Green Bay Packers edge rusher Rashan Gary is someone that a lot of people are keeping an eye on with the 2023 season kicking off this week. Not only do they want to see how he responds after tearing his ACL in Week 9 last season, but there is still one order of business that needs to get done.
Entering the final season of his rookie contract, Rashan Gary is eligible for a contract extension. He is set to play out the 2023 campaign on the fifth-year option on his rookie deal before potentially becoming a free agent in 2024.
That is something the Packers should do everything in their power to avoid occurring. Rashan Gary has been predicted to sign a four-year, $104.2 million deal by Spotrac and that number would likely go up should they face competition from other teams around the league.
Of course, there is some hesitancy from Green Bay’s perspective. They want to see how Rashan Gary looks coming back from his torn ACL. Any signs of rust or a drop in performance and his price tag will lower. Of course, the opposite could happen, which would increase the cost.
It is a high-stakes game of chicken going on, but both sides seem content with the position they are in. Matt Schneidman of The Athletic recently spoke to Rashan Gary’s agent, Ian Clarke, and they are in no rush to get a deal done.
“Our plan is to operate professionally and remain open to reasonable contract offers in every phase of his career,” Clarke said in response to Schneidman’s question about being willing to negotiate in season.
That isn’t the approach all representatives will take, but Clarke’s client is in a unique position. Rashan Gary is an ascending talent in the league coming off of a serious knee injury. They are likely confident that the Michigan product will return to form and know a lucrative deal is coming their way one way or another.
There is no point in potentially souring the relationship by placing deadlines on talks. There is also the matter of the market, as Clarke knows edge rushers are at a premium; look at the contract Nick Bosa signed with the San Francisco 49ers.
Carolina Panthers edge rusher Brian Burns is also waiting for an extension and the Packers could use his deal as a benchmark. That is certainly a risky proposition because if he signs a deal for more than projected, Rashan Gary’s price tag is only going to go up as well.
