3 underpaid Packers players heading into 2023 offseason
Our conversations usually revolve around overpaid players who should take a pay cut. I flip the script in this article and focus on three players on the Green Bay Packers who are underpaid and should receive a pay raise.
In looking at the Packers’ cap sheet, they are extremely top-heavy. Just three players (Aaron Rodgers, David Bakhtiari and Kenny Clark) take up over a third of their cap space for 2023, while five (add in Jaire Alexander and Preston Smith) are responsible for half of it. That means they depend a lot on rookie contracts to fill the other 46 spots on their roster.
There is plenty of room within those 46 players to find guys who are underpaid. I tried to find at least one non-rookie who deserved a massive raise and was successful in my search. Without further ado, here are three underpaid Packers are heading into the 2023 offseason.
We often talk about NFL teams saving money, but these three players on the Green Bay Packers deserve a pay raise entering the 2023 offseason.
Zach Tom
Tom was stellar as a rookie. He flashed amazing versatility by lining up at multiple positions across the offensive line and was also good on the field. Green Bay moved Elgton Jenkins back to left guard and stabilized the line’s interior due to Tom’s play at right tackle. The future of Marcedes Lewis could directly impact his success, but he deserves more than the $996,085 he’s set to make next season.
Christian Watson
Watson makes a bit more than Tom–$2.1 million–but is still underpaid. He had an eventful rookie campaign and not always in a good way. He missed time early due to injuries and then dropped a walk-in touchdown on his first NFL play. He rebounded nicely, however, showing great resilience. He was the Packers’ most dangerous receiving threat by the end of the season. Chapter 2 will be fun.
Next. Top 25-and-under Packers entering 2023 offseason. dark
Rashan Gary
Gary is a prime extension candidate this offseason. After getting drafted in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, he has improved every single season. He was having a breakout campaign in 2022–six sacks in only nine games–before a torn ACL ended his season prematurely. Green Bay could be waiting for a medical update about his recovery, but they should sign him to an extension as soon as they do.