Rashaad Penny

Contract Details: Johnson, Penny, White, Okoronkwo, Lewis

Here are some more contract details on deals recently reached around the NFL:

  • Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, DE (Browns): Three years, $19MM. The deal, according to Wilson, includes a guaranteed amount of $12.49MM, $10.83MM of which is guaranteed at signing. That $10.83MM consists of a $5.5MM signing bonus, Okoronkwo’s 2023 base salary of $1.08MM, and his 2024 option bonus of $4.25MM. The remaining $1.66MM of guaranteed money is Okoronkwo’s 2024 base salary, which becomes fully guaranteed on the third league day of the 2024 league year. He also can receive a 2025 option bonus of $3.23MM. The deal includes a $3MM sack incentive and an All-Pro base salary escalator. The team built a potential out into the deal that allows them to release Okoronkwo after 2024 with $6.7MM of dead money but $17.45MM of cap savings over the following five years, four of which are void years in the contract.
  • Mike White, QB (Dolphins): Two years, $8MM. The contract, according to Doug Kyed of AtoZ Sports, includes a guaranteed amount of $4.5MM consisting of a $3.42MM signing bonus and White’s first year base salary of $1.08MM. His second year base salary is worth $3.5MM. The deal includes up to $4MM apiece in playing time and team achievement incentives that up the contract’s maximum value to $16MM.
  • Danny Johnson, CB (Commanders): Two years, $5MM. The contract, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, includes a guaranteed amount of $2.75MM consisting of a $1.75MM signing bonus and $1MM of Johnson’s first year base salary (worth $1.25MM total). His second year base salary is worth $1.49MM. The deal includes a $1MM annual playing time incentive and a per game active roster bonus of $15,000 for a potential season total of $255,000.
  • Tyquan Lewis, DE (Colts): One year, $2.1MM. The deal, according to Wilson, includes a guaranteed amount of $500,000 from the base salary worth a total of $1.08MM. The contract includes incentives worth up to $1.25MM for sacks, playing time, and playoffs, as well as a per game active roster bonus of $60,000 for a potential season total of $1.02MM.
  • Rashaad Penny, RB (Eagles): One year, $1.35MM. The deal, according to Wilson, has a guaranteed amount of $600,000 composed of a $100,000 signing bonus and $500,000 of the base salary (worth $1.08MM total). The deal includes a rushing yards incentive worth up to $750,000 and a per game active roster bonus of $10,000 for a potential season total of $170,000.

Eagles Agree To Terms With RB Rashaad Penny

The Eagles have seen some notable departures in the opening stages of this year’s free agent period. They are set to make an addition on offense, however. Philadelphia has agreed to terms on a deal with running back Rashaad Pennyper Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link).

The NFC champions enjoyed a career year from Miles Sanders in 2022 as the focal point of their elite rushing attack. After three teams elected to use the franchise tag on tailbacks of their own, however, Sanders is poised to be the top option at the position on the open market. As a result, he is widely expected to price himself out of Philadelphia.

Penny could prove to be a cost-effective alternative for the Eagles. The former Seahawk has dealt with myriad injuries throughout his career, including a torn ACL in 2020. More recently, the former first-rounder suffered a broken fibula midway through the 2022 season, derailing what had once again looked to be a promising campaign. Penny has yet to play in a full NFL season.

With veteran Chris Carson having retired after dealing with injury issues of his own, Penny took on the No. 1 role this season. He appeared to be well on his way to a strong year, averaging 6.1 yards per carry. The injury made Seattle’s previous decision to decline his fifth-year option an even more understandable one, though. Penny, 27, made $5.75MM on a one-year pact in 2022.

It is unlikely he will be able to top that figure on this new Eagles pact, but a short-term investment on Philadelphia’s part could prove to be worthwhile. Penny has averaged 5.7 yards per carry in his career (albeit with relatively limited opportunities), and could carry that efficiency over while running behind one of the league’s best offensive lines. The Eagles averaged just under 148 rushing yards per game last season, which ranked fifth in the NFL.

Sanders, along with fellow pending free agent Boston Scott, played a key role in that figure, of course. With Penny in place, however, high-end production on the ground should still be expected provided he can remain healthy.

Injury Updates: Penny, Jets, Bills

Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny is done for the season, but he did get some good news following an MRI. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter), the ankle was shown to be “relatively clean,” with “no deltoid or associated issues.”

Penny underwent “tight-rope” surgery earlier this week, requiring his fibula to be plated in order to stabilize the ankle. The running back will ultimately need four months to recover, meaning he’ll have plenty of time to get healthy for next season.

Of course, it remains to be seen if Penny will be playing in Seattle next season, as the running back is set to hit free agency. The former first-round pick has spent his entire five-year career in Seattle, including a 2021 campaign where he collected a career-high 797 yards from scrimmage.

More injury notes from around the NFL…

  • We previously heard that Jets offensive tackle Duane Brown was opting for rehab instead of surgery while he nursed his injured shoulder. Rapoport tweets that Brown is actually playing through a torn rotator cuff. The veteran landed on injured reserve right before Week 1 after suffering a shoulder injury in practice, and he made his debut with the Jets this past weekend.
  • Micah Hyde is eyeing a significant recovery timeline. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (on Twitter), the Bills All-Pro safety could take anywhere from six to nine months to return to the field. Hyde recently underwent successful surgery to repair a herniated disc in his neck, and he’s already been ruled out for the season.
  • 49ers defensive end Jordan Willis is still “a few weeks” away from returning, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. Willis landed on injured reserve last month with a knee injury. The veteran saw time in 10 games last season for San Francisco, collecting 15 tackles and three sacks.
  • Saints wide receiver Deonte Harty suffered a turf toe injury on Sunday, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football on Twitter. Harty will certainly miss some time, and there’s fear that the injury could be “significant.” Indeed, Rapoport tweets that Harty will get a second opinion, but if nothing changes, he’ll likely miss a few months. After collecting 36 receptions in 2021, Harty only has a pair of catches in four games this season. He’s also returned six kickoffs and three punts.
  • Chiefs defensive lineman Tershawn Wharton tore his ACL on Monday night, ending his season. The former undrafted free agent hasn’t missed a game for Kansas City since joining the organization in 2020. In five games this season, Wharton collected eight tackles and one sack.

Seahawks RB Rashaad Penny Out For Season

OCTOBER 10: Carroll confirmed on Monday that Penny suffered a fractured fibula, along with a tibia injury and high ankle sprain (Twitter link via ESPN’s Brady Henderson). As a result, the team’s top running back will, as feared, miss the remainder of the campaign.

OCTOBER 9: The Seahawks lost this afternoon’s wild game against the Saints, but they also exited the contest without one of their top contributors on offense. Running back Rashaad Penny was carted off the field, and will likely be out for a lengthy duration, if not the remainder of the season. 

When speaking to the media, head coach Pete Carroll said that Penny has a “serious” ankle injury which will keep him sidelined for a while. Providing a different update with respect to diagnosis, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweets that Penny actually suffered a fractured tibia. In any event, the 26-year-old will undergo testing tomorrow to determine if surgery will be required. Rapoport adds that that will likely be the case, marking another injury blow to Penny’s career.

The former first-rounder suffered a torn ACL in 2020, then dealt with persistent hamstring issues last season. He has yet to play a full season in the NFL, but has flashed plenty of potential when on the field. Last season, he was able to log a career-high 119 carries, and led the league with an average of 6.3 yards per carry. That earned him an extended stay in the Emerald City.

The Seahawks declined Penny’s fifth-year option amidst the numerous injuries he has faced. However, his production upon his return last season earned him a one-year, $5.75MM deal this offseason. With the retirement of Chris Carson, Penny was operating as the team’s No. 1 back this season. Entering Sunday’s contest, he had remained highly efficient, totaling 292 yards on 49 carries (6.0 yards per carry), along with a pair of touchdowns.

In his absence, Seattle will move forward with the trio of Travis Homer, DeeJay Dallas and Kenneth WalkerThe latter, a second-round rookie, had his most productive game of the season to date, with 88 yards and one touchdown on eight carries. He will likely take on lead back duties for the foreseeable future, as the team looks for continuity in the running game. Penny, meanwhile, will turn his attention to recovery as heads towards free agency.

Contract Details: Koo, Armstrong, Whitehead, McKissic, Seahawks, Gladney

Here are the details from the latest agreed-upon contracts around the league:

  • Younghoe Koo, K (Falcons): Five years, $24.25MM. Koo received a $6.25MM signing bonus and will earn a fully guaranteed $1.75MM 2022 base salary, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com tweets. The final three years of Koo’s deal are nonguaranteed; none of Koo’s cap hits exceed $6MM.
  • Jordan Whitehead, S (Jets): Two years, $14.5MM. The Jets fully guaranteed Whitehead $7MM and, according to OverTheCap.com, the veteran safety’s cap hits will be $4.2MM and $10.2MM.
  • Austin Johnson, DL (Chargers): Two years, $14MM. Initially reported as having a max value of $14MM, Johnson’s deal carries a base value of that amount. It comes with $10.6MM guaranteed, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan tweets.
  • Dorance Armstrong, DE (Cowboys): Two years, $12MM. The Cowboys fully guaranteed Armstrong $6MM, and Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News tweets his 2022 cap figure checks in at $3.38MM. The deal also features a $1MM sack incentive.
  • Quinton Jefferson, DL (Seahawks): Two years, $9.5MM. The Seahawks guaranteed Jefferson $5.2MM to return. This includes a $1.2MM 2022 base salary, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com tweets.
  • J.D. McKissic, RB (Commanders): Two years, $7MM. Enticing him to renege on a Bills agreement, the Commanders guaranteed McKissic $3.6MM. The deal includes $1.5MM in performance incentives for receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets.
  • Jeff Gladney, CB (Cardinals): Two years, $6.5MM. The former first-round pick will receive $4MM guaranteed, SI.com’s Howard Balzer tweets. In addition to his $2MM signing bonus, the Cards guaranteed Gladney’s 2022 base salary ($1.5MM) and $500K of his 2023 base ($2.5MM). Gladney will count just $2.5MM against Arizona’s cap this year.
  • Rashaad Penny, RB (Seahawks): One year, $5.75MM. To keep Penny, the Seahawks guaranteed him $5.07MM. Penny will carry a $5.51MM cap number, Henderson tweets. Incentives for rushing yards, receiving yards and touchdowns could take the deal to $6.5MM.

NFC West Notes: Rams, Penny, Lock, 49ers

Before the Bills swooped in with an awe-inspiring contract, the Rams expected to re-sign Von Miller. According to Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic, the Rams were flexible with the AAV of Miller’s deal and were generally offering around $14MM to $16MM per season.

The Rams “reiterated their commitment” to the linebacker during negotiations, while Miller made it a priority to work things out with the Super Bowl-winning organization. Of course, the money had to be right, but Rodrigue writes that the Rams were confident in their offer. However, the Bills emerged with a big-money offer that was ultimately too good to refuse.

Rodrigue also notes that Miller’s departure will ultimately net the organization a compensation pick, but because of the player’s tenure in the NFL, the organization can’t expect higher than a fifth-round selection.

More notes out of the NFC West…

  • Rashaad Penny told the media that it was a “no brainer” to re-sign with the Seahawks (per Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times on Twitter). The running back also confirmed that he turned down offers for more money in order to stay in Seattle. The former first-round pick inked a one-year, $5.75MM deal to stick with the Seahawks. This past season, Penny totaled 797 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns.
  • Pete Carroll seems to have some optimism for quarterback Drew Lock, telling reporters that the Seahawks are “focused on the things Drew Lock did well in Denver and not the times he struggled,” with the coach adding that “we think we see something that could be really special” (per Condotta on Twitter).
  • While the organization isn’t necessarily counting on Lock, the organization has high hopes for the QB. “We’ll continue to explore options,” said GM John Schneider (via ESPN’s Brady Henderson), “but we have a ton of faith in Drew. We’re excited about it. We’re excited about a change of scenery for him. I know a couple of my buddies were trying to acquire him all last spring and into the fall. He’s a guy that, in my opinion, the media has beat down a little bit. We’re excited to get him into our culture with our coaching staff, and we’ll continue to look for guys to compete with him.”
  • Jimmy Garoppolo‘s shoulder surgery earlier this month went “as expected,” according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). With the shoulder surgery taking place in early March, the 49ers are hoping the QB will be back on the field before training camp. Of course, the only question remaining is whether Garoppolo will be attending training camp with the 49ers or another team.

Seahawks To Re-Sign Rashaad Penny

After a late-season surge, running back Rashaad Penny has earned himself a pay raise on his second NFL contract. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports (on Twitter) that the team is re-signing him to a one-year, $5.75MM pact. Rapoport adds that the maximum value of the deal is $6.5MM. 

Penny, a first round pick in 2018, put up underwhelming numbers in the first three seasons of his NFL career. He had received only 150 carries in his first two campaigns, totalling 789 rushing yards. In 2020, he was limited to just three contests. After a slow start this past season, though, things changed dramatically for him.

The 26-year-old had single-digit carries in each of his first four games in 2021. That total saw a notable uptick throughout the remainder of the campaign, however, as he gradually took over as Seattle’s lead back. Overall, he registered four games of over 135 rushing yards, including three straight to close out the year. Along the way, he set new career highs in snaps played (253) and carries (119).

On the season, Penny totalled 797 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns. Most notably, his resurgence led him to average 6.3 yards per carry, which topped the NFL. His performance turned around the reputation he had previously established as a disappointing investment with regards to his draft status, while offering reason for optimism in what was otherwise a lost season in Seattle.

In addition to Penny, the Seahawks also have Chris Carson under contract for one more season. His presence makes it noteworthy that Rapoport states Penny “turned down more money elsewhere” to remain in the only NFL home he’s known so far. Seattle also has 2020 fourth rounder DeeJay Dallas in its RB room. With Penny being brought back, they will be able to carry over the same depth chart at the position as they had last year.

Mutual Interest Between Seahawks, Rashaad Penny

In addition to his role on numerous fantasy championship teams, Rashaad Penny is very much in his actual team’s plans. The former first-round pick’s late-season surge has him on the Seahawks’ long-term radar.

The Seahawks are interested in re-signing Penny, and Pete Carroll said the four-year veteran would also like to stay in Seattle, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. Penny’s career trajectory would make these extension talks a bit unusual, but he delivered top-shelf work for the Seahawks down the stretch. That finish puts Penny on the radar to be Seattle’s back of the future — the team’s hope when it made him a surprise Round 1 choice four years ago — especially with Chris Carson coming off neck surgery.

Although Penny missed more time due to injury, he returned to start the Seahawks’ final five games. The San Diego State product’s 7.3-yard average in that span gave him an NFL-leading 6.3 for the season (albeit on just 119 carries) and 749 rushing yards. The 119 carries, however, were a career-high total. Penny was never able to supplant Carson when both were healthy and missed most of the 2020 season after an ACL tear late in the 2019 slate. Penny dealt with calf and hamstring injuries in 2021.

Penny, 26, has missed 31 career games, counting three playoff contests. There still figures to be a “prove it” component to his next contract. The Seahawks did not pick up his fifth-year option in 2020. Penny joins the likes of James Conner, Melvin Gordon, Leonard Fournette, Sony Michel, Marlon Mack and Raheem Mostert as a back on track for free agency.

The Seahawks kept Carson on a two-year, $10.4MM deal last March, but the veteran starter suffered a significant neck injury that limited him to four games. Carson, 27, underwent neck surgery late last year. Due to the void year the Seahawks tacked onto his deal, it would cost the team $3MM-plus in dead money to release the five-year starter.

Seahawks’ Rashaad Penny To Miss Time

More bad news for Rashaad Penny. Thanks to his latest hamstring flare-up, the Seahawks running back will be held out of tomorrow night’s game against Washington (Twitter link via Adam Jude of the Seattle Times). Beyond that, head coach Pete Carroll says that the injury could result in him reverting to IR, which would rule him out for the rest of the year.

Penny’s hammy and calf issues have limited him to just four games this year. All in all, he has just 17 carries for 43 yards and one score on the year. He also sat out the majority of the 2020 campaign while recovering from a torn ACL.

On top of that, Travis Homer has been ruled out for this week with a calf injury. The Seahawks — already without Chris Carson thanks to a season-ending neck injury, are down to just Alex Collins, DeeJay Dallas, and newcomer B.J. Emmons. Practice squader Josh Johnson could be elevated for additional support, but the Seahawks may need to consider other options in the long-term.

For Penny, it’s yet another setback in what was shaping up to be a promising career. Through his first two seasons in the NFL, Penny notched 947 all-purpose yards and six touchdowns. And, in 2019, he managed a 5.7 yards per carry average, albeit in a limited sample size of 65 totes.

The Seahawks have already declined Penny’s fifth-year option, so he’s on course for free agency in the spring.