Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers are officially turning the page.
¹ú²úÍâÁ÷ÍøNetwork Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday that both sides have agreed to the terms and language on Rodgers' reworked deal, creating a path for the reigning MVP to sign ahead of the 2021 season.
The finalization of the contract comes three days after reports emerged that Rodgers and Green Bay were in the final stages of negotiating a revised pact just in time for training camp.
¹ú²úÍâÁ÷ÍøNetwork's Tom Pelissero reported the contract's full details Thursday evening: in 2021, Rodgers will earn a $6.8 million roster bonus (from March), $14,464,706 signing bonus and $1.1M base salary, totaling $22,364,706. In 2022, he'll earn a $26,470,588 salary and $500K workout bonus for a grand total of $26,970,688. The signing and March roster bonuses both will be paid out over the 2021 season.
Pelissero added that Green Bay will save roughly $10 million in 2021 cap space.
The new contract, which includes the same total compensation he would've received each year under his old deal, will void on the seventh day prior to the 2023 league year. The franchise tag window closes one day before that, meaning Rodgers is untaggable after 2022. If he plays out the next two years, he'd become a true free agent.
With his still-mending relationship with the organization seemingly in a good space, Rodgers enters his age-38 season in a unique position.
He expressed during a candid and lengthy Wednesday media session that he has a desire to stay in Green Bay moving forward but also noted that his contract will not grant him the right to decide where he'll suit up in 2022.
This lack of control over his future could lead to some interesting scenarios next summer if things don't remain amiable.
Pelissero reported, per a source familiar with the contract, that if Green Bay trades Rodgers before June 1, 2022, it'd be left with about $26.8 million in dead money on its cap.
In the event that Rodgers decided to retire prior to the 2022 season, which he mentioned this week he contemplated doing this offseason, only the $11.5 million in remaining proration from his original $57.5M signing bonus back in 2018 is subject to forfeiture (and Green Bay would have to choose to collect it). Essentially, it would be easier financially for Green Bay if he walks away then compared to if he had decided to do so this year.
Considering all that's happened and continues to happen around the team, it's possible that team brass could find themselves in another heated situation with Rodgers in six months, depending on how this season plays out.
In the meantime, Green Bay has extended its window to keep finding ways to make the future Hall of Famer happy while maintaining its Super Bowl contender status with him at the helm.
The acquisition of Randall Cobb on top of this new deal were steps in the right direction. Now, it's going to be on Rodgers, coach Matt LaFleur and the Packers to deliver the goods in 2021.
Training camp is finally here! Be sure to check out¹ú²úÍâÁ÷ÍøNetwork's extensive live coverage, including Inside Training Camp every day and highlighted by Training Camp: Back Together Saturday Fueled by Gatorade on July 31.
