In the next two days, the Packers’ roster may see some short-term adjustments, but one key member of their defence will likely stay in place for the foreseeable future. Rashan Gary, an edge rusher, announced on Monday that he had agreed to a four-year, $96MM contract extension.
Gary is currently using his fifth-year option to complete his rookie contract when the deal is made. After deducting his $10.89MM salary for 2023, the extension will give the former first-round pick a total payout of $107.5MM and keep him on the roster through 2027. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, a $34.64 million signing bonus is included in the deal.
Gary’s career got off to a slow start; in his first two seasons in the league, he only recorded seven sacks. But in 2021, the former Michigan player assumed a full-time starting position, and his increased workload led to an increase in his sta
tistical impact. Gary had 9.5 sacks in that season,
utilise his option and count on a powerful follow-up campaign.
But in 2022, the 25-year-old was only able to play in nine games due to an ACL tear. Even though he had been productive before the injury, it could have hurt Gary’s chances of landing a new contract while he healed. But he recovered in time to play in Week 1, and as of 2023, he hasn’t missed a game. Gary stated last month that he was willing to negotiate a new long-term contract, and his current efforts have solidified his place as a vital component of Green Bay’s core going forward.
Gary is ranked fifth among edge rushers in the NFL based on the $24MM AAV of the extension. With his current contract, Gary becomes the 10th pass rusher to earn more than $20 million annually, following Nick Bosa’s historic 49ers deal that established a new standard at the position. He will now be the highest paid player for Green Bay, ranking just ahead of cornerback Jaire Alexander and left tackle David Bakhtiari.
Gary leads the team with 4.5 of the Packers’ 19 sacks so far this season. In the lead-up to tomorrow’s deadline, fellow starter Preston Smith has been mentioned as a potential trade target. Meanwhile, Gary’s contract extension is approaching, and first-round rookie Lukas Van Ness will remain in place for years to come. Gary’s future is now secured for the foreseeable future, but Smith’s in Green Bay remains to be seen.
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For the first time this season, the Cincinnati Bengals are within three games of.500 and are riding a three-game winning streak. They host the 5-3 Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football in an AFC game that, if the season goes as we hope, could affect the playoff seeding.
Both teams have a lot riding on this game. Currently ranked last in the AFC North, the Bengals are trying to move up in the standings and become the 
These are some of the matches that could determine the winner when the game is done.
Bills edge rushers facing Jonah Williams and Orlando Brown Jr.
For the second-highest number of sacks this season, the Bills defence is tied with the Chiefs, and the majority of them have come off the edge. In addition to Von Miller, who missed the first part of the season due to a PUP injury, Leonard Floyd and A.J. Epenesa have combined for 12 sacks from the edge position. Although he returned to the team in Week 5, he hasn’t yet been sack this season, but he isn’t exactly a pod person, I don’t believe. Von Miller, the aspiring Hall of Fame pass rusher, is still him.
Although they have both performed fairly well thus far this season, Brown and Williams have combined to give up four sacks. As Joe Burrow’s blind-side defender, Brown has proven to be invaluable, and Williams is making progress at right tackle after allowing just one sack over the previous five games. The Bengals tackles can give Burrow a second chance to do his magic, but few teams have a stronger pass rush than the Bills.
Cook James versus D.J. Reader
With 102 rushing attempts, James Cook leads the Bills out of the backfield. The next back has just forty carry-outs. The Bills’ preferred spot to run the ball is right up the middle behind centre Mitch Morse, where Cook is averaging 4.8 yards per carry. D.J. Reader prefers to occupy that space.
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