GREEN BAY, Wis. – It’s clear now that the Green Bay Packers went for short-term help in free agency.
It’s possible all three veterans that first-year general manager Brian Gutekunst signed could be one-year players.
That’s evident now that the details of Tramon Williams' contract are available. The cornerback signed a two-year, $10 million deal but just like they did with tight end Jimmy Graham's three-year, $30 million deal, the Packers left themselves an out after the first season.
Williams, who turned 35 last week, has no guaranteed money in the second year of the deal. What’s more, there’s a $1 million roster bonus due the third day of the league year next March. If the Packers decided not to pay that bonus, they would wipe out the rest of Williams’ 2019 pay and only have to count $1.625 million (the prorated portion of the $3.25 million signing bonus) on next year’s salary cap. They would save $4.75 million on the 2019 cap.
It's a similar structure to Graham’s deal, which could turn into a one-year, $13 million contract if the Packers decide not to pay the $5 million roster bonus due next March.
It’s not necessarily an indication of how Gutekunst will use free agency going forward – and free agency is a tool he plans to use more than his predecessor Ted Thompson – but it’s clear that’s how he viewed things in his first offseason in charge.
Defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, the first of the three veterans to sign, received a one-year, $5 million deal.
The three deals left the Packers with $17,073,181 in remaining salary-cap space for 2018, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Here’s how Williams’ contract breaks down:
2018
Cash value: $5.25 million
Salary-cap charge: $3.6 million
Signing bonus: $3.25 million
Base salary: $1.5 million
Per-game roster bonus: Up to $400,000 ($25,000 per game active)
Workout bonus: $100,000
2019
Cash value: $4.75 million
Salary-cap charge: $6.375 million
Roster bonus: $1 million (due the third day of the league year)
Base salary: $3.25 million
Per-game roster bonus: Up to $400,000 ($25,000 per game active)
Workout bonus: $100,000