Garry Gilliam was guaranteed a mere $12,000 when he entered the NFL. Such is the life of an undrafted rookie free agent with an uncertain, after unlikely, NFL career.
So when San Francisco offered the Seahawks’ restricted free agent and starting right tackle the last two seasons $2.2 million with $1.4 million guaranteed for 2017 on Monday, it was a no-brainer for Gilliam. The 26-year old lived at a boarding school starting at age seven through high school, to escape a dead-end upbringing in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
It was also a no-brainer for Seattle.
Agent Mark Clouser, based in Gilliam’s native Pennsylvania, confirmed to me over the phone Tuesday the Seahawks declined to match the 49ers’ offer for Gilliam.