Latest Regarding Contract Extension For Packers QB Aaron Rodgers

Mike Garafolo of NFL Media has heard recently from sources briefed on the negotiations that average annual salary and guaranteed money will obviously factor into a new long-term deal for Packers QB Aaron Rodgers.

However, another aspect to watch with Rodgers’ deal is how much control he’ll have moving forward in regards to his own future. Garafolo explains that traditional extensions like the five-year deal Rodgers previously signed with Green Bay lock him into a deal where he doesn’t have a lot of say in the final few years, even though he’s being paid less than market value.

Garafolo says that Rodgers would like to have some kind of out in an extension later on, as opposed to signing another five-year extension, which would leave him under team control for the next seven years.

The overall expectation has been that a deal between the Packers and Rodgers should get done this summer, possibly before the start of training camp, but there’s no question that his next contract will be interesting to analyze in terms of the structure and guaranteed money included in the agreement.

Packers president Mark Murphy said recently during an interview with Sirius XM NFL Radio that he’s “very hopeful” they’ll be able to get a long-term extension in place with Rodgers that will compensate him at a level and still allow them to compete for titles.

“I’m very hopeful,” Murphy said. “I don’t think there’s anything really to wait for now. All the (NFL’s other major quarterback) contracts have been done. I’m very optimistic that Russ Ball, our vice president who handles all of our negotiations, that he and David Dunn, Aaron’s agent, can figure out a way to get this done in a way where Aaron is compensated to the level he should be, yet we still can compete for Super Bowl championships.

“And, really, we both want that. Obviously, Aaron wants to be compensated well, but he’s also extremely driven to win championships and you like to see that in your players.”

Last year, Rodgers suffered a displaced collarbone fracture that required two plates and 13 screws inserted to help solidify the fracture and accelerate the healing process. He managed to return in Week 16, but the Packers lost to the Panthers were officially eliminated from the playoffs soon after.

Rodgers, 34, is a former first-round pick of the Packers back in 2005. He’s entering in the sixth year of his seven-year, $130.75 million contract that included $54 million guaranteed and stands to make base salaries of $19.8 million and $20 million over the final two years of the agreement.

In 2017, Rodgers appeared in seven games for the Packers and thrown for 1,675 yards while completing 64.7 percent of his passes to go along with 16 touchdowns and six interceptions. He has also rushed for 126 yards. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 11 quarterback out of 39 qualifying players.

We’ll have more regarding a new deal for Rodgers as the news is available.