Are the Packers actually big spenders in undrafted free agency now?

Green Bay signed three players to guarantees in the six figures, but what does that look like in the overall NFL market?

With training camp on the horizon, I wanted to answer one question I still had about the Green Bay Packers’ offseason: Are they actually paying good money for undrafted free agents now?

The Packers have a long history of developing undrafted rookies into players who actually end up making their 53-man roster, but the team has developed a reputation over the years as one that doesn’t spend much cash to actually secure this talent. Just generally, my belief is that the price for undrafted free agent players has gone up over the years, too, for several reasons: The COVID era extension of eligibility that has allowed players to spend more years in college, NIL being a factor in players returning to school and the league’s salary cap that is now rising at a pace of about $25 million per year.

Three undrafted Packers, notably, received big guarantees this year, at least on the relative scale of Green Bay’s history in the market: defensive tackle Nazir Stackhouse, linebacker Jamon Johnson and safety Johnathan Baldwin.

Stackhouse got a $15,000 signing bonus and $150,000 in guaranteed salary. Johnson and Baldwin each received a $15,000 signing bonus and $100,000 in guaranteed salary. Those numbers are bigger than we’re used to for the Packers’ undrafted free agents, but how do they stack up with the rest of the league?

According to OverTheCap’s numbers, Stackhouse’s $165,000 in guarantees is good for 10th among undrafted interior defensive line rookies, despite him being ranked 246th on the Consensus Draft Board going into the draft — making him a draft-caliber prospect.

Below are the defensive tackles who received more guaranteed money than Stackhouse from this undrafted rookie class, including their spot on the Consensus Draft Board.

• Jared Harrison-Hunte, Panthers ($300,000 in guarantees, #262 on consensus draft board)
• Elijah Simmons, Cardinals ($269,000, #321)
• Simeon Barrow Jr., Falcons ($264,000, #261)
• Coziah Izzard, Chiefs ($225,000, #703)
• Jahvaree Ritzie, Patriots ($210,000, #381)
• Payton Page, Jets ($201,500, #342)
• Junior Tafuna, Texans ($200,000, #272)
• Cam Horsley, Titans ($190,000, #244)
• Sebastian Valdez, 49ers ($185,000, #592)

It’s worth noting that only one other defensive tackle received more than $115,000 in guarantees behind Stackhouse, so he was right on the edge of a payment cliff.

When you look at Johnson’s situation, he fits in similarly in the undrafted linebacker market. Johnson, who was 263rd on the consensus board, was the 11th-highest-guaranteed player at his position in the undrafted rookie class behind:

• Bam Martin-Scott, Panthers ($290,000, #339)
• Justin Barron, Cowboys ($254,000, #365)
• Brandon George, Chiefs ($249,000, #401)
• Austin Keys, Vikings ($249,000, unranked)
• Karene Reid, Broncos ($249,000, #313)
• K.C. Ossai, Texans ($175,000, unranked)
• J.B. Brown, Broncos ($160,000, unranked)
• Tuasivi Nomura, Panthers ($140,000, unranked)
• Eugene Asante, Dolphins ($140,000, #268)
• Power Echols, Bears ($130,000, #390)

Baldwin falls even further down the...