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Rob Demovsky
GREEN BAY, Wis. — A month in the past, Zach Tom didn’t wish to focus on 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 must entertain that chance anymore.
The fourth-year proper deal with agreed to a four-year, $88 million contract extension Monday, sources instructed ESPN. The deal additionally features a $30.2 million signing bonus that’s believed to be the biggest for an offensive lineman.
The Washington Commanders‘ Laremy Tunsil and former Packers deal with David Bakhtiari (in 2020) acquired the earlier highest signing bonus for an offensive lineman at $30 million of their extensions.
Negotiations wrapped up someday earlier than Packers veteran gamers have been scheduled to report for coaching camp. Tom took half within the offseason exercise program relatively than selecting to attend till a brand new deal might get executed.
“I do not actually suppose it will do me any good to sit down out,” Tom mentioned final month. “I am attempting to not fear concerning the contract scenario. I am simply attempting to do what’s greatest for the staff. And being right here with the fellows, I believe that is price much more than — the contract scenario will maintain itself. So, I am simply right here working and grinding with the fellows. If I wasn’t right here, I would most likely be someplace simply not doing something, I do not know. So, yeah, I wish to be right here clearly.”
The Packers are going by some shuffling on the offensive line, and there was a chance that Tom might be moved. However 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 form of discovered his residence at proper deal with, however I believe his versatility is likely one of the issues that makes him particular. I believe he can play all 5, and there is not a variety of guys that may do this, however I’d 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 sport in every of the previous two seasons and 39 begins general 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 embrace Elgton Jenkins transferring from left guard to heart to make room totally free agent signing Aaron Banks to play left guard. Jenkins, who has been placed on the non-football damage checklist, skipped a lot of the offseason program as a result of he needs his contract adjusted despite the fact that he has two extra years remaining.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler contributed to this report.
