After being waived last year, the career of OT Jared Gaither seemed to be in peril. However, he certainly climbed back from the brink with the Chargers last season.

He played well and stayed healthy, and with San Diego releasing former LT Marcus McNeill due to salary and health issues, Gaither was able to parlay a new deal for himself to stay.

According to a league source, Gaither’s four-year deal is worth a maximum of $24.5 million, with an $8 million signing bonus and a $1 million guaranteed salary in 2012. He will have base salaries of $4.5 million, $5 million and $6 million in the final three years of the deal, with no bonuses.

On the flip side, RB Peyton Hillis devalued his perceived worth to the point that the deal he signed with the Chiefs is for just one year, with a $1.4 million base salary (guaranteed), a $1.4 million roster bonus due this weekend and the chance to make $400,000  in bonuses if he is on the roster each week ($25,000 per game), according to a league source.

Follow Jason La Canfora on Twitter @JasonLaCanfora.

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