The San Diego Chargers agreed to a deal with veteran pass rusher Dwight Freeney. The former all-pro defensive end's contract is for two years and has a base value of $8.75 million, league sources told ESPN's Ed Werder.
In 2013, he will make $5.75 million, including a $3.25 million signing bonus and $1.5 million in base salary, the sources said. The deal includes an estimated $4.5 million incentive package over the two years.
Chargers coach Mike McCoy called Freeney's addition a "great signing for us." "Dwight will help us in a lot of ways," McCoy told Werder in a phone interview Saturday. "He will help us on the practice field, in the locker room and in the games. He's one of the greatest pass-rushers in the NFL so, in that regard alone, the name Freeney speaks for itself."
Freeney, who has 107.5 career sacks, became a top priority for San Diego after former first-round pick Melvin Ingram suffered a season-ending knee injury during organized team activities this week and will require surgery.
"I'm excited to start this new chapter with some good people with great potential to do some great things," Freeney, a seven-time Pro Bowler, wrote in a text to Werder.
San Diego currently uses a 3-4 base defense, which saw the 33-year-old Freeney have a decline in production after Indianapolis made the switch from a familiar 4-3 base last season. "He fits what we are going to do with our defense," McCoy said Saturday. "I think his role will be defined as we go forward, and he will help define his role."
Freeney had five sacks and 12 tackles in 2012, continuing a steady decline that has taken place over the past few seasons. In 2011, he had 19 tackles and 8.5 sacks, which was down from 25 tackles and 10 sacks in 2010. This was also a decline from 2009, when Freeney had 31 tackles and 13.5 sacks.
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