Having found themselves with a little extra spending money thanks to trading All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders last week, the Green Bay Packers zeroed in on a couple of their own free agents over the weekend.
Cornerback Rasul Douglas will return on a three year, 21 million dollar contract. With incentives, the deal could climb to as much as 25.5 million. Douglas was an instant smash in the Packer secondary after starter Jaire Alexander went down with a shoulder injury in early October. Signed a couple of weeks later off the Arizona Cardinals practice squad, Douglas made the first of many huge plays by sealing the victory over the then undefeated Cardinals with an interception in the end zone in the closing seconds. He wound up leading the team with five interceptions including a pair returned for touchdowns. With Alexander expected back at full strength and the emergence of last year’s first round draft choice Eric Stokes, the return of Douglas will give the Packers a trio of strong pass defenders.
Tight end Robert Tonyan is also back, agreeing to a one year contract that has a voidable year in 2023. Financial terms haven’t been disclosed but Tonyan played in 2021 on a one year, restricted free agent contract worth 3.38 million dollars. He was in line for a much bigger payday after his breakout, 2020 season in which he shared the NFL lead among tight ends with 11 touchdown receptions. Last season was cut short however when he tore his ACL October 28 against Arizona. Tonyan’s rehabilitation will likely keep him off the field for perhaps the first two months of the 2022 campaign.
The Packers formally announced the signing of former Chicago Bears punter Pat O’Donnell over the weekend. He reportedly received a one year, 1.625 million dollar deal to replace Corey Bojorquez.
Free agency enters it’s second week and the signing of Douglas makes it unlikely Green Bay will pursue new contracts for former second round pick Kevin King or nickel back Chandon Sullivan.
Interest in bringing back wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling has certainly increased following the departure of Adams but Valdes-Scantling has been entertaining offers from other clubs, seeking a deal in the 5 to 7 million dollar per year range.
On the defensive side of the ball, Tyler Lancaster might be a possibility to return on a short-term, inexpensive contract. With Za’Darius Smith backing out of his four year, 35 million dollar deal he originally agreed to with his former team, the Baltimore Ravens, you wonder if the Packers might reach out to him again or considering his age and back injury from 2020, let him find another suitor elsewhere.
