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SALT LAKE CITY — Free agency has been good for several NFL players with ties to local schools.
Some familiar faces have landed in new places, while others decided there is no place like home.
Here is a look at some of the most notable deals for former local standouts who have signed free-agent deals in the offseason.
Eric Weddle, S, Baltimore Ravens
Weddle spent the first nine seasons of his NFL career with the San Diego Chargers, but in his final year in San Diego he felt unwanted. He expressed his frustrations publicly on more than one occasion, and the team didn't always welcome him back with open arms.
Free agency was a chance for the three-time Pro Bowler and All-American at Utah to feel wanted again.
Best year of my career. Thanks @oliviervernon50@DerrickShelbyII@SeanSMITH24@weddlesbeard@McCain21@S_Siliga Paul pic.twitter.com/tTKMgktZhf
— DEC Management (@davidcanter) March 17, 2016
Weddle felt wanted in Baltimore where he signed a four-year contract with the Ravens worth $26 million. He can earn up to $29 million if he meets incentives, according to multiple reports.
He told the media after signing that he turned down more money elsewhere to be a part of "something special" in Baltimore.
“I can’t tell you guys how excited I am to be a part of something special and to be a part of a culture, to be a part of winning, to be a part of defense, toughness, everything that I want as a football team and an organization,” Weddle said during an introductory press conference.
The Ravens get the Pro Bowl safety they’ve lacked since the retirement of Ed Reed, and Weddle believes he can help his new team get back to its winning ways after a 5-11 season.
Sean Smith, CB, Oakland Raiders
The Southern California native will now call the Bay Area home. The former Ute signed a four-year, $40 million contract with the Oakland Raiders with $20 million guaranteed — and he made an important request of his Twitter following after doing so.
RAAIIIDDDEERRRRSSS!!! 😎💀
— Sean Smith (@SeanSMITH24) March 11, 2016
Town Bidess wass good?! I need some dope edits of me in a RAIDER uniform! @ me here or on Instagram @SmithSwag21
Smith was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft and has spent the last three of his seven-year NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs. He started at cornerback alongside Brice McCain on Utah’s 13-0 team that won the 2009 Sugar Bowl against Alabama.
Derrick Shelby, DE, Atlanta Falcons
Shelby had 3.5 sacks and scored his first NFL touchdown as a backup defensive end for the Miami Dolphins in 2015.
The Falcons apparently liked what they saw from the fourth-year pro from Utah and signed him to a four-year, $21-million deal with $7.5 million guaranteed.
The former Ute defensive end has come a long way since going undrafted in 2012.
Paul Soliai, DL, Carolina Panthers
The Panthers added another run-stopping defensive tackle from the University of Utah.
Soliai signed a two-year deal with the Panthers worth $7 million and joins fellow former Ute star Star Lotulelei on the Panthers D-line that made it all the way to Super Bowl 50 before a loss to the Denver Broncos.
Sealver Siliga, DL, Seattle Seahawks
Siliga will spend the 2016-17 season much closer to his West Jordan, Utah, home and in a familiar place in the northwest. He has signed a one-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks that will pay him $1.4 million next season, with $250,000 guaranteed.
The former Ute and Copper Hills standout was a member of the Seahawks practice squad before signing with the New England Patriots in 2013.
Tony Bergstrom, OL, Houston Texans
Bergstrom finally had a chance in 2015 to show what he can do. The former all-Pac-12 offensive tackle at Utah from Skyline High played in all 16 games for the Oakland Raiders and started three times.
Now he moves on to Houston on a two-year, $5.75-million deal where he hopes to compete for the starting job at center.
Brice McCain, CB, Tennessee Titans
The former Utah cornerback is on the move again.
After playing the first five years of his NFL career in Houston, McCain spent 2014 in Pittsburgh and 2015 in Miami. He had four interceptions the past two seasons.
Now he takes his talents to Nashville, Tennessee, and the Tennessee Titans after signing a two-year, $4.4 million deal. He will be also reunited with former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, who holds the same position in Tennessee.
Robert Turbin, RB, Indianapolis Colts
The ex-Utah State standout had success backing up Marshawn Lynch in Seattle where he made two trips to the Super Bowl with the Seahawks.
Now Turbin hopes to return to the playoffs as Frank Gore’s back up in Indianapolis. The Aggie alum signed a one-year, $760,000 deal with the Colts. After spending parts of last season with the Browns and the Cowboys.
Matt Asiata, RB, Minnesota Vikings
After testing the free-agent market, the former Hunter High and Utah running back has decided to stay in Minnesota.
Asiata signed a one-year deal with the Vikings Wednesday, after he rushed for 857 yards and 12 touchdowns in four years in Minnesota.
Donald Penn, OL, Oakland Raiders
Penn decided to stay in Oakland on a two-year, $14-million contract and will continue to protect Raiders quarterback Derek Carr.
Penn enters his 11th NFL season after going undrafted in 2006 out of Utah State. He played the past two seasons with the Raiders after spending eight years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Haloti Ngata, DL, Detroit Lions
Ngata signed a two-year, $12-million deal to return to the Motor City. The Utah native spent last year in Detroit after nine years in Baltimore where he was a five-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion.
Zane Beadles, OL, San Francisco 49ers
Beadles will make his new home in the Bay Area. The former Utah All-American and Hillcrest High grad will get a new start with the Niners after agreeing to a three-year, $11.75-million deal, as first reported by ESPN.