After keeping the Aaron Rodgers–Davante Adams tandem, the Packers continue to retain key pieces in free agency. They have agreed to terms with De’Vondre Campbell, Bill Huber of SI.com reports.
Campbell is set to stay in Green Bay on a five-year, $50MM deal. This is quite the pay bump for the 2021 All-Pro, who signed a low-level pact with the Packers midway through last year’s offseason. Campbell’s contract will pay out $16.25MM in Year 1 and total $32.25MM through three years, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel tweets.
Playing on a one-year deal worth $2MM, Campbell became a vital cog for the Packers’ defense last season. The ex-Falcon draftee reshaped his career with the Packers, making 146 tackles, forcing two fumbles and registering two sacks for the NFC’s top-seeded team. This came after the Cardinals gave him a one-year deal in 2020 but opted not to re-sign him for last season.
This marks a notable deviation for the Packers, who have not traditionally prioritized off-ball linebackers. The team has not invested notable draft capital in the position in over a decade and let tackles machine Blake Martinez walk as a free agent in 2020. Despite Campbell going into his age-29 season, Green Bay made sure to lock him down.
Although the Packers released Za’Darius Smith and Billy Turner on Monday, they remain more than $10MM over the cap. The NFC North powerhouse will need to continue to make moves before the start of the 2022 league year Wednesday.
I want the GB money tree. Gonna need some matrix style movements to avoid the cap in future years
Since the cap is likely to go up A LOT next year or the year after, it’ll work itself out OK. And they shed over $20 mil just today by letting Z and Turner go, and a new deal for Preston. Couple more extensions and minor moves they’ll be under the cap.
Sure seems like they’re paying alot of money tho.
Can’t pocket it, might as well spend it.
Great resigning. It’s been awhile since they had an LB of this calibre.
For sure.
I’m so confused! Where are the cuts? The trades? I thought this offseason was gonna be rough! How can they afford to extend these guys without making cuts?
Don’t worry your pretty little head about it. You’ll still be owned – that’s what matters.
In fairness his team just gave away their best player and got crap in return.
But at least he can cheer on his future bust at QB next year.
Released Za’darius Smith and Billy Turner this morning. Extended Preston Smith. All kinds of cap gymnastics going on.
They also are probably losing Valdez-Scantling to Free Agency.
And they’d be smart to let him walk. Players like Cambell are tough to replace in the draft, while deep threat receivers can be found a bit more easily.
Restructures and extensions generally lower the current (next) year’s cap number. They’ve done work with Aaron Jones, Kenny Clark, and Preston, and released Z and Turner to significantly lower the overall cap.
Rodgers deal, whenever it becomes official, will lop even more off.
Possible extensions for Alexander and Amos would drop it even more.
Lewis, Cobb and Crosby are all potential cuts (any or all 3 might re-sign to a lower amount).
yea but won’t this just happen again next season? they’re just kicking the can down the road.
Dig into all the moves the Saints have made the last 2 or 3 years to get an idea what ‘kicking the can down the road does.
And everyone swore THIS year they couldn’t possibly fix the cap situation. The only real contributor they have lost from last year is Turner. I don’t count Z because he essentially played 1 game’s worth of plays..plus I think there’s a chance Turner is brought back (unless he already got snatched up and I haven’t heard yet).
It’ll work itself out. Just like this year.
Wow… looks like all that Last Dance stuff was total BS
You actually believed that was something other than a negotiating tactic?
Actually, I thought the last dance was the first half of the Cubs ’21 season before they traded Riz, Bry and Javi?
yea, your right.
Is Rodgers playing for the veteran minimum this year?
I’ve been wondering that for a few weeks now.
The Packer money tree is at 1265 Lombardi Ave. right before Holmgren way and walking distance from Ray Nitschke field.