Packers Awarded $9,000 Signing Bonuses to Six Undrafted Free Agents

The Green Bay Packers rarely are major spenders in undrafted free agency. They certainly weren't this year.

Author:
Bill Huber
Updated:
May 16, 2023 11:00 AM EDT
Original:
May 16, 2023

In this story:

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Money talks in all walks of life. NFL undrafted free agency is no different. Who are the best of the Green Bay Packers’ undrafted rookies?

According to OverTheCap.com, the Packers gave $9,000 signing bonuses to receivers Malik Heath and Duece Watts, offensive tackle Kadeem Telfort, defensive lineman Jason Lewan, outside linebacker Brenton Cox and inside linebacker Jimmy Phillips.

That’s a lot of money by Green Bay’s standards but not a lot compared to the rest of the NFL. In fact, OTC’s Nick Korte said 142 players received a larger bonus. No team’s largest bonus was smaller than those $9,000 checks.

The Packers aren’t big spenders in undrafted free agency historically and they weren’t this year, either, ranking 29th in total guaranteed money, according to Korte.

Also, tight ends Camren McDonald and Henry Pearson received $7,500 bonuses, outside linebacker Keshawn Banks received $5,000, guard Chuck Filiaga pocketed $4,500 and safety Benny Sapp III received $2,000.

How the money was allocated makes sense.

The Packers entered the draft with only five receivers on the roster, then drafted three. Of those eight, two were selected in the second round (Christian Watson in 2021 and Jayden Reed in 2022), one in the fourth (Romeo Doubs in 2021), one in the fifth (Dontayvion Wicks in 2022) and three in the seventh (Samori Toure in 2021, Bo Melton by Seattle in 2021 and Grant DuBose in 2022).

With only Watson and Doubs being proven players and with only Watson, Reed and Doubs having any real draft pedigree, it made sense to add to the competition with Heath and Watts.

Packers rookie Duece Watts celebrates a touchdown while at Tulane in 2022. (USA Today Sports Images)

Tight end was short on numbers and proven talent entering the draft, as well. Sudden impact is expected out of Day 2 picks Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft, and former third-round pick Josiah Deguara will return in his utility role. McDonald and Pearson will join the battle to push Tyler Davis for the last spot. Of note, the Packers are listing Pearson as a fullback, which essentially has been Deguara’s role.

Telfort and Filiaga were the only offensive linemen added via free agency or the draft.

Lewan joins Jonathan Ford and Chris Slayton in the battle to be the sixth defensive lineman behind Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, T.J. Slaton and Day 3 draft picks Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks.

Phillips was the only off-the-ball linebacker added to a group that let Krys Barnes walk in free agency.

Outside linebacker is top heavy with Rashan Gary, Preston Smith and first-round pick Lukas Van Ness. Assuming Kingsley Enagbare is the No. 4, Cox and Banks will join journeyman Justin Hollins, former seventh-round pick Jonathan Garvin and former undrafted free agent La’Darius Hamilton in the battle to provide depth.

Ultimately, the financial part of this story might be completely irrelevant. Last year, the Packers signed 15 undrafted free agents. Only one didn’t receive a signing bonus. That was long snapper Jack Coco. He was the only player to make the opening 53-man roster or to play in a game. Running back Tyler Goodson ($8,000 bonus) and offensive tackle Caleb Jones ($5,000 bonus) are the only players from 2022 who remain on the roster in 2023.

Seven undrafted free agents received bonuses in 2021. Only Jack Heflin stuck around or played in games.

In 2020, 16 players received bonuses with 15 collecting $7,000. Four players from that group made an impact: Barnes, outside linebacker Tipa Galeai, safety Henry Black and running back Patrick Taylor, though only Taylor remains on the roster. Galeai and Black also received $25,000 guaranteed in salary – a rarity for the Packers and something they haven’t done since.

In 2019, 11 of Green Bay’s 14 undrafted free agents received a bonus. Only Yosh Nijman and Randy Ramsey played in a game; Nijman started 13 games last season and will be in the running to be the starting right tackle in 2023.

Meanwhile, outside linebacker Greg Roberts received a monster of a contract with a $7,000 bonus and $72,000 guaranteed. Roberts lasted more than a year in Green Bay; he never played in a game and only rarely practiced.

In 2018, quarterback Tim Boyle and defensive tackle Tyler Lancaster were among five players who received a team-high $6,000 bonus, and safety Raven Green pocketed $3,500.