According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Green Bay Packers have signed wide receiver Jordy Nelson to a four-year, $39 million extension with $14.2 million guaranteed.
The Packers got Nelson on a bargain for his last contract and it seems they have again in terms of guaranteed money. According to Michael Ginnitti of USA Today, Nelson’s $14.2 million guaranteed would rank 18th among NFL wide receivers, and his $9.76 million per season would rank 7th.
This takes away the distraction of Green Bay’s number one wide receiver not having a contract for next season. It was expected that a contract would be done sooner rather than later, but now Nelson can put his full focus on the 2014 season. Nelson is a favorite of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, so it is huge that they will be together long term even though Rodgers can make any wide receiver look good. Green Bay’s depth at wide receiver may not be as good as in recent season, so re-signing Nelson was a must
Thompson’s work at the wide receiver position is not done yet, as Randall Cobb is also in the final year of his deal. The Packers might want to see Cobb play a fully healthy year before signing after he missed 10 games with a broken leg last year. However, that could backfire on them if he goes out and has a huge year and his value skyrockets.
Nelson caught 85 passes for 1,314 yards and eight touchdowns last season even though Rodgers only started nine games. During his six seasons in Green Bay Nelson has caught 302 passes for 4,590 yards and 36 touchdowns.
——————Matt Bove is a writer at PackersTalk.com. PackersTalk.com. You can follow him on twitter at @RayRobert9.
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