Sebastian Janikowski and the Oakland Raiders have resolved their contractual differences, and it sounds like the veteran kicker helped the situation by agreeing to take less money in 2017.
Janikowski, who is entering the final year of his deal, was scheduled to make around $4 million guaranteed this season as long as he remained on the roster by Saturday. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, the 39-year-old has agreed to lower that number to $3 million.
#Raiders K Sebastian Janikowski agreed to a small paycut, going from $4M to $3M — fully guaranteed. Could free up space for Donald Penn
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 7, 2017
As Rapoport mentioned, the extra money could be used to give offensive lineman Donald Penn a raise. Penn, who is considered one of the best interior linemen in the game, is set to make $5.8 million in base salary this season. He wants to be paid like one of the top players at his position, and he recently said the Raiders have told him he will get a new contract before Week 1.
Janikowski has been with the Raiders since they drafted him in 2000. He went 29 of 35 (82.9 percent) on field goals last season and was 26 of 27 on kicks under 50 yards, so he clearly is still capable of getting it done.
