Rodgers, 34, had two years left on a five-year, $110M extension he signed in April '13GETTY IMAGES
Packers QB Aaron Rodgers has agreed to a four-year, $134M extension that will make him the "highest-paid player in NFL history and keep him under contract until he is 40," according to a front-page piece by Tom Silverstein of the GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE. Rodgers, 34, had "two years left" on a five-year, $110M extension he signed in April '13 and the "new agreement extends" that through the '23 season. He will turn 40 in '23 and has "indicated that he would like to play at least until he is 40." The agreement "ends months of negotiations" between Packers Exec VP and Dir of Football Operations Russ Ball and Rodgers' agent, Athletes First CEO David Dunn, and reports of the final numbers "indicate that the Packers were able to stand firm on their refusal to do anything but a standard contract." The $103M in guaranteed money "sets a record for NFL players and it essentially makes the next four years of the deal fully guaranteed" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 8/30). Rodgers said that he "wants to start" in the '24 season. SI.com's Jonathan Jones noted if that holds up, Rodgers -- who has made $138.7M in career earnings "before this contract -- could surpass Peyton Manning in career on-field earnings." Manning made an NFL-high $248.7M in "on-field earnings in his 18-season career" (SI.com, 8/29).
GREAT VALUE: THE ATHLETIC's Lindsay Jones wrote the numbers in the extension are "stunning, and yet, it’s impossible to argue that Rodgers doesn’t deserve every cent in a league where the salary cap continues to rise, and far-less-accomplished quarterbacks have been cashing in." Outside of Patriots QB Tom Brady, and Russell Wilson as the Seahawks "reboot around him, no quarterback is as valuable to his team as Rodgers" (THEATHLETIC.com, 8/29). ESPN's Dan Graziano noted the "one guy that stands out that could threaten" Rodgers' record number is Wilson, as his current deal runs through '20 and he "will be looking for a contract extension next offseason" ("Get Up," ESPN, 8/30). The L.A. Times' Bill Plaschke said Rodgers may be "as important" to the Green Bay market as "any athlete is to any market in this country" ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 8/29). MLB Network's Chris Russo said he has "no problem" with the deal because Rodgers "deserved it, but hopefully he left a little money for someone else." FS1's T.J. Houshmandzadeh said he is "upset (Rodgers) didn't get more" because he "should be making" $35M, $36M, $37M a year. Rodgers "should always be the highest-paid player in the NFL, and in a couple of years that won't be the case and you'll be talking about how he's underpaid again." Rodgers "took a pay cut relative to what he could command" ("Speak For Yourself," FS1, 8/29).
ALL ABOUT THE QB: THE RINGER'S Kevin Clark wrote the lesson learned from the Rodgers deal is there is "no quarterback bubble; the price for a quarterback is not flattening or falling." Rodgers' "eye-popping salary number, like all quarterback numbers, will look normal within a few years or sooner as the salary cap continues to rise" by around $10M each season (THERINGER.com, 8/29).The Washington Post's Kevin Blackistone said the deal reminds fans that quarterbacks are "the most important position" in the NFL ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 8/29).
