Monday morning, shortly after the open of the free-agent negotiating period, former Bears linebacker Nick Kwiatkowski agreed to terms with the Raiders. Often times the first wave of free-agent contracts are sizable ones. But this one was not that. It was more on the friendly side of things.
Three years, $21 million with $13.5 million guaranteed. Not bad for a 26-year-old linebacker whose career is on the upswing. For comparison sake, just look at the contract Tahir Whitehead had before he was released last week.
Two years ago, Whitehead signed a 3-year, $19 million deal. Just two million below what the Raiders just signed Kwiatkoski. With Whitehead’s salary set at over $7 million this year, the Raiders basically swapped out the 30-year-old’s one year for Kwiatkoski with two more years after.
Kwiatkoski becomes the 19th-highest-paid off the ball linebacker. That is before a few more free agent linebackers sign their deals and potentially jump ahead of him.
