Yeah, you’ve probably heard this before. Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers are making progress on a new deal. Well, now that deal appears to legitimately almost be done.
Rodgers and the Packers are only $2 million per season apart, according to Ian Rapoport.
That may sound like a lot, but in the grand scheme of this deal it isn’t. Rodgers is going to get more than $20 million per season in new money. Some outlets have reported they expect the extension to be for four years and $25 million. That would be in addition to the two seasons and around $20 million Rodgers has remaining on his current deal.
The deal is also expected to make Rodgers the highest-paid player in the NFL.
In order to accomplish that, the Packers would have to beat the $20.1 million average deal Joe Flacco signed with Baltimore earlier this year.
Right now, the main differences appear to be in the yearly average and how much money will come in the first two seasons.
The Packers’ current contract offer is believed to average slightly more than $21 million per year, sources say.
The two sides are also still haggling over how much money will come to Rodgers in the next two seasons, among other issues.
Rodgers obviously wants an increase in the first two seasons of the deal. With $20-plus million in salary cap space available and no intent to spend money on any free agents, that Packers would probably wise to acquiesce.
We’ll keep you updated as we hear more.
At this point, the Packers would be foolish not to give him the front loaded deal he wants. Otherwise, what was the point of letting Steven Jackson, Chris Canty and Michael Huff walk?
Here’s hoping that once they know the exact amount of AARod’s deal, they can turn their attention to filling out the squad with guys who give us a chance. Players like him don’t come around that often, so it would make sense to not hold back while he’s in his prime (defensive side of the ball, I’m looking at you).
$2 million is still pretty far apart. If you know you’re working from a means (Flacco’s deal) then you have a starting point. To be $2 mil apart at this point is a big gap.
It also signals Rodgers isn’t going to take the “home town discount” many fans are hoping for. He’s still going to be underpaid at $23 million but it’s palatable.