Report: Green Bay Packers tweak Aaron Rodgers contract, set up big payday

When the Green Bay Packers reached an agreement with Aaron Rodgers this offseason, the deal included a bonus worth $40.8 million due to the quarterback by Dec. 31, 2022. According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the deal has been amended to pay the sum in two payments of $20.8 million and $20 million on June 20 and Sept. 30, respectively.

The upcoming bonus payday for Aaron Rodgers will serve as the first major financial reminder of his stronghold on the quarterback position over backup Jordan Love, who caused a riff in the organization when he was drafted in the first round before a pair of MVP seasons by the future Hall of Famer.

After reports that he could potentially retire, Rodgers resigned on a massive contract extension which keeps him in Green Bay for three additional years. That time would also run down the rookie contract of Love.

Coming off back-to-back MVP seasons, Rodgers now loses his top wide receiver from an already scarce room. The production of highly-rated rookies and revitalized veterans will prove pivotal as the Packers look to make a run back to Super Bowl form and claim the second of the Rodgers era.

This past season, he threw for 4,115 yards and ranked third in the NFL with a 68.9% completion percentage. He also threw for a league-low four interceptions and 37 touchdowns — giving him one of the best touchdown-to-interception ratios of the year. Green Bay earned the top seed in the NFC playoffs but ultimately fell to San Francisco in the divisional round.

More on Aaron Rodgers contract

Aaron Rodgers’ new deal with the Green Bay Packers is signed, sealed and delivered. Details have come out about the “complicated” contract — and it could help the Packers down the road.

Rodgers is signing a four-year deal with two “dummy” years as placeholders on the back end, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero added a full breakdown of Rodgers’ new deal. He’ll make $42 million in 2022, $59.515 million in 2023 and 49.3 million in 2024, and the first two years are fully guaranteed.

Rapoport added Rodgers “likely retires” after those three years, but Green Bay can re-do the last two years of the deal if he continues to play.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel’s Tom Silverstein reported Rodgers’ cap number dropped significantly to $28 million — a stark contrast to the original $46.66 million hit, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio.