The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/956415
72 THE WOLVERINE APRIL 2018 BY CHRIS BALAS E lite left tackles are hard to find, and former Michigan and cur- rent Tennessee Titan Taylor Lewan just happens to be one. That's going to make him a very rich man, very soon, according to ESPN.com. Cameron Wolfe reported Lewan is in the final year of a deal and will play on a fifth-year option salary worth $9.34 million if a long-term contract isn't worked out. "Lewan should be the Titans' next contract extension, and it will be an expensive one," he wrote. "Former NFL agent Joel Corry, a contract and salary-cap analyst for CBS Sports, says the Titans 'may have to set the market at offensive tackle' with a long-term deal for the 26-year-old Lewan. "He's definitely much better than Eric Fisher," Corry added, referring to the Chiefs left tackle who signed a four-year, $48 million extension with $40 million in guarantees in July 2016. "The offensive tackle market doesn't make much sense right now because Russell Okung shouldn't be the highest-paid offensive tackle. "You're going to have to go above that in order to get a long-term deal done. And Lewan's a guy you can't afford to lose." Okung signed a four-year, $53 mil- lion deal with the Los Angeles Char- gers last March and leads all NFL left tackles with a $13.25 million average yearly salary. Lewan made his second consecu- tive Pro Bowl in 2017, and it might work in his favor that there is a dearth of quality NFL offensive line- men, Wolfe wrote … and that teams typically overpay for the few who do hit the market. "It's going to be a great free agency year for the offensive line. You saw that position across the board go crazy last year," Corry said. "Line- men who weren't that good like Matt Kalil got $11 million a year. If he's worth that, what's Taylor Lewan worth?" Kalil, the Carolina Panthers' left tackle, signed a five-year, $55 mil- lion extension last March, and Lewan stands to make much, much more. The NBA JAMAL CRAWFORD REACHES A MILESTONE Former Michigan shooting guard Jamal Crawford became the 60th leading scorer in NBA history when he hit a jump shot in a 129-120 loss to Houston March 17. Crawford, 38, passed Bob McAdoo and improved to 18,791 points after the loss. Crawford currently ranks No. 11 in scoring among active players. FORMER WOLVERINES ON NBA ROSTERS Through March 18 • Trey Burke (Played at U-M from 2011-13), PG, New York Knicks: Has played in 24 games for the 26-45 Knicks since being signed from Westchester of the G League … Was averaging 16.8 minutes, 10.5 points, 3.5 assists and 1.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 51.2 percent from the floor and 40.0 percent from three-point range. • Jamal Crawford (1999-2000), SF, Minnesota Timberwolves: Came off the bench in 69 of the first 71 games for 40-31 Minnesota … Was averaging 10.2 points, 2.3 assists and 1.1 rebounds in 19.9 minutes per game, while shooting 42.0 percent from the floor and 34.0 percent on three-pointers. • Tim Hardaway Jr. (2010-13), SF, New York Knicks: Was out from Dec. 3 to Jan. 12 with a stress injury in his lower left leg, but has seen action in 49 contests with 46 starts for 26-45 New York … Was averaging 17.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.8 assists in 32.9 min- utes per game, while shooting 42.0 per- cent from the floor and 31.4 percent from three-point range. • Caris LeVert (2012-16), SG, Brook- lyn Nets: Has seen action in 60 games with nine starts for the 23-48 Nets … Was averaging 12.0 points, 4.0 assists and 3.7 rebounds in 26.0 minutes per game, while shooting 43.5 percent from the floor and 34.3 percent from three- point range. • Glenn Robinson III (2012-14), SF, Indiana Pacers: Has played in 12 con- tests for the 41-30 Pacers, while easing back into the lineup after ankle surgery Lewan, who has been selected to play in the last two Pro Bowls, is expected to sign a long- term contract with the Tennessee Titans worth more than $50 million. PHOTO COURTESY TENNESSEE TITANS MICHIGAN IN THE PROS Taylor Lewan Is On The Verge Of A Huge Payday