When the Green Bay Packers signed quarterback Scott Tolzien to their practice squad there was speculation they did so only because he played for the San Francisco 49ers. The idea was, the Packers could pick his brain on an offense they haven’t been able to stop.
Well, whether that was true or not, the Packers obviously see something they like in Tolzien. They just gave him a substantial raise in order to keep him on their practice squad after the Cleveland Browns tried to sign him.
Tolzien is now getting a prorated $554,999 base salary. His previous salary was $102,000.
The move suggests the Packers think Tolzien has a future in Green Bay and could potentially become the team’s No. 2 quarterback. Tolzien sticking around also suggests he thinks he can compete.
In any case, the Packers will have to make that determination during training camp next season. This is Tolzien’s final year of practice squad eligibility.
This isn’t the first time the Packers have given a practice squad guy a raise and convinced him to stay in Green Bay instead of joining another team’s active roster. Quarterback Graham Harrell and receivers Diondre Borel and Tory Gurley were in the same situation and stayed.
While neither Borel or Gurley was able to make the Packers active roster, Harrell spent one season as Aaron Rodgers’ backup.