Green Bay Packers Contract Details for Douglas, Tonyan & Reed
By Paul Bretl
With over $20 million in cap space freed up by trading Davante Adams, the Green Bay Packers have been putting those dollars to use, re-signing Rasul Douglas and Robert Tonyan last weekend while also adding Jarran Reed recently.
While the details of each of those contracts were a bit slow to emerge, we now have some insight into each of those deals and the impact on the Green Bay Packers 2022 salary cap.
Douglas provided needed stability and playmaking ability to the cornerback position last season, recording five interceptions, with two pick-sixes, seven pass breakups, and a completion rate of 51%, per PFF ($$). Although the Packers entered the offseason with Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes, cornerback depth was a major concern, but now Green Bay could have the best trio in football.
According to Rob Demovsky, Douglas signed a three-year deal worth $21 million, and he can earn an additional $4.5 million based on Pro Bowl, interception, and playing time incentives. He received a $5.3 million signing bonus, in which the cap charges will be spread out over the life of the contract, and he comes with a cap number of $3.33 million in 2022.
While this is a three-year contract, the Packers will have the option to move on from Douglas after Year 2, and save $9 million in cap space if they do so, according to Over the Cap.
Another major need for the Green Bay Packers was adding a pass-catching tight end to this offense. Without Tonyan, that was a vacant role. Tonyan caught 52 of 59 passes with 11 touchdowns in 2020, and although 2021 began a bit more slowly for him from a statistical standpoint, Tonyan was beginning to make some noise prior to his injury. It was also clear as day that this offense missed his presence over the middle and in the red zone last season.
Coming off an ACL injury, Tonyan signed a true one-year prove-it deal to stay with Green Bay. According to Field Yates, Tonyan received a $1 million signing bonus and a base salary of $1.035 million. He also has $1.5 million that he can additionally earn based on how many games he plays in this upcoming season.
Green Bay would also add one void year to the contract, something they’ve done frequently over the last two offseasons, to lower his 2022 cap hit. Over the Cap has Tonyan on the books with a $2.44 million cap hit this season.
Prior to adding Reed, the Green Bay Packers had only four interior defensive linemen on the roster. Although they were able to keep much of their 2021 defense intact, if there’s an area where this unit can improve, it’s upfront and along the interior. Reed has been incredibly durable over his career, can affect both the run and passing games, and will immediately be plugged into the rotation alongside Kenny Clark and Dean Lowry.
Reed was signed to a one-year deal, but according to Bill Huber, the Packers would also add four voided years on to the contract to again help lower his 2022 cap hit. The cap hit from Reed’s $1.865 million signing bonus will now be spread out over five years, and he will receive a base salary in 2022 of $1.035 million.
Huber adds that Reed can earn up to $3.25 million with roster and workout bonuses factored in, and he also has sack and playing time incentives as well. Based on Ken Ingalls’ projections, he has Reed coming with a $1.758 million cap hit this season.
Currently, Over the Cap has the Green Bay Packers with $16.07 million in cap space for the 2022 season, but that does not yet include Reed’s contract. However, if we do some simple math, we can estimate that the Packers have about $14.3 million in available cap space–although, as we’ve discussed on numerous occasions, that figure does not include the cap space needed for the incoming draft class or practice squad.
Other cap-saving moves on still on the table for Green Bay include an extension for Jaire Alexander, adding voided years to Allen Lazard’s RFA deal, and reworking Mason Crosby or Dean Lowry’s contracts. So, in short, if the Packers want to make another move, they can, but as always, they’ll have to be salary cap conscious.