Raiders sign Branch to four year deal, $18 million guaranteed

[ThomasTomasz]

The four-year contract to which Tyvon Branch agreed Saturday with the Oakland Raiders is worth $26.6 million, not counting incentives, and includes $17-$18 million in guaranteed money, team sources and sources close to the four-year veteran safety told The Sports Xchange.

A team source told The Sports Xchange that Branch will sign the contract "sometime before" the Monday deadline for franchise players to reach terms on multi-year agreements. After the 5 p.m. ET deadline, franchise players are restricted to only one-year contracts.

Branch, 25, had previously signed a one-year tender worth $6.2 million. Details of the new, four-year contract were not readily available, but the structure likely will reduce the 2012 salary cap number.

A fourth-round choice in 2008, and the 100th pick overall that year, Branch has been a starter for three years in the Oakland secondary. The former Connecticut standout has complied 347 tackles, six sacks, three interceptions, 16 passes defensed and three forced fumbles in his career.

He has appeared in 54 games with 48 starts, with all of the starts coming in the past three seasons, when he didn't miss a game. Branch has 100-plus tackles in all three seasons as a starter.

The deal with Branch is the second multi-year agreement by a franchise player in the past two days, with New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees signing a record five-year, $100 million contract on Friday afternoon.

As of mid-afternoon Saturday, six franchise players - tailbacks Ray Rice (Baltimore) and Matt Forte (Chicago), wide receiver Dwayne Bowe (Kansas City), defensive end Cliff Avril (Detroit), safety Dashon Goldson (San Francisco) and kicker Josh Scobee (Jacksonville) - remain unsigned. Six players have signed one-year tenders and Branch became the ninth franchise free agent to sign a multi-year contract.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/raiders-branch-lands-deal-17-192005185--nfl.html

 

[JimLeavy59]

AL Davis strikes from the grave.

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

AL Davis strikes from the grave.

If he did this contract would have been for Deion Branch.

 

[Tailback U]

Branch is pretty underrated and one of the most important and reliable pieces in a very weak secondary and average defense. He is also one of the most durable players in the league and is excellent against the run. I like this move.

 

[Matt]

That's a great contract for Branch. He would get much much more in open market.

 

[SHOGUN]

That's a value contract.

 

[Raidersabc123]

Good contract this will hopefully open some cap for us to sign Benson

 

[Senser81]

If he did this contract would have been for Deion Branch.