Participation during most of the offseason program is voluntary. However, there is obvious value in having players in the building to build chemistry and to follow the coaching staff plan before training camp.
That's why the Green Bay Packers have put together strong packages to make sure (or at least heavily incentivize) their top players to be in the building during spring and summer.
Most of the Packers' veterans have significant money available via workout bonuses tied to their participation in voluntary activities. That's a smart way to force older players to be there.
Sometimes, it doesn't work out. Last year, for example, cornerback Jaire Alexander skipped the workout program and left $700,000 on the table. This time around, though, he was in Green Bay on Monday for day 1 of the program.
According to Rob Demovsky, from ESPN, players usually have to attend 85% of the days to get the money. Demovsky reported how much money each player on the roster has available in workout bonuses tied to offseason attendance in 2024.
- CB Jaire Alexander: $700,000
- DT Kenny Clark: $700,000
- EDGE Rashan Gary: $700,000
- RB Josh Jacobs: $600,000
- G Elgton Jenkins: $500,000
- QB Jordan Love: $500,000
- EDGE Preston Smith: $500,000
- S Xavier McKinney: $400,000
- CB Keisean Nixon: $200,000
- CB Corey Ballentine: $100,000
- K Greg Joseph: $50,000
- TE Tucker Kraft: $50,000
- G Sean Rhyan: $40,000
- TE Tyler Davis: $20,000
- LB Kristian Welch: $20,000
The money counts towards the Packers' salary cap in 2024. If the player doesn't reach the minimum attendance to qualify, Green Bay will have the money credited back to their salary cap in 2025. Minicamp, in June, is the only mandatory part of the offseason program.
Packers offseason schedule:
- First Day: April 15
- OTA Offseason Workouts: May 20-21, May 23, May 28-29, May 31, June 3-4, June 6
- Mandatory Minicamp: June 11-13
How the offseason program is structured
Phase One
Consists of the first two weeks of the program with activities limited to meetings, strength and conditioning, and physical rehabilitation only.
Phase Two
Consists of the next three weeks of the program. On-field workouts may include individual or group instruction and drills, as well as “perfect play drills,” and drills and plays with offensive players lining up across from offensive players and defensive players lining up across from defensive players, conducted at a walk-through pace. No live contact or team offense vs. team defense drills are permitted.
Phase Three
Consists of the next four weeks of the program. Teams may conduct a total of 10 days of organized team practice activity, or “OTAs”. No live contact is permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are permitted.
More must-reads: