Packers: When will Aaron Rodgers get a new contract?

CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 17: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers warms up before their game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on December 17, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 17: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers warms up before their game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on December 17, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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Next up on the Green Bay Packers offseason agenda: extending Aaron Rodgers’ contract. When will the Packers give Rodgers the money he rightfully deserves?

Aaron Rodgers‘ contract doesn’t end until the conclusion of the 2019 season. Working out a deal sooner rather than later would be a smart move by Packers GM Brian Gutekunst. It will save the team money that they can use on possible free agents and when they need to re-sign other players.

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan recently signed a five-year contract extension worth $150 million, with $100 million of that guaranteed. He will have the first contract in NFL history with nine figures of guaranteed money.

That news should be music to Rodgers’ ears. Rodgers is a better quarterback than Ryan. Rodgers can expect to get at least $100 million in guaranteed money.

He knows his value and how much he means to the organization as a whole. Playing the waiting game has allowed Rodgers to capitalize on more money. If he signed an extension before Ryan did, you could argue that Rodgers may not have received $100 million in guaranteed money.

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It’s a smart move by Rodgers and his agent. However, the time has come for him to sign an extension. There aren’t any other high-profile quarterbacks looking for a new deal besides Rodgers.

When the Packers released Jordy Nelson and moved on from QB coach Alex Van Pelt, there was no doubt that Rodgers was disappointed. His favorite weapon and his QB coach, who he was really close to, were let go without him being consulted.

Of course, this is all old news, but it has certainly given Rodgers leverage for a new deal. The longer the Packers front office waits, the more it will take to extend his contract.

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So when will the Packers give Rodgers a new deal? Hopefully it will happen before the 2018 season gets underway.