Report: Colts and OT Bernhard Raimann agree to huge contract extension
The Indianapolis Colts and left tackle Bernhard Raimann have agreed to a four-year, $100 million extension, according to Mike Garafolo.
Of that $100 million, $60 million of it will be guaranteed. According to Spotrac, with an average annual value of $25 million, Raimann is now tied as the fifth-highest paid left tackle in the NFL this season.
A third-round pick in 2022, Raimann was set to enter the final year of his rookie deal this season.
In 2023, he put together a breakout season and then improved upon that performance in 2024. Out of 83 eligible tackles last season, Raimann ranked 24th in pass-blocking efficiency.
In the run game, Raimann ranked 12th in PFF's run-blocking grade. In addition to that, running back Jonathan Taylor averaged nearly 5.0 yards per rush when running between Raimann and left guard Quenton Nelson last season.
'The progress that Berny has made from year one to now, it's been pretty incredible,' GM Chris Ballard said at the NFL Combine.
(Please note that this article will be updated.)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indianapolis Star
3 hours ago
- Indianapolis Star
Should the Colts explore trades for Micah Parsons or Terry McLaurin?
WESTFIELD, Ind. -- It's August in the NFL, which anymore means that a star player or three aren't satisfied with their contract situation. This week saw two developments in that realm, with Commanders star wide receiver Terry McLaurin and Cowboys star edge rusher Micah Parsons requesting trades from the only teams they've ever played with. As Indianapolis experienced with Jonathan Taylor in 2023, trade requests are sometimes just a part of getting a deal done. Myles Garrett asked for one from the Browns this spring before signing what was at the time a record deal. But it does underscore how far apart two sides currently are, and sometimes, trades do happen this way, such as with Khalil Mack, Stefon Diggs, Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill. Teams will check in with the Cowboys and Commanders on the price tag. There's nothing to indicate whether the Colts have any interest in either player just yet. But it does make for an interesting discussion about whether they should be. Let's look at each scenario, which are purely ideas at this point: If Parsons' long letter requesting a trade from Dallas actually has him on the trade block, 31 other teams should be calling with interest. Parsons is that kind of player at that kind of position. He's a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year who has amassed at least 12 sacks in each of his first four seasons. He plays the single most impactful position in the game behind quarterback. He's also just 26 years old, which puts him in a category of long-term play that Myles Garrett and Trey Hendrickson couldn't offer with their trade requests. It makes Parsons the perfect theoretical swing for a team that needs juice for 2025 and a franchise pillar for the coming years. But it is, of course, just theoretical. As the Colts learned with Jonathan Taylor, a trade request can also just end in an extension and a happy marriage. That happened with Garrett and the Browns this spring, and it's what Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones is hinting could happen with Parsons, too. The case for the Colts isn't too difficult. They've spent all offseason trying to retool a pass defense that cratered in key moments last season and hasn't offered enough playmaking upside in recent seasons. That's led them to an All-Pro cornerback in Charvarius Ward and a budding star safety in Camryn Bynum, and it has them betting on last year's first-round pick, Laiatu Latu, to become a difference maker off the edge now that he has that help in coverage. Parsons is the fully realized version of Latu, and then some. He joins Reggie White as the only other player in NFL history with at least 12 sacks in each of his first four seasons. He racks those up regardless of who his defensive coordinator is, irrespective of the personnel he's facing or who's opposite of him on the defensive line. Latu is a specific type of speed edge rusher who needs to avoid tight end double teams and thrive on obvious passing downs. Parsons is the rare type with zero limitations, and a defensive line with him and DeForest Buckner rushing on one side could feel nearly impossible to block. In an AFC run by monster quarterbacks, the best counter could be a monster playing so close to the snap of the ball. But what will be the hang-up if Parsons is dealt is the total cost of an acquisition. If he were to be traded at the same price as Mack was in 2018, the cost could include two first-round picks. That could be a nonstarter for the Colts, who are setting up a make-or-break season for Anthony Richardson that, if it doesn't work, would likely lead to drafting a new quarterback in the first round in 2026. That's also only the first leg of the cost, with the contract being the second. estimates his market value at $37.9 million per season across four seasons. Given that Garrett and TJ Watt both topped $40 million per season as older players this offseason, Parsons could push for a similar deal. That's all likely prohibitive to the Colts, who are a draft-and-develop franchise and have a number of big contracts on the books, including the four-year, $100 million deal they just signed Bernhard Raimann to. A Parsons extension would kick in next season, but he is making $24 million on the franchise tag this season, so the Colts might need to send out a couple of defensive ends. If the Colts wanted to make an offer and stand out from some other teams in a bidding war, they could offer Latu as a piece back at the same position the Cowboys are giving up. But it will be a bidding war, and the Colts won a couple of those this spring for Ward and Bynum, but it is rare for the franchise. Parsons' need for an extension is also going to let him dictate the destination to a degree, and stars often want a settled plan at quarterback before locking in on a multi-year deal. The case for wanting Parsons isn't difficult to make. The likelihood of coming out on top in a bidding war as a franchise in transition is much harder to see. McLaurin is a more nuanced case. The Cathedral High School graduate is not quite the same game-wrecker, of course, though he is a two-time Pro Bowler who has his own brand of consistency with at least 919 yards in all six seasons. He's also turning 30 this fall at a position where age can bring some quickly diminishing returns, especially for his style of downfield play. You could make the case that the Colts don't need a wide receiver after they were the only NFL team with three 800-yard performers last season. They just extended Michael Pittman Jr. last spring, have an Alec Pierce extension to examine this year and then Josh Downs is suddenly in that conversation in a year from now. It's also hard to lock in on a 30-year-old wide receiver when the team might need a new quarterback in a year. But those could also be the cases for McLaurin, in a way. The Colts have to find a way to get Anthony Richardson moving as a passer, and McLaurin just did that for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels. Like with the Parsons scenario, the Colts could offer a good piece back at the same position, which will matter to a Commanders team coming off the NFC Championship Game. They could offer Pittman or Pierce, with Pittman bringing the security of two years under contract for a reasonable $26 million average per season. As consistent and reliable as Pittman is, McLaurin is at a higher level. He scored 13 touchdowns last season, whereas Pittman has 18 for his career. Pittman's career high in yards per target is 8.2, which McLaurin has topped every single season, including last year's elite 9.4 mark. That type of upgrade would be worth something, but the new contract is difficult to figure out. McLaurin is in this spot because he feels as if he's being penalized for his age despite coming off of his best season, with 1,096 yards, 13 touchdowns and a second-team All-Pro spot. estimates his market value at $24.5 million a season over four years, which is risky in the length but not in the average annual value. But if he's willing to risk a great quarterback situation as a team captain in Washington, he's likely shooting for as much as he can possibly get. Like with Parsons, McLaurin will have a say in where he goes if he gets moved. With how long he waited for quarterback stability in Washington, a team running a quarterback competition might not be high on his list. But it is his hometown team, and it's hard to say how much that can matter for a player's last major contract. McLaurin would be more of a "win now" move, whereas Parsons is more of a franchise cornerstone for several years to come. Ballard has been adamant to say that he won't do anything that could set the franchise back, and it's unclear if new ownership would be on board with signing a big outside contract this early in the transition while also evaluating the front office, coaching staff and quarterback. And given that it's the middle of training camp, a WR1-for-WR1 swap might be a bit chaotic on a developing passing game as it is.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Michael Pittman joins 'Inside Training Camp Live' to discuss Colts' QB competition
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman joins "Inside Training Camp Live" to discuss Colts' quarterback competition.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
30 Most Important Bears of 2025: Dayo Odeyingbo (No. 22)
The Chicago Bears are gearing up for an exciting 2025 NFL season, which features some new faces within the organization poised to get the franchise back to its winning ways. That starts with the hiring of Ben Johnson as head coach, as well as overhauling the interior offensive line, adding pieces on defense and a potenital impactful rookie draft class. Every day from now right up through training camp, we're counting down our 30 Most Important Bears for the 2025 season. We'll recap their 2024 season, look ahead to 2025 and tackle the biggest question facing them this year. Up next at No. 22 is Dayo Odeyingbo, one of the big signings in free agency who is tasked with helping improve the defensive line. Background Position: Defensive end Age: 25 Experience: 5th season 2025 cap hit: $8 million 2024 recap Entering the final year of his rookie contract with the Indianapolis Colts, Odeyingbo became a full-time starter after flashing as a rotational player. The former second-round pick had improved statistically in each season as a pro and earned more playing time as a result. As a starter, however, most of Odeyingbo's production took a hit. He tallied 13 solo tackles, seven tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks in 17 games. He did lead the league in QB pressures with 50, showing he can blow past blockers. The down year wasn't all on Odeyingbo. The Colts' defense struggled in 2024, and they saw multiple key injuries on their defensive line. The result was having the seventh-fewest sacks in the league and a run defense that allowed 131 yards per game. Still, Odeyingbo was one of the top edge rushers set to hit the market, and the Bears made a splash to bring him in. 2025 outlook Odeyingbo comes to the Bears on a three-year deal worth up to $48 million guaranteed and is slated to start opposite Montez Sweat at the edge position, taking over DeMarcus Walker's old spot. At 6-foot-6 and 286 pounds, Odeyingbo's profile fits new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's system when it comes to edge rushers, giving the Bears an interesting chess piece to work with across the line. Odeyingbo may move around the line a bit, playing some defensive tackle with the likes of Gervon Dexter, Andrew Billings, and Grady Jarrett. The Bears liked what they saw from Odeyingbo during his tenure with the Colts, but they're betting on his future at just 25 years old. Odeyingbo is just now reaching his prime, and his best football is still ahead of him. Big question: Will Odeyingbo be worth the money? By all accounts, the Bears had a tremendous offseason. They landed the top coaching candidate, fortified their trenches on both sides of the ball through trades and free agency, and landed excellent playmakers in the draft. That being said, the move to sign Odeyingbo is one of the more risky decisions general manager Ryan Poles has made over the last few months. Odeyingbo simply doesn't have the track record some of the other pending free agents had, like Josh Sweat or Khalil Mack. That's not to say he won't be successful, as he has played just four years, but the Bears are betting on future production without being able to lean on his past. And with a cap hit of over $20 million in 2026, that's a gamble. Hopefully this time next year, we are lauding Poles' foresight to land an impactful edge rusher who is well worth the money. For now, though, we need to see Odeyingbo produce as a starting edge rusher. 30 Most Important Bears of 2025 #30 - RB Roschon Johnson #29 - QB Case Keenum #28 - K Cairo Santos #27 - DT Andrew Billings #26 - CB Tyrique Stevenson #25 - WR Luther Burden III #24 - RG Jonah Jackson #23 - LB Tremaine Edmunds #22 - DE Dayo Odeyingbo #21 - Coming 7/9 #20 - Coming 7/10 #19 - Coming 7/11 #18 - Coming 7/12 #17 - Coming 7/13 #16 - Coming 7/14 #15 - Coming 7/15 #14 - Coming 7/16 #13 - Coming 7/17 #12 - Coming 7/18 #11 - Coming 7/19 #10 - Coming 7/20 #9 - Coming 7/21 #8 - Coming 7/22 #7 - Coming 7/23 #6 - Coming 7/24 #5 - Coming 7/25 #4 - Coming 7/26 #3 - Coming 7/27 #2 - Coming 7/28 #1 - Coming 7/29 Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Most Important Bears of 2025: Dayo Odeyingbo (No. 22)
