Green Bay Packers sign linebacker Rashan Gary to four-year mega deal
The Green Bay Packers have inked linebacker Rashan Gary to a four-year deal worth $107 million on Monday after Week 8, the defender announced himself on X. After the team exercised his fifth-year option for 2023, Gary negotiated a huge new contract that keeps him with the team through the 2027 season.
The former first-round draft pick out of Michigan leads the Packers with 4.5 sacks this season, as well as five tackles for loss through seven games.
“Thanks to everyone in the Green Bay Packers organization, my family, business team, NFL, friends, fans and supporters for taking this ride with me,” Gary wrote to announce his new deal.
Packers extend Gary
Last season, Gary tore his ACL after 32 tackles, seven tackles for loss, six sacks, and 12 quarterback hits on the season. He also added one pass defended, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery before the injury derailed his season.
In 2021, he had the best season of his NFL career, where he put up 47 tackles, eight tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks and 28 quarterback hits. He also had two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in 16 regular season games.
After going No. 12 overall to Green Bay from Michigan, Gary signed a rookie deal for four years, $15.8 million. He then received another $10.9 million when the Packers exercised the fifth-year option on his contract.
Gary’s new deal makes him one of the highest-paid defenders in the National Football League. In January, the Ravens signed linebacker Roquan Smith to a five-year deal for $100 million. Gary’s deal is a four-year extension with new money of $96M. His signing bonus is $34,636,928, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport.
Green Bay falls to Vikings, Minnesota loses Kirk Cousins
The Packers lost to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday 24-10 but the major loss came on the side of the Purple and Gold.
quarterback Kirk Cousins suffered an Achilles injury, head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed to reporters after the Week 8 matchup on Sunday. Cousins was ruled out and carted off the field during the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers. The team initially labeled the injury as an “ankle,” however, footage of the injury appeared to show a “snap” of the Achilles.
“Cousins will undergo an MRI, but the diagnosis on Achilles is rarely wrong. It appears his season is over,” NFL insider Tom Pelissero reported.
The 35-year-old was leading the Vikings to victory against the Packers before exiting the game in the fourth quarter with Minnesota up 24-10. Cousins went 23-for-31 for 274 yards and touchdown passes before his replacement, Jaren Hall, subbed in.
Hall was a fifth-round draft pick for Minnesota in the 2023 NFL Draft out of BYU. The Week 8 matchup is his first appearance for the Vikings. Hall closed out the game to bring Minnesota to 4-4 on the year.
Prior to the Week 8 game, Kirk Cousins had 2,057 passing yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions with a 68.9% completion rate.