Olivier Vernon gets richest defensive end deal ever from Giants

The New York Giants have signed defensive end Olivier Vernon -- and they've given him the richest deal a defensive end has ever gotten, according to Ian Rapoport. That's both in terms of average per year and guaranteed money.

Presumably, that means Vernon is now being paid more than J.J. Watt. The Texans DE got a six-year, $100 million deal with $52 million guaranteed. Vernon signed a contract worth $85 million with $52.5 million guaranteed, according to Tom Pelissero. So that's more money per year, and more guaranteed cash than Watt.

There were some rumblings that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers might be interested in Vernon, but they were never going to pay anywhere close to those numbers for the services of an edge rusher who has topped 10 sacks just once in his four-year career.

That does leave the Bucs with one other problem: where are they going to get a pass rush? Basically every competent edge rusher is now off the market, including Mario Williams (Dolphins), Charles Johnson (Panthers), William Hayes (Rams), Tamba Hali (Chiefs), Jason Pierre-Paul (Giants) and Bruce Irvin (Raiders). They'd better hit on whoever they're targeting in the draft.