Rob Demovsky
GREEN BAY, Wis. — A month in the past, Zach Tom didn't need to talk about whether or not he would insist on a brand new contract with the Inexperienced Bay Packers earlier than the beginning of this season. He does not need to entertain that chance anymore.
The fourth-year proper deal with agreed to a four-year, $88 million contract extension on Monday, sources informed ESPN. The deal additionally features a $30.2 million signing bonus that's believed to be the biggest ever for an offensive lineman.
The Washington Commanders' Laremy Tunsil and former Packers deal with David Bakhtiari (in 2020) obtained the earlier highest signing bonus for an offensive lineman at $30 million of their extensions.
Negotiations wrapped up in the future earlier than Packers veteran gamers had been scheduled to report for coaching camp. This after Tom took half in your complete offseason exercise program reasonably than selecting to attend till a brand new deal may get carried out.
“I do not actually suppose it's going to do me any good to take a seat out,” Tom mentioned final month. “I am making an attempt to not fear concerning the contract state of affairs. I am simply making an attempt to do what's finest for the workforce. And being right here with the fellows, I believe that is value much more than — the contract state of affairs will deal with itself. So, I am simply right here working and grinding with the fellows. If I wasn't right here, I might most likely be someplace simply not doing something, I do not know. So, yeah, I need to be right here clearly.”
The Packers are going by some shuffling on the offensive line, and there was a chance that Tom may very well be moved. Nevertheless, this deal ensures he'll stay at deal with.
Final season, Tom completed third within the All-Professional voting amongst proper tackles behind the Detroit Lions' Penei Sewell and Philadelphia Eagles' Lane Johnson.
“I believe he can play any place,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur mentioned final month. “So it simply occurred to be that he type of discovered his dwelling at proper deal with, however I believe his versatility is among the issues that makes him particular. I believe he can play all 5, and there is not a number of guys that may do this, however I might say that he is bought the athleticism. I believe he is a really clever soccer participant, and he is performed fairly constant over the course of the previous couple of years.”
Tom, a fourth-round decide in 2022, has began each recreation in every of the final two seasons and 39 begins total in his first three seasons. He has began 34 video games at proper deal with, 4 at left deal with and one at left guard.
There's anticipated to be a contest for the left deal with spot between incumbent Rasheed Walker and 2024 first-round decide Jordan Morgan.
Among the many modifications on the offensive line embody Elgton Jenkins shifting from left guard to heart to make room without spending a dime agent signing Aaron Banks to play left guard. Jenkins, who has been positioned on the non-football harm record, skipped many of the offseason program as a result of he desires his contract adjusted though he has two extra years remaining.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler contributed to this report.
