Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers are closing in on a long-term contract extension according to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, but are $2 million per season apart.
Aaron Rodgers, Packers reportedly $2 million per year apart on long-term contract
Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers are $2 million per season apart on a new contract, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.
Jonathan Daniel
Green Bay is currently sitting on over $18 million in cap space for the 2013 season, prompting Packers fans to question why the team hasn’t been more active in free agency. With Rodgers due a significant raise, it’s clear that Packers general manager Ted Thompson is optimistic that a deal will be reached sooner rather than later.
Packers president Mark Murphy called Rodgers’ extension “a priority” earlier this offseason.
Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco inked lucrative contracts earlier this offseason, with Flacco's contract making him the highest paid player -- for now. Romo received a six-year, $108 million extension with $55 million guaranteed, despite not leading the Cowboys to postseason success. Flacco signed a six-year, $120.6 million deal after leading the Ravens to a Super Bowl title, with $52 million guaranteed.
If bloggers ran the draft
SB Nation's NFL bloggers put on their GM hats for a 2013 NFL mock draft. Find out which players your favorite team would take if fans made the decision on draft day. Rodgers is a lock to surpass both Romo and Flacco in guaranteed money and average annual value. Green Bay’s current offer on the table, per Rapoport, is worth more than $21 million per season.
Since leading the Packers to a Super Bowl victory in 2011, Rodgers has been nothing shy of excellent, and has morphed into one of the league’s top quarterbacks. Rodgers followed up Green Bay’s Super Bowl title with MVP honors in 2011, throwing for 4,643 yards while completing 68.3 percent of his passes. Rodgers threw 45 touchdown passes in 2011 against just six interceptions, making him the obvious choice for MVP.
Green Bay finished the 2011 season with a 15-1 record, but lost to the New York Giants in the Divisional round of the playoffs.
Rodgers followed up his MVP season with another excellent campaign, throwing for 4,295 yards, 39 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2012.
Though he's only led the Packers to one NFC conference title, and one Super Bowl title, Rodgers finds himself on the short list of quarterbacks that can be argued as the best quarterback in the NFL. Peyton Manning and Tom Brady also find themselves on that list -- but unlike Manning and Brady, Rodgers is entering his age 30 season and is set to continue the prime of his career.
It stands to reason that Rodgers will be paid -- and paid more than any other player in NFL history.
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