6:57pm: Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com predicts a cap hit just north of $5.62MM in 2014 for Shields.
6:10pm: The deal calls for Shields to earn $15MM in 2014 and $30MM by 2016, wrote Mike Wilkening of Pro Football Talk. The Packers had over $34MM in cap room before the this deal.
An undrafted free agent in 2010, the former Miami Hurricane has 13 interceptions in four seasons and set a career-high with 17 passes defended in 2013. Shields played last season on a one-year restricted free agent tender of $2.02MM.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed the deal with the following tweet: “Congrats to RSR client Sam Shields & the Green Bay Packers on the new contract!”
6:07pm: Shields’ deal includes a $12.5MM signing bonus, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter).
6:00pm: The Packers have signed free-agent cornerback Sam Shields to a four-year contract, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Florio tweets that the deal is worth $39MM.
ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky confirmed the deal’s length and overall figure, but said he does not know the guarantees and structure yet.
Reports had pointed to Shields hitting the open market, though some Packers beat writers viewed the reports as a marketing ploy by agent Drew Rosenhaus.
That’s not front-loaded
Yup, $15 million in 2014 means $12.5 in signing bonus and $2.5 in salary counting $5.6 against the cap
Much more assignment sure than Tramon Williams – the (other) gambling Packer corner who costs $8 million +