It’s looking like the Packers and Aaron Rodgers are going to wrap up an extension this offseason, but the two-time MVP’s deal may be on hold for a bit while unique NFL business unfolds.
Rodgers and the Packers continue to discuss a re-up, Charles Robinson of Yahoo.com reports (on Twitter). But this deal is not believed to be done until after Kirk Cousins chooses a destination.
Cousins is expected to sign for around $30MM per year, possibly becoming the league’s first $30MM-AAV player. And with the sizable gap between Rodgers and Cousins’ accomplishments, it would make sense for the Green Bay centerpiece to wait and see how the quarterback market looks after Cousins and Drew Brees sign their next contracts.
We heard earlier this week Rodgers and the Packers had begun negotiations, and Robinson heard recently the parties were “extremely close.” But the Yahoo reporter believes this seismic extension won’t commence until Cousins signs.
Currently, Rodgers’ 2013 extension — which runs through 2019 — pays him $22MM annually. That number sits eighth on the salary spectrum. The Cousins and Brees deals figure to bump that figure down to 10th. But going into the 2018 season, the quarterback landscape will likely look incredibly different. Matthew Stafford‘s $27MM-per-year deal topped this hierarchy going into last season, and Andrew Luck‘s $24.6MM-AAV agreement led the pack going into the ’16 campaign.
Between Rodgers’ April 2013 signing and Derek Carr‘s June 2017 extension, the quarterback market had only ventured north by $3MM per year over a four-year period despite the salary cap having gone up by more than $40MM in that span. But once Cousins and Rodgers’ deals are done, there may be two $30MM-per-season earners in the NFL. And with Matt Ryan entering a contract year, there could be a third at some point in the near future as well.
So Rodgers gets his while they cut one of his top WRs to make salary cap room
Good point. There is a reason why the Pats & Steelers are always good. Yea they want their money, but the difference at the top isn’t worth hurting the team!
You’re right, but its not like the Packers have done much with the available money anyway. They usually don’t make any significant free agent signings and are more than willing to let some of their better players walk in free agency. Basically, the team hasn’t done a good job either of surrounding Rodgers with talent.
Neither of which were worth anywhere near their salaries last year, and Jordy all but disappeared completely after 12 went out.
I’m sure both could rework their deals and stay..but clearly the bosses better ask Rodgers himself before making any decisions.
I mean, Cobb is their #3. I don’t believe they will cut him anyways. He has 1 more year on his deal and Nelson said he’d be open to restructuring his contract. Plus, Clay Matthews could restructure as well.
I don’t blame Rodgers. Cousins is good but not $30M a year good, and Rodgers is infinitely more talented.
hopefully he will sign a team friendly contract so packers can sign some free agents and if Rodgers wants more super bowls with pack hopefully he does sign a team friendly contract if I was a top player I would want a lot of the money to be paid to me once I was done playing for good
But no team is going to give a player a lot of money when they are bad. There is little reason for Rodgers to take a team friendly contract because the previous front office (which is basically the new front office) hasn’t done anything noteworthy in free agency. They don’t pursue significant outside free agents and are more than willing to let some of their own guys walk because of money, without having a good contingency plan in place. The RB situation has been a mess since Ahman Green and the last time their defense was any good was when Charles Woodson was on the team.
you guys are exactly 100% correct
If Rodgers says “I want $2MM/year more than Cousins” then you give it to him… cut Cobb if you have to. This isn’t even a discussion.