism from both an individual and team perspective, but things didn’t go according to plan at any point during the season. Playing a smaller role than he did at any point as a starter with the Chargers, Ingram totalled just 10 tackles and one sack as a Steeler.

In November, Pittsburgh honored his trade request, sending him to Kansas City. He matched his sack total from his brief Steelers tenure, but his arrival coincided with the Chiefs’ general defensive turnaround, and he added a pair of sacks in three postseason games. As a result, the team expressed an interest in re-signing the South Carolina alum.

That possibility seemed to grow in likelihood when the Chiefs placed the rarely-used UFA tender on Ingram. Doing so would have given them exclusive negotiating rights after July 22nd, while guaranteeing Ingram a Chiefs contract of at least $4.4MM. As a result of this deal with the Dolphins, Kansas City will be in line for a compensatory pick next year.

While it may come as a slight surprise Ingram is on the move once again, the fact that his destination is Miami shouldn’t be one. The Dolphins hosted him just over one month ago, signalling their interest. He will join a Dolphins edge group which already featured the re-signed Emmanuel Ogbah and 2021 first-rounder Jaelan Phillips. Ingram should be able to play at least a rotational role on what figures to be a strong Miami defense.

Justin Houston, Melvin Ingram Hit With UFA Tenders

May 2nd, 2022 at 10:31pm CST by Ben Levine

Both the Ravens and Chiefs made use of a rarely used tender today. Per ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter), free agent linebackers Justin Houston and Melvin Ingram were hit with UFA tenders by Baltimore and Kansas City, respectively.

This makes July 22 (or the first day of training camp, whichever is later) a relatively important date for the two veterans. If they sign with a new team before that date, then they’ll count toward the compensatory pick formula (benefiting their 2021 team). If they remain unsigned, then their 2021 squad will have exclusive negotiating rights, meaning the player will either return to the organization or sit unsigned.

Houston’s offer from Baltimore is worth 110% of his 2021 salary, which was $2.075MM. The veteran inked a one-year deal with the Ravens last offseason, and he ended up collecting 34 tackles and 4.5 sacks in 15 starts for his new team. Houston spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Chiefs, including a 2014 campaign where he compiled 22 sacks.

Per Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com, the Chiefs effectively offered Ingram a one-year deal worth $4.4MM. The linebacker was traded to Kansas City last November, and he saw time in nine games (six starts) down the stretch, collecting 15 tackles and one sack. The 33-year-old added another two sacks in three playoff games. The former first-round pick spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Chargers, collecting 49 sacks and three Pro Bowl appearances.

Melvin Ingram Visiting Dolphins

April 12th, 2022 at 1:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

Melvin Ingram found himself in a new NFL home for the first time last season. That may be the case again in 2022, as the free agent is visiting the Dolphins (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport).

The soon-to-be 33-year-old signed with the Steelers last year, ending a nine-year stint with the Chargers. He only started one of six games in Pittsburgh, however, registering a single sack. That led to a trade request, which the team honored. He was acquired by the Chiefs in November; in Kansas City, he saw similar playing time and put up comparable numbers.

Given the South Carolina alum’s play, and the team’s defensive turnaround which coincided with his arrival, the Chiefs made it clear they would welcome Ingram back if he wished to stay. “I do think if a guy like Melvin decides he wants to come back and play, I think that we would be at the top of his list” said general manager Brett Veach. Since those comments, though, the team has managed to retain Frank Clark, whom many felt would be a cut candidate.

The Dolphins have made significant additions to their offense this offseason, but they have been able to retain a number of key defensive players as well. Among those is defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah, who, along with 2021 first-round pick Jaelan Phillips, will remain central to the team’s pass rush. Signing Ingram would add experienced depth in that department, while helping to fortify an already strong unit on a team with significant 2022 aspirations.

Chiefs Want To Bring Back Melvin Ingram

February 18th, 2022 at 8:52am CST by Adam La Rose

One aspect of the Chiefs’ midseason turnaround was the acquisition of veteran edge rusher Melvin Ingram. After his brief stint in Kansas City, there appears to be mutual interest for him to stay put, according to ESPN’s Adam Teicher.

Ingram ended his nine-year stint with the Chargers when he signed a one-year deal in Pittsburgh last offseason. Things didn’t go according to plan, however, as he managed just one sack and saw his playing time dwindle. Once he became available, the Chiefs were immediately interested in adding him as a boost to their pass rush. The deal was done in November, sending Ingram to his second team in a matter of months.

While Ingram also only recorded one sack with the Chiefs, his arrival coincided with the team’s late-season surge. As Teicher notes, Kansas City started the year 4-4, but won eight of their nine games after acquiring him. A large part of the turnaround was a defensive resurgence in the second half of the campaign; the Chiefs allowed eleven fewer points per game with Ingram than without him.

During the team’s run to a fourth consecutive AFC Championship game, Ingram said “I’ve definitely got a lot of desire” to stay in Kansas City. Meanwhile, general manager Brett Veach is similarly interested in bringing back the 32-year-old.

“His leadership and his approach, I think, elevated everyone else’s game”, he said. “We had a really good string of late-season football and I think he was a huge part of that… I do think if a guy like Melvin decides he wants to come back and play, I think that we would be at the top of his list“.

The Chiefs ranked 29th in the league in sacks last season, so keeping Ingram certainly wouldn’t be the only move needed to be made in upgrading the team’s defense. If he were to sign another short-term deal around the $1MM rate he inked last year, though, he could provide low-cost experience at a premium position.

Steelers Trade Melvin Ingram To Chiefs

November 2nd, 2021 at 9:04am CST by Zachary Links

The Steelers have agreed to trade edge rusher Melvin Ingram to the Chiefs (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). In exchange, Kansas City will send a sixth-round pick to Pittsburgh. The deal is now official, per a press release from the Steelers.

The Chiefs made an offer on Ingram late last week, following a one-sided loss to the Titans. Even with Frank Clark and Chris Jones back on the field, the Chiefs clearly needed to bolster their pass rush. They’ve done just that by acquiring Ingram, a proven vet who was eager for a change of scenery.

So far this year, Ingram has ten tackles, one pass defensed, and one sack across six games. Those numbers don’t exactly jump off of the screen, but he’s been healthy, and that’s good news after his injury-riddled 2020. Ingram’s knee kept him to just seven games with the Bolts last year. Before that, he saw three straight Pro Bowl nods from 2017-2019.

The Chiefs met with Ingram in the early part of the offseason but passed on their opportunity to sign him. In other words, they could have had the 32-year-old on a similar deal without coughing up a draft pick. Still, it’s only a sixth-round choice, so the Chiefs haven’t depleted their stockpile too badly.

Ingram will make his debut on Sunday when the Chiefs host the Packers at Arrowhead Stadium.

Chiefs Send Steelers Melvin Ingram Offer

October 28th, 2021 at 10:51am CST by Sam Robinson

Melvin Ingram visited the Chiefs in March, but the defending AFC champions passed. This led Ingram to Pittsburgh. Months later, the veteran edge rusher is back on Kansas City’s radar.

Mentioned as a team monitoring Ingram, the Chiefs have now made an offer for the 10th-year pass rusher, NFL.com’s Aditi Kinkhabwala reports (on Twitter). Ingram wants to be traded, after seeing the Steelers reduce his playing time.

As is generally the case involving trades of notable performers, the Steelers do not want to send Ingram to a team in the conference, Kinkhabwala adds. The former Pro Bowl sack artist being on the block is certainly notable, as NFC teams assess their pass-rushing stables ahead of the Nov. 2 trade deadline, but the Chiefs certainly could use whatever defensive help they can find.

Kansas City’s defense has taken a significant step back this season. The Chiefs rank 28th in total defense and last in sacks, having registered just eight. Despite Chris Jones and Frank Clark playing together for the first time since Week 2, the Chiefs could not stop the Titans in a blowout Week 7 loss. Clark, who was arrested twice on gun charges this offseason, has yet to register a sack in his third year with the Chiefs. Kansas City, which has won five straight AFC West titles, is 3-4 and looking up at the Raiders and Chargers in a suddenly competitive division.

Ingram has one sack and six quarterback hits on his 2021 resume. While the former first-round pick is a bit removed from his peak, he could conceivably help a team as a complementary rusher. The Steelers have moved toward Alex Highsmith as T.J. Watt‘s primary sidekick and played Ingram on only 26% of their defensive snaps in Week 6. This was down from 60% in Week 5. Money is not a major issue here, as Ingram is attached to just a $1.075MM base salary. But the Steelers (3-3) are not exactly out of contention. Would they deal away cheap pass-rushing depth?

This Chiefs regime obviously knows Ingram well from his Chargers days. Working alongside Joey Bosa, Ingram made three straight Pro Bowls from 2017-19 and recorded 43 sacks from 2015-19. That led the Bolts to give him a big-ticket extension in 2017. After giving Bosa a record-setting re-up last year, the Chargers led Ingram walk in free agency.

Steelers’ Melvin Ingram Drawing Interest

October 24th, 2021 at 2:33pm CST by Zachary Links

The Steelers have been receiving trade inquiries on pass rusher Melvin Ingram, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. Even though Ingram hasn’t necessarily impressed in Pittsburgh, teams are interested in adding his experience at an affordable salary.

Another club would only have to pay Ingram the prorated portion of his $1.075MM base salary, since the Steelers have already paid his $2.925MM signing bonus. It’s not clear which teams have called on the veteran, but RapSheet notes that the Chiefs have been on the lookout for edge help. The Chiefs were also among the teams to meet with Ingram in the offseason, prior to his July deal with Pittsburgh.

The Steelers appear to be listening on Ingram, per Rapoport, a sign that a deal could come together soon. The Steelers have a little over week until the Nov. 2 trade deadline if they want to turn the 32-year-old into future draft capital.

Ingram’s knee trouble held him to just seven games for the Chargers last year. But, before that, he notched 49 career sacks en route to three straight Pro Bowls from 2017-19. He had exactly zero sacks in 2020, but Pro Football Focus gave him a solid 76.3 pass-rushing score, good for top-20 among all OLBs/DEs.

So far this year, Ingram has ten tackles, one pass defensed, and one sack across six games.

Steelers To Sign Melvin Ingram

July 19th, 2021 at 3:42pm CST by Zachary Links

Well, that was fast. Soon after meeting with the Steelers, defensive end Melvin Ingram inked a one-year deal to play in Pittsburgh (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport).

Ingram has had an unexpectedly long stay in free agency, likely due to health concerns. Last year, a knee issue held him to just seven games for the Chargers. But, before that, he notched 49 career sacks en route to three straight Pro Bowls from 2017-19. He had exactly zero sacks in 2020, but Pro Football Focus gave him a solid 76.3 pass-rushing score, good for top-20 among all OLBs/DEs.

Ingram, 32, met with the Dolphins and Chiefs earlier this year, but left both visits without deals. Fortunately for them and other teams in need of edge help, Justin Houston, Everson Griffen, Olivier Vernon, and Bruce Irvin are still on the board.

Now, instead of Joey Bosa, he’ll have two-time All-Pro T.J. Watt as his opposite end counterpart. Beyond those two, the Steelers also have rookie Quincy Roche, youngster Alex Highsmith, and veteran Cassius Marsh in the mix.

Steelers Host Melvin Ingram

July 19th, 2021 at 10:39am CST by Zachary Links

The Steelers are hosting edge rusher Melvin Ingram on a visit today, (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Ingram, who visited with the Chiefs and Dolphins earlier this year, would help the Steelers fill a lingering mid-summer need.

Ingram is one of several big-name pass rushers left on the board, along with Justin Houston, Everson Griffen, Olivier Vernon, and Bruce Irvin. Like Houston, Ingram is 32 years of age. But, unlike Houston, he comes with some health concerns about his knee. We haven’t heard much about his status, but one has to imagine that he’d be off the board by now if he was 100% healthy.

The longtime Charger earned three consecutive Pro Bowl nods from 2017-19. Last year, however, Ingram was limited to just seven games. In those contests, he failed to record a single sack, though he did manage a 76.3 pass-rushing score from Pro Football Focus in that limited sample. That was good for top-20 status among all NFL edge rushers.

The Steelers have two-time All-Pro T.J. Watt to lead the pack, but former first-round pick Bud Dupree is out of the picture. Beyond him, they’ve got rookie Quincy Roche, youngster Alex Highsmith, and veteran Cassius March on the depth chart.