The Packers will have some peace of mind on the offensive line this fall as veteran tackle Yosh Nijman signed his restricted free agent tender offer from the team when he arrived to start the off-season workout program this week. The Packers placed the second round tender on Nijman which allowed him to consider free agency and if another team signed him to a contract, Green Bay would have had the right to match it or receive a draft pick in return as compensation. Nijman decided to return to the Packers where he has developed into a solid tackle after joining the team as an undrafted free agent out of Virginia Tech. He started most of the season at right tackle a year ago and filled in at left tackle for 8 starts in 2021 with David Bakhtiari mending from knee surgery. The second round tender will guarantee Nijman a salary of 4.3 million dollars for the upcoming season.
A new position in football operations has been created by the Packers. Executive Vice President/Director of Football Operations Russ Ball has announced the hiring of Derrick Coleman to be the team’s assistant to player engagement. The former NFL fullback was originally signed as a rookie free agent out of UCLA by the Vikings who released him in 2012. Coleman hooked on with Seattle where he played three seasons and finished up his career with stops in Atlanta and Arizona. He played in 63 games with 18 starts. Coleman lost his hearing at the age of three and became the first legally deaf offensive player to play in the NFL.
