JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Pro Bowl tight end Marcedes Lewis has signed a five-year contract worth about $35 million with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Lewis will get nearly $17 million guaranteed.
The Jaguars placed the franchise tag on Lewis after he caught 58 passes for 700 yards and 10 touchdowns — all career highs — in 2010. The 6-foot-6, 262-pounder signed a one-year tender worth $7.28 million, the average salary of the five highest-paid tight ends in the league.
The NFL lockout prevented Lewis’ agent and the Jaguars from working out a long-term deal, and Lewis skipped the first five days of training camp while waiting for a new deal. He reported Monday, but sat out full-contact drills while the contract was being negotiated. He signed it Friday morning and should practice soon.