New Orleans Saints defensive end Carl Granderson signs a four-year extension

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orlans Saints defensive end Carl Granderson has signed a four-year contract extension, general manager Mickey Loomis said Saturday.

Granderson is in his fifth NFL season and first as a full-time starter after beating out 2021 first-round draft choice Payton Turner for the job in the preseason. He has a team-leading 2 1/2 sacks to go with a forced fumble. The Saints (2-0) are in Wisconsin Sunday to play the Green Bay Packers (1-1).

Turner injured a foot in the regular season opener and was placed on injured reserve after the team medical staff determined he needed surgery.

Granderson's extension was first reported by NFL Network and is reportedly worth $35 million.

The former Wyoming standout has played in 56 NFL games in his career with nine starts. He has 17 career sacks, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a blocked field goal.

Last season, he played in all 16 games with four starts and had a career-high 5 1/2 sacks. That season, he played behind Marcus Davenport, who left for Minnesota in free agency.

Granderson played four seasons at Wyoming, where he had 16 1/2 sacks, three forced fumbles, three interceptions and a fumble recovery. He went undrafted after two women accused him of unwanted sexual contact at his Laramie, Wyoming, apartment in November 2018.

Granderson was placed on six months probation after pleading no contest to misdemeanor charges of sexual battery and unlawful contact.

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Brett Martel, The Associated Press