The Green Bay Packers have re-signed the only remaining guy on their internal list of free agents that we gave a shit about. Linebacker Nick Perry got a one-year deal worth $5 million, on Thursday.
For the #Packers and LB Nick Perry, it's a 1-year deal worth $5M, source said, plus playtime incentives
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2016
The interesting part there is the part about incentives.
Perry has been an injury waiting to happen throughout his four-year career. He’s missed a total of 18 games with various ailments and even when he has been available, he seems to be playing through one injury or another.
Most recently, it has been a recurring shoulder injury.
However, Perry has shown us two things.
He’s a very solid run defender as an outside linebacker. In fact, Perry is far superior to Clay Matthews in that respect.
When he’s fully healthy, it certainly seems like Perry can make a difference. He turned in eight tackles, 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble in the Packers’ two playoff games last season.
We don’t know the contract particulars yet, but it sounds as if the Packers have protected themselves. If Perry is available, he’ll get paid. If he isn’t, he won’t.
Another important aspect of this move for the Packers is it lessons the pressure on Ted Thompson to acquire another outside linebacker. Prior to the signing, the Packers had just Julius Peppers, Clay Matthews and Jayrone Elliott under contract at the outside linebacker position.
Since this is likely Peppers’ final season, the Packers still need another young outside linebacker, but they don’t necessarily need someone who can step into the rotation right now.
Perry and Peppers can split reps on one side and Matthews can hold down the other in 2016.