Packers Not Budging On Aaron Rodgers Trade Stance
After not spending much time in front of cameras between his Jeopardy!-hosting stint and the news of his desire to leave Green Bay surfacing, Aaron Rodgers ventured back into the public eye this week. The reigning MVP stopped in for an interview during Kenny Mayne’s final SportsCenter and surfaced in Instagram vacation photos with fiancée Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller.
In roundabout fashion, Rodgers affirmed his discontent with Packers management. But the Packers are not changing their tune. They are holding firm on their stance they will not trade their 13-year starting quarterback, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes.
While this saga has generated a few weeks’ worth of rumors, since Rodgers’ wish to be traded became known just before the draft, Packers power brokers have attempted to break through with him for months now. Those efforts have been unsuccessful. Usually a participant in Green Bay OTAs, Rodgers obviously is not in Wisconsin this week. Packers minicamp looms June 8; it would be surprising if Rodgers showed for that. Training camp will provide a better view of how entrenched the future Hall of Famer is here.
The case for the Packers hanging onto Rodgers is fairly simple. The 37-year-old superstar keeps them on the Super Bowl contender tier, and despite most modern first-round QBs entering Year 2 as starters, Jordan Love is viewed as a player perhaps not quite ready for such a jump.
The Packers have the threat of forcing Rodgers to sit out what could well be one of his final prime seasons. Skipping the season would cost Rodgers his $14.7MM 2021 base salary, a $6.8MM ’21 roster bonus, a portion of his previously paid signing bonus and a notable collection of training camp absence fines. Rodgers has not hinted this rift concerns finances, however, and has earned hundreds of millions from Packers contracts and endorsement deals as a pro. He has been known to hold a grudge or two as well.
Trading Rodgers would hurt the Packers financially, even after June 1. They would have a $38.4MM dead-money hit spread out through 2022. Dealing the quarterback next year would lessen the dead-cap hit. Though, the Packers would still be tagged with an eight-figure penalty. A 2022 trade — ahead of Rodgers’ age-39 season — may involve inferior trade proposals compared to the ones that would come Green Bay’s way this year. Offers including multiple first-round picks and established starters have been mentioned as the likely starting point, with the Broncos being the team most closely connected to a potential pursuit.
The prospect of an unhappy Rodgers returning to play this season would certainly make for an awkward environment at the Packers facility, but ahead of that pivotal June 1 date, that scenario still appears to be the team’s goal.
Packers TE Robert Tonyan Signs RFA Tender
Robert Tonyan is officially back with the Packers. The tight end signed his restricted free agent tender today, according to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky (via Twitter). The 27-year-old will earn $3.38MM this upcoming season.
[RELATED: This Date In Transactions History: Packers Re-Sign TE Robert Tonyan]
After effectively redshirting his rookie season, the former undrafted free agent hauled in only 14 receptions through his first two seasons of action. However, Tonyan had a breakout campaign in 2020, finishing with 52 receptions for 586 yards and 11 touchdowns. After the season, the Packers slapped Tonyan with the second-round tender.
After appearing in only 61-percent of his team’s offensive snaps in 2020, Tonyan could see an even larger role in 2021 (regardless of who’s under center). The tight end is projected to lead a depth chart that also features veteran Marcedes Lewis.
While Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay receivers have no-showed OTAs, Tonyan was one of the higher-profile offensive players to participate this past week, per Demovsky.
NFL Suspends Jared Veldheer
Free agent Jared Veldheer has been hit with a six-game ban (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). The reason for the suspension is not immediately clear, but it will likely hurt the tackle’s chances of finding a deal this summer. 
Veldheer, a 2010 third-round pick out of Hillsdale, has put together a 12-year career, appearing in 121 career regular season games. He joined the Colts in late December, and he ended up playing 100-percent of his team’s offensive snaps in Week 17 and the Wild Card Round. After that, he hooked on with the Packers, making him the first player in NFL history to play at least one postseason game for two different teams in the same year. It was all thanks the loophole provided by last season’s COVID-19 practice-squad rules.
It’s worth noting that Veldheer will turn 34 in June, so it’s not clear whether he’s planning on playing this year.
Packers Considering Veteran ILB Addition
Not big on drafting inside linebackers high or doling out notable extensions at the position, the Packers are counting on some lower-level investments on their defensive second level. Here is some non-Aaron Rodgers Packers news.
Over the past two offseasons, the team has let Blake Martinez walk in free agency and made Christian Kirksey a cap casualty. Green Bay drafted Isaiah McDuffie in Round 6, but GM Brian Gutekunst said the team is considering signing a veteran to bolster this group, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic notes (subscription required).
The Packers have Day 3 picks Kamal Martin and Ty Summers on their roster, along with recent UDFA Krys Barnes. Despite his undrafted pedigree, Barnes made 10 starts as a rookie last season. Neither he nor Kirksey, however, ranked inside the top 60 at the position, in Pro Football Focus’ view. A six-game starter, Martin fared better. But he played just 208 defensive snaps in an injury-shortened season. The Packers’ highest off-ball linebacker draftee in 15 years, former third-rounder Oren Burks, remains on the team. He is shifting back to inside linebacker after working on the edge more in 2020, Schneidman adds. Burks, however, has not played more than 100 defensive snaps since his 2018 rookie season.
As for available ILBs, a number of notable names are out there. K.J. Wright tops the list. The longtime Seahawks starter may not have a path back to Seattle, with the team having drafted Jordyn Brooks in Round 1 last year and not looking to spend much on additional free agents. PFF slotted Wright as a top-10 linebacker in 2020. Recent Saints cap cut Kwon Alexander remains available, as are ex-Falcon De’Vondre Campbell and longtime starter Avery Williamson. He of a standout rookie season (and considerable off-field baggage and an injury history), former first-rounder Reuben Foster is also unsigned.
The Cardinals have made Jordan Hicks available via trade, following the first-round selection of Zaven Collins. Hicks accepted a $3MM pay cut this offseason and is due just $2MM in base salary this season. The Packers have around $5MM in cap space but have yet to sign their first- and third-round picks (Eric Stokes, Amari Rodgers).
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/26/21
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: WR Lance Lenoir
- Waived: WR Tre Walker
Carolina Panthers
- Re-signed: DE Frank Herron
- Waived: DE Kendall Donnerson
Cincinnati Bengals
- Claimed (from Eagles): LB Joe Bachie
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR DeAndre Thompkins
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: DB Kareem Orr
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived/injured: DE Marcus Webb
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: OL Christian DiLauro
Ravens Expected Packers To Draft Rashod Bateman At No. 29
The Packers last drafted a first-round wide receiver in 2002 — Javon Walker — but they may have been prepared to pull the trigger this year. The Ravens, at least, viewed that as likely to take place.
Earlier this month, select execs around the league viewed Green Bay as Rashod Bateman‘s landing spot — if he remained on the board at No. 29. The Ravens were among the teams that believed this would transpire. Ravens director of player personnel Joe Hortiz said as much recently, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com notes. The Ravens drafted Bateman 27th overall.
“Certainly, we knew [the Packers] liked him and a lot of teams like Rashod,” Hortiz said, via Hensley. “We don’t know for certain, but you do try to pay attention to, ‘OK, the GMs were at this pro day’ — especially this year because the GMs weren’t able to get out and see players. Brian [Gutekunst] is going to look at players that he was interested in. We try to give Eric [DeCosta] all the information that we can get at a pro day (and) at a school visit.”
Gutekunst stood next to Hortiz at Bateman’s pro day in Minneapolis; the longtime friends commuted from the airport to the Golden Gophers’ facility, per Hensley. The Packers ended up taking Georgia cornerback Eric Stokes at No. 29.
Part of the Aaron Rodgers-Packers impasse involves the team’s approach to the receiver position. The Packers were candidates to take a first-round wideout last year but surprised most by trading up for Jordan Love. The team had multiple second-round receivers on its radar in 2020 but could not maneuver to land them. They exited the ’20 draft without taking a receiver. This year, Green Bay selected Clemson’s Amari Rodgers in Round 3.
The Ravens have now taken first-round wide receivers twice in the past three years. Bateman will join Marquise Brown in Baltimore. The Bateman move came after the Ravens added Sammy Watkins in free agency. The team aggressively pursued veteran wideouts this offseason, but J.J. Smith-Schuster and T.Y. Hilton accepted less money to stay with their respective teams. Bateman broke out with a 60-catch, 1,219-yard sophomore season in 2019 and will be expected to play a major role for the run-heavy Ravens next season.
“When I came out of the pro day, I called Eric and John [Harbaugh]: ‘You got to watch his pro day,'” Hortiz said. “You can definitely feel his speed. With him, you really felt it — his ability to get in and out [of cuts] and show that twitch and strength that can transition into the burst and explosion. Certainly the pro day helped.”
Packers Restructure Dean Lowry’s Deal
The Packers have restructured the contract of defensive lineman Dean Lowry (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Field Yates). Lowry will have $3.11 million of his $4.1MM salary converted into a signing bonus, giving Green Bay an additional $2.5MM in cap room. That’s a welcome break for Brian Gutekunst, who was sweating Lowry’s scheduled $6.3MM cap hit.
[RELATED: Aaron Rodgers Won’t Attend Packers’ OTAs]
The move provides the Packers with some extra space to add to the roster between now and Week 1. In theory, the extra dollars could be allocated towards a big splash, like trading for Falcons star Julio Jones, but they’ll need more than a few mil to make that happen. Jones will earn a guaranteed $15.3MM this year and already has ~$2MM of his 2022 salary ($15.5MM) locked in.
Lowry, a 2016 fourth-round pick out of Northwestern, inked a three-year, $20.325MM extension towards the end of his rookie deal. He broke out as a part-time starter in 2018 with 57 tackles (seven for loss), three sacks, three passes defensed, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, two QB hits, and 14 QB pressures. Last year, he delivered three sacks and 36 total stops while starting in all 16 contests.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/24/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: WR Johnnie Dixon
Detroit Lions
- Signed: T Darrin Paulo
Green Bay Packers
- Released: CB KeiVarae Russell
Minnesota Vikings
- Claimed (from Texans): OL Cohl Cabral
Aaron Rodgers Won’t Attend Packers’ OTAs
The Packers kicked off their organized team activities on Monday. As expected, Aaron Rodgers was not among those in attendance (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky). 
Historically, Rodgers has been on hand for voluntary work. But, in recent weeks, he’s told those close to him that he wants out. For their part, the Packers say he’s staying put.
“We still obviously feel the same way,” head coach Matt LaFleur said earlier this month. “We want him back in the worst way. I know he knows that. And we’ll continue to work at it each and every day.”
They can try, but Rodgers seems to be sticking to his position. The Broncos and other clubs have been keeping a watchful eye on the situation with the hope that the Packers’ asking price will come down a bit. It’s been speculated that the Packers want at least two first-round picks, a second-rounder, and perhaps even a quality young quarterback.
Offseason work goes from voluntary to mandatory on June 8th, with minicamp running through June 10th. Rodgers has already lost out on $500K in bonuses by staying home — that number will quickly top $1MM if he abstains from minicamp and training camp.
For cap purposes, a Rodgers deal would need to be a post-June 1st thing anyway. With mandatory activities rapidly approaching, we should know a lot more soon.
AFC Rumors: Broncos, OBJ, Ravens, Mack
Deshaun Watson still has significant off-field issues to surmount before being in the clear to resume his career, but the embattled Texans quarterback’s deposition is not set to take place until after the 2021 season ends. This could put Watson on track to play this season, though our Rory Parks noted a Commissioner’s Exempt List stay may well enter into this equation. The Broncos were once a clear suitor for the Pro Bowl quarterback. Now, their focus has shifted. They prefer an Aaron Rodgers trade to waiting out the Watson saga, according to NFL insider John Clayton of 104.3 The Fan. Far and away the clubhouse leaders in Rodgers rumor mentions, the Broncos are planning to make an aggressive pursuit of the reigning MVP — if the Packers make him available for a trade. While Rodgers has not come out and said he wants to leave Green Bay or indicated where he would like to go, the Broncos were on his reported wish list from the start. The future Hall of Fame passer indeed wants to be traded to the Broncos, Clayton adds. Rodgers is not expected to show up for the Packers’ minicamp next month, according to Madison.com’s Jason Wilde.
Although we still appear a ways away from true trade talks, the June 1 date after which a Rodgers deal becomes less financially constraining for the Packers is approaching. Shifting to players already in the AFC, here is the latest from the conference:
- Tavon Young has become one of the NFL’s most injury-prone players, and the Ravens may have selected his heir apparent in Shaun Wade this year. The former early-round Ohio State prospect is expected to begin his career in the slot, and Young is not yet 100%. ACL tears sidelined Young for all of 2017 and 14 games last season, and he missed all of the 2019 season due to a neck ailment. Baltimore DC Don Martindale said Young has not been fully cleared from his latest round of ACL rehab, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com tweets. Young has missed an astounding 47 games over the past four seasons. Thanks to restructuring Young’s contract, the Ravens would be tagged with more than $9MM in dead money over the next two years were they to cut the veteran corner after June 1.
- Better news may be coming out of another AFC North contender’s headquarters. Odell Beckham Jr. has resumed sprinting after suffering an ACL tear last November, and Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer expects the Pro Bowl wideout to be in the Browns‘ Week 1 lineup. Beckham’s injury may have helped keep him in Cleveland, depressing the trade market for the talented wideout who has yet to truly take off with the Browns. Trade rumors have followed Beckham in Cleveland, but he is set to return at a $14.5MM salary this season.
- In more injury rehab news, the Colts had Marlon Mack back on the field this week. Mack did not participate fully in Indianapolis’ OTA sessions this week, but Stephen Holder of The Athletic notes the fifth-year running back was available for part of the voluntary workouts (subscription required). Mack sustained a torn Achilles in Week 1 last season. He re-signed with the Colts on a one-year, $2MM deal, pointing to optimism the former fourth-round pick will be ready to go to start this season.