The details are in for the contracts signed by former Green Bay Packers linebacker Blake Martinez and right tackle Bryan Bulaga.
Both players signed three-year deals worth around $30 million. Martinez agreed to his deal with the New York Giants, while Bulaga agreed to sign with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Both deals look like they’ll end up being two-year deals.
Martinez didn’t get a signing bonus but received $19 million guaranteed, with $10 million of it in the form of a roster bonus in 2020, according to Over the Cap. His cap hit this season will be $14 million. He’ll also have $5 million of his 2021 salary guaranteed, but the structure – namely the lack of a signing bonus – gives the Giants real flexibility. There’s no guaranteed money past 2021, and the Giants can release him and save all $8,525,000 on the cap in 2022. Effectively, it’s a two-year deal worth $22,250,000.
| Year | Base | Roster | Workout | Cap | Cash |
| 2020 | $4,000,000 | $10,000,000 | $14,000,000 | $14,000,000 | |
| 2021 | $8,125,000 | $100,000 | $8,225,000 | $22,250,000 | |
| 2022 | $8,425,000 | $100,000 | $8,525,000 | $30,750,000 |
The Packers replaced Martinez at linebacker with Christian Kirksey, who signed a two-year deal worth a base of $13 million, and his cap hit is below $5 million in 2020.
In Los Angeles, the Chargers landed a top-level right tackle at a nice price.
Bulaga’s deal included a $10 million signing bonus and almost $20 million guaranteed, according to Wilson, but the Chargers were able to keep his cap hit in 2020 under $5 million. He’ll take up only $4,833,333 on this year’s cap.
For comparison’s sake, consider that new Packers right tackle Rick Wagner will count $4,812,500 on the cap in 2020.
The deal looks like a strong one for the Chargers. More than likely, it will end up being nothing more than a two-year, $19.25 million deal, with a clear out for the Chargers before 2022. The team can save over $10 million on the 2022 cap by releasing before paying his roster bonus.
| Year | Base | Signing | Roster | Cap | Cash |
| 2020 | $1,500,000 | $3,333,333 | $4,833,333 | $11,500,000 | |
| 2021 | $7,750,000 | $3,333,333 | $11,083,333 | $19,250,000 | |
| 2022 | $8,250,000 | $3,333,334 | $2,500,000 | $14,083,334 | $30,000,000 |
Bulaga was originally projected to command at least $12 million per year, but the Chargers got him well below that number, and at little risk over the long term.
[lawrence-related id=41352,41292,41266]