Last chance: Packers with expiring contracts in 2020
By Brady Busha
A look at Green Bay Packers with expiring contracts in 2020, and what they must do to earn new deals.
With the offseason starting soon, Packers fans will be watching to see who’s in and who’s out for next year.
Clay Matthews and Randall Cobb are two of the biggest names in Green Bay that may be hitting the market, and next year has even more, unless they earn an extension.
We will be reviewing which significant players have expiring long-term contracts after the 2019 season, and what needs to be done by each player for the Packers to give them an extension.
Mike Daniels
A fourth-round pick out of Iowa in 2012 and a Pro Bowl player in 2017, Mike Daniels has been the image of consistency on Green Bay’s defensive line. Since 2014, Daniels has started in all but nine games for the Packers, and has been selected to the NFL Top 100 list by his peers in the last three seasons, peaking at No. 84 in 2017.
In that same stretch, Daniels has collected 196 total tackles, 34 for loss, and 20.5 sacks. His performance has been decidedly solid since his contract extension in 2015, but injuries have been threatening to derail a campaign for another extension.
Daniels has struggled with lower body injuries since the 2017 season. His hamstring, foot, and quadricep have all been suspects in a string of injuries hampering Daniels’ performance and sometimes keeping him out of games altogether.
How he can earn an extension
Daniels just needs to keep doing what he’s been doing. While the Packers would be wise to have their eyes set on an edge rusher in the offseason, interior help can be hard to come by in the NFL.
Shaking off the injuries and the dreaded age of 30 will be key in 2019 for Daniels to earn another long-term ride on the Packers’ wagon. Money may be a factor, but Daniels has certain intangibles that money can’t buy.
Leadership and toughness is something most players can’t learn, possess, or master. Daniels has it in spades, and his teammates will attest to it, making him valuable for more than his power and football instincts.
The Packers would do well to re-sign Mike Daniels, but it would be good for him to sweeten the pot with a clean bill of health throughout the season to warrant a pay raise.
Even if he doesn’t remain healthy, his contract needs a refresh, because the championship window of Aaron Rodgers‘ career is closing, and Green Bay can’t afford to let go of quality defensive starters like Daniels.