Chargers, Melvin Ingram agree to 4-year deal worth reported $66M

The Los Angeles Chargers have agreed to terms with defensive end Melvin Ingram on a four-year contract extension, the team announced Sunday.

The deal is worth $66 million with $42 million in guarantees, reports ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The Chargers had placed the franchise tag on Ingram in February, though the pass-rusher did not sign the tag before agreeing to his new contract.

With an annual average salary of $16.5 million, Ingram's deal matches Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Chandler Jones' yearly income. Jones also had the tag placed on him in February and agreed to a new contract two weeks later.

Ingram now ranks seventh in annual average salary and guaranteed money among defensive ends and outside linebackers, according to Spotrac.

Ingram was the Chargers' first-round pick in 2012 and spent the first three years of his career hampered by injuries. The 28-year-old was able to stay in the lineup for every contest in 2015 and 2016, amassing a total of 18.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles, and 125 tackles over the last two seasons. He and Joey Bosa are expected to lead the Chargers' pass rush in 2017.