Aaron Rodgers will likely finish his NFL career as a Green Bay Packer after agreeing to a monster four-year contract extension worth a reported $200million.
Aaron Rodgers will likely finish his NFL career as a Green Bay Packer after agreeing to a monster four-year contract extension worth a reported $200million.
The future of the reigning league MVP had been the subject of much speculation for well over a year, and at this time in 2021 an eventual parting of the ways seemed inevitable. The relationship between Rodgers and the team was decidedly frosty, leading to a long offseason stand-off.
Eventually Rodgers reported for the 2021 season though and claimed MVP honours for the second consecutive year. At the same time, the rift between player and team appeared to heal.
A contract restructure in the summer of 2021 had appeared to pave the way for a potential trade this offseason, but now any hopes that the likes of the Denver Broncos retained of acquiring Rodgers are gone. Instead he becomes the highest paid player in NFL history.
The new contract extension reportedly contains $153million of guaranteed money and Rodgers’ $50million average per year is higher than the $45million which Patrick Mahomes banks in his blockbusting 10-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Adams gets franchise tag
Rodgers was the first major chip to fall in a fascinating NFL offseason, and it allowed Green Bay to quickly figure out its next important piece of business - the future of superstar WR Davante Adams.
Adams could have hit the market as an unrestricted free agent when the market opens on Wednesday March 16, but not now. Extending Rodgers, and lowering his salary cap hit in 2022, has allowed Green Bay to place the franchise tag on Adams.
This means the Packers are now on the hook for a guaranteed Adams salary of $20.12million in 2022. It does though also give the player and team until July 15 to work out a long-term deal instead.
Green Bay Packers odds
Not surprisingly news of the Rodgers deal was met with a favourable response from bookmakers. The Packers are 10/1 third favourites with Sky Bet to win Super Bowl LVII - behind 13/2 joint market leaders Buffalo and Kansas City.
Green Bay is 5/1 second favourite to be NFC Champion in 2022, with only the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams better at 9/2.
Rodgers meanwhile will bid for a third consecutive league MVP award in 2022, and he is 9/1 third favourite behind Josh Allen (7/1) and Patrick Mahomes (15/2).