NFL free agency doesn’t officially open until Tuesday, but already some big names are starting to come off the market. Just hours after the Jacksonville Jaguars came to terms with free agent defensive end Red Bryant, the Green Bay Packers have also added a defensive star.
According to ProFootballTalk.com, the Packers have agreed to a new four-year, $39 million deal.
Packers and CB Sam Shields reach four year deal, per league source.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 8, 2014
Four year, $39 million deal for Packets CB Sam Shields. More coming at PFT.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 8, 2014
Congrats to RSR client Sam Shields & the Green Bay Packers on the new contract!
— Drew Rosenhaus (@DrewJRosenhaus) March 9, 2014
There was hope that the Packers would work out a deal with Shields before he hit free agency, and that appears to have happened. Had he hit the market, there were a slew of teams waiting to see if Shields liked the offers they had but the Packers scooped him back up before any tampering could happen.
[UPDATE:]
Packers gave CB Sam Shields a 4-year deal for $39 million, including a signing bonus $12.5 million, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2014
Per source, Shields' deal is 4 years for $39M. $12.5M signing bonus. 1st year: $15M. $21M over first two years, $30M over first three.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 9, 2014