Training camp is finally here, and the Green Bay Packers still have a number of deals left on the table, as players like Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, and Rasheed Walker enter contract years.
One player whose future is no longer in question? Offensive tackle Zach Tom.
Tom's blockbuster extension brings added weight to his importance on the team, as he joins the upper echelon of linemen in the NFL.
The wait is over, with NFL insider Jordan Schultz reporting that it's a four-year extension worth $88 million. It's the sixth-most valuable contract among offensive tackles. The deal includes a signing bonus of $30.2 million, which is the most ever given to an offensive lineman.
Tom will make $22 million per year, the same rate as Jordan Mailata of the Philadelphia Eagles. It's a higher price tag than other notable linemen, including guard Landon Dickerson (also of the Eagles) and Detroit Lions tackle Taylor Decker. Clearly, Tom became a priority for Green Bay after the team let center Josh Myers walk in free agency.
Packers' new deal for Zach Tom is likely the first of many extensions to come
Tom hasn't missed a game for two straight seasons, and his reliability is something the Packers are relieved to keep in-house. The four-year extension will keep Tom in Green Bay through the 2029 season, as well as protect Jordan Love through the duration of his current contract.
The extension couldn't have come at a better time, with training camp beginning on Wednesday. It's too early to tell what Tom's deal means for Elgton Jenkins, who will be playing in the center position this season. How he performs in this new role could determine whether he joins Tom as one of the highest-paid linemen in the league.
More deals could be on the horizon in Green Bay. Whether they're for offensive weapons like Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, or defensive players, including Quay Walker and Kingsley Enagbare, remains to be seen.
As training camp unfolds, we might get some insight into their futures on the team.