Looking Back at the Packers’ Recent Contract Extensions

The first extension Gutekunst ever gave as the GM was to his franchise quarterback. Rodgers became the highest-paid player in the NFL when this deal was signed. The massive extension spanned the 2018-2021 seasons. Throughout this timeframe, Rodgers not only stayed healthy, but he was elite. He led the team to 48-18-1 record over these four seasons, and produced 4,215 yards, 34 touchdowns, and only 4 interceptions per season. He won two MVPs, was selected to two All-Pro teams, and made four Pro Bowls. Rodgers also led the team to the playoffs three times, including two NFC Championship appearances. This extension was one of the best contracts Gutekunst ever gave out.

Kenny Clark – 4 years, $70 million

Before the 2020 season, Clark signed a deal that made him the highest-paid nose tackle in league history. This was the first of two extensions Clark signed with the Packers. This first extension worked out very well for the Packers. The contract spanned the 2020-2024 seasons. Clark only missed three games over these four years and was named to two Pro Bowls (2021, 2023). He racked up 187 tackles, 17.5 sacks, 45 quarterback hits, and 23 tackles for loss. His play made him a pillar in the locker room and a staple amongst the defensive line. Due to Clark’s performance, locker-room presence, and availability, this extension became somewhat of a bargain.

David Bakhtiari – 4 years, $92 million

Bakhtiari’s third contract with the Packers could go down as one of the worst contracts the Packers have ever given. Gutekunst signed Bakhtiari to this extension in November of 2020, making him the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history. After signing, Bakhtiari played the next six games before tearing his ACL on December 31, 2020. His career was never the same. At the time, extending Bakhtari was a no-brainer. He was widely considered the best offensive tackle in football and was putting together a Hall of Fame-worthy career. Unfortunately, his career was derailed. After the injury, Bakhtiari only played in 13 out of a possible 54 games. The Packers eventually ended up releasing him in March of 2024. Third contracts are always risky, but extending Bakhtiari was the right decision. An unfortunate injury made this extension look brutal for the Packers and Bakhtiari. 

Aaron Jones – 4 years, $48 million

After back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons, the Packers rewarded Aaron Jones with a strong extension, making him one of the top ten paid running backs in the NFL. Extending Jones, a fan favorite, was a no-brainer. As great as he was on and off the field, Jones didn’t even play out the entire extension. The original extension would’ve kept Jones in Green Bay from 2021-2024. Immediately after signing, Jones had a down year in 2021. He failed to reach 800 rushing yards. He bounced back in 2022, but 2023 was one of the worst seasons of his career. Over these three years, he averaged 859 rushing yards, 7 touchdowns, and 340 receiving yards. He also fumbled 9 times. Jones was still effective when healthy, but the regression in production and nagging injuries led to the Packers releasing him before the 2024 season. The Packers probably got their money’s worth, but Jones never got better.

Aaron Rodgers (Again) – 3 years, $150.8 million

After consecutive MVP seasons in 2020 and 2021, Gutekunst almost had to address Rodgers’ contract. This new deal made Rodgers the highest-paid player in the NFL (again) and was heavy with guaranteed money. This was the second extension Gutekunst gave to Rodgers. Rodgers put the pen to the paper in March of 2022, but 2022 was his last season as a Packer. The team missed the playoffs, Rodgers had arguably the worst year of his career, and everyone knew it was time to hand the keys to Jordan Love. It made sense to pay Rodgers for his back-to-back MVP seasons, but this contract burdened the Packers’ salary cap for years after.

Jaire Alexander – 4 years, $84 million

Rob Demovsky wrote, “It was never a question of if the Green Bay Packers were going to sign All-Pro cornerback Jaire Alexander to a contract extension. It was only a matter of when and for how much.” Demovsky was right – extending Alexander was a no-brainer at the time. He had already been selected as an All-Pro and Pro Bowler (2020), and was named to the All-Rookie team in 2018. His play earned him a lucrative new contract, making him the highest-paid defensive back in the league. The contract kept Alexander with the Packers from 2022-2026. Alexander responded with another All-Pro season in 2022, but after that, things went downhill. Alexander only played in 14 total games over the next two seasons. He also created many distractions off the field. Alexander ended up being released in June of 2025. A slew of injuries led to Alexander’s time with the Packers ending prematurely, thus marking another contract that aged terribly for the Packers.

Elgton Jenkins – 4 years, $68 million

While still on his rookie contract, Jenkins produced two Pro Bowl seasons and showed the ability to play multiple positions at a high level. His performance and versatility earned him a strong extension, making him the second-highest-paid guard in the NFL at the time. The new contract kept Jenkins in Green Bay from 2022-2026. Since signing, Jenkins has been the leader and one of the more durable offensive linemen. He has played almost 2,000 snaps, including over 94% of the team’s offensive snaps two years in a row. While he isn’t winning every accolade, he has continued to prove why the Packers gave him a lucrative contract extension.

Preston Smith – 4 years, $52 million

Smith signed with the Packers as a free agent in 2019, and his consistent play earned him a second contract with the team. Smith’s play was never flashy, and he never filled up the box scores, but he was a valuable piece of the Packers’ defense for a long time. This new extension with Green Bay could’ve taken him through 2026 with the team, but the lack of guaranteed money allowed the Packers to move on sooner. The Packers ended up trading Smith away during the 2024 season after a dip in production. Smith was as durable and consistent as they come, but he was a difference maker. At first glance, this seemed like a poor contract to give Smith, but the small amount of guaranteed money made this deal more palatable and easy for the Packers to work with. Overall, there was no harm done in giving Smith this extension.

De’Vondre Campbell – 5 years, $50 million

Campbell signed with the Packers as a free agent before the 2021 season. The Packers brought him in on an inexpensive one-year contract. Campbell responded by producing an All-Pro season with off-the-charts production. His impressive 2021 season landed him a big five-year extension – one that Gutekunst quickly regretted. Although the contract didn’t even make Campbell a top-ten paid linebacker at the time, he was one of the biggest contracts the Packers had ever given a linebacker. Unfortunately, Gutekunst likely regretted the extension immediately as injuries plagued Campbell over the next two seasons. He missed ten games over the next two seasons, his production dropped immensely, and he ruffled some feathers off the field. Campbell’s play in 2021 warranted a nice payday, but giving this extension was a mistake. The Packers moved on after 2023 with three years left on the extension.

Rashan Gary – 4 years, $96 million

While Campbell’s extension was based on past production, Gary’s extension was based on future projection. Prior to the extension, Gary had accumulated 27.0 sacks, 62 quarterback hits, three forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries. Gary ended up tearing his ACL during the 2022 season, which delayed the extension and forced Gary to start the 2023 season playing on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract. After a strong recovery, the Packers rewarded him with a massive extension, making him one of the top-five highest-paid pass rushers in the NFL. The extension runs from 2023-2027. Since receiving the big extension, Gary has been solid and reliable. Gary has not been the game-changer the team paid him to be. He still has not recorded double-digit sacks in a season, and his pressure totals have been pedestrian. Early returns show that Gary is not living up to this contract, but luckily, there is still time for Gary to be the player Gutekunst paid him to be.

Kenny Clark (Again) – 3 years, $64 million

Just last offseason, the Packers extended Kenny Clark again, marking his third contract with the team. His first two contracts with the team ended up being favorable for the Packers due to his durability and consistent play. The 2025 season will be Clark’s tenth in the NFL. At only 29 years old, there may be a lot more left in the tank. Unfortunately, after signing this extension before the 2024 season, Clark had one of the least productive seasons of his career. He only recorded 1 sack and 4 tackles for loss. The extension ties Clark to the Packers through the 2027 season, but early returns have not been encouraging. It was later shared that he played all of 2024 with an injured foot, which undoubtedly impacted his play. It’s fair to question if Clark is beginning to regress, or if 2024 was an aberration. His performance in 2025 will determine if this second extension was a mistake.

Jordan Love – 4 years, $220 million

Franchise quarterbacks don’t grow on trees. If you have one, you have to pay him. Jordan Love took over as the starting quarterback for the Packers in 2023. The second half of that season showed the Packers glimpses that he could be the next franchise quarterback. From Week 10 on, Love threw for 2,150 yards, completed 70.3% of his passes, and threw 18 touchdowns to only 1 interception. He lit the league on fire. The Packers rewarded him by making him one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL. Unfortunately, Love didn’t take the step forward many were hoping for. While the lack of progression wasn’t fully his fault, the Packers’ front office likely wondered if they made a mistake paying Love that monster contract. Love’s new deal ties him to the Packers through 2028, and it would be difficult to get out of it sooner. It’s too early to tell if this extension was a miscalculation, but Love’s play needs to improve in 2025 to prove the team right.