Green Bay Packers sign former Chicago Bears specialist
The Green Bay Packers made a move on Thursday to acquire former Chicago Bears punter Pat O’Donnell, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. O’Donnell, who played his college ball at Cincinnati, then Miami, is replacing Corey Bojorquez who became an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
Bojorquez put up great numbers for the Packers but in the end, the organization couldn’t accommodate his cap space. He ranked 11th in the NFL with a 46.5-yard average – best in Packers history – and 17th with a 40-yard net average.
The new Packers punter signed a deal for two years worth $4 million overall, according to NFL reporter Aaron Wilson. It includes $1.6 million guaranteed, $950,000 at signing and a $650,000 roster bonus that kicks in after March in 2023. His salary is $1.12 million for 2022 and $1.2 million for 2023.
O’Donnell played 17 games for the Bears in 2021 before signing with the Packers. He had 62 punts for a total of 2865 yards – 46.2 yards per punt. He has a 4.3-second hangtime and 37 touchbacks, according to ProFootballFocus. His overall punting grade ranked 23rd in the league last season. He wrapped up eight years with the Bears after going No. 191 overall in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft.
After last season, O’Donnell signed a one-year, $1.75 million deal with the Bears. He’s now 31 years old and he’ll be in the Green and Gold next season.
Former Packers star Za’Darius Smith signs with Baltimore
It didn’t take former Green Bay Packers edge rusher, Za’Darius Smith, to find a new home, after the team elected to part ways with him. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Smith has agreed to terms on a four-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens.
Za’Darius Smith combined for 26 sacks in 2019 and 2020, the second of which he earned second-team All-Pro honors and finished fourth in the league in sacks. A back injury over the summer derailed his 2021 campaign. He will now take his talents to the AFC North to help the Ravens in a playoff push in 2022.
The four-year deal comes at a decent price for the Ravens, as Schefter explains.
“Former Packers’ pass rusher Za’Darius Smith is signing a four-year, $35 million deal that has a max value of $50 million with the Baltimore Ravens, per source,” wrote the ESPN football analyst via Twitter.
On3’s Justin Rudolph contributed to this report.