The Green Bay Packers did not use Aaron Rodgers’ lineup bonus in 2021 to create wage cap space.
According to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky, the Packers paid a $ 6.8 million Rodgers list bonus on Friday, meaning it will not be converted into a signing bonus as part of a contract restructuring.
The team could have done the conversion to free up space this year. Converting the money into a signing bonus would have prorated the limit reached over the final three years of Rodgers’ contract, releasing dollars from the limit now, but adding dollars to the limits of the final two years.
Rodgers still has $ 14.7 million in base salary that can be converted into a signing bonus if the Packers want to do a simple restructuring. The team can also work with Rodgers to an extent that can reduce its limit reached in 2021 – currently at a high NFL value of $ 37.2 million – and add years to its business, providing a stronger financial commitment for the MVP quarterback after this season.
The Packers used the conversion bonus lineup for several veteran players, including Adrian Amos and Za’Darius Smith, to create a cap before the start of the new league year.
According to Demovsky, a restructuring or extension of the contract is still possible for Rodgers. Mike Silver of the NFL Network reported on Monday that the team is working on a restructuring.
The Packers, who drew up Jordan Love in the first round last year, have options. They can leave the Rodgers contract alone and play it out year after year. They can do a simple restructuring of the Rodgers deal to help now, but potentially complicate the decision about Rodgers or Love later. Or they can do a major extension or restructuring and fully commit to Rodgers, creating a Jimmy Garoppolo situation for Love.