The NFL's free agency period has been kind to former Gamecock football players, as clubs are handing out significant contracts to several that played college ball in Columbia. Here is a rundown of recent activity:
Cornerback Stephon Gilmore headlines the group, as the former Buffalo Bill is signing with the New England Patriots, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. The Rock Hill native is set to get the largest amount of guaranteed money for a Patriots player in history, per ESPN Stats and Info. The deal overall is for five years/$65 million, per Schefter, with $40 million of the tender guaranteed.
Gilmore will join elite company in the $40 million or more guaranteed club,with cornerbacks Joe Haden, Josh Norman, Patrick Peterson, and Richard Sherman having previously commanded such figures.
Wideout Alshon Jeffery is moving from the Chicago Bears to the Philadelphia Eagles, per ESPN's Josina Anderson, on a one year deal that will pay the Calhoun County product $14 million.
Another former USC standout that could play on a one-year deal is Melvin Ingram, with the San Diego pass-rusher receiving the franchise tag from the Chargers. That status, reported by NFL Network's Ian Rapaport, would pay him just over $14.1 million for the season. The Chargers and Ingram could reach agreement on a multi-year extension before the season, provided it's before July 15.
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Fullback Patrick DiMarco, who helped the Atlanta Falcons to a Super Bowl, reached an agreement with Buffalo on a four year, $8.5 million contract, per ESPN's Adam Caplan. That would include more than $4 million in guaranteed money.
Former Carolina defensive back DJ Swearinger, a Greenwood product, also found himself on the receiving end of a nice payday. Washington plucked Swearinger away with a new three-year deal that will pay him $13.5 million in total, per Ian Rapaport.
