The Green Bay Packers took care of several items of business over the weekend and opened training camp on Friday.
The team signed all 10 of their draft picks, re-signed receiver [intlink id=”204″ type=”category”]James Jones[/intlink], fullback [intlink id=”251″ type=”category”]John Kuhn[/intlink], tight end [intlink id=”700″ type=”category”]Spencer Havner[/intlink] and receiver [intlink id=”596″ type=”category”]Brett Swain[/intlink]. Fullback [intlink id=”965″ type=”category”]Korey Hall[/intlink] signed with the [intlink id=”234″ type=”category”]New Orleans Saints[/intlink].
Of the deals, Jones is perhaps the most important. The receiver signed a three-year deal after quarterback [intlink id=”25″ type=”category”]Aaron Rodgers[/intlink] and receiver [intlink id=”76″ type=”category”]Donald Driver[/intlink] lobbied management on his behalf.
The [intlink id=”35″ type=”category”]Minnesota Vikings[/intlink] and [intlink id=”69″ type=”category”]New York Jets[/intlink] showed early interest in Jones, but both teams signed other receivers, which likely made things a easier on the Packers.
Kuhn also agreed to a three-year deal, which reportedly makes him one of the highest-paid fullbacks in the league. The Packers may finally be down to the more traditional two-fullback roster this season with Hall leaving for the Saints.
Not much information is available about Swain and Havner’s deals, but both players will have an uphill battle making the team this year. The Packers are loaded at tight end with [intlink id=”209″ type=”category”]Jermichael Finley[/intlink], rookie [intlink id=”1624″ type=”category”]D.J. Williams[/intlink] who’s looked impressive early, [intlink id=”1036″ type=”category”]Andrew Quarless[/intlink] and [intlink id=”1236″ type=”category”]Tom Crabtree[/intlink].
If the Packers again keep four tight ends, Havner will have to beat out Quarless or Crabtree to make the roster.
Swain looks like the sixth receiver now that Jones has returned and the team drafted [intlink id=”1616″ type=”category”]Randall Cobb[/intlink]. It’s not good to be in that position on a team that typically only keeps five wideouts.
As for the draft picks, first-rounder [intlink id=”1613″ type=”category”]Derek Sherrod[/intlink] signed a four-year deal with a team option for a fifth year. The deal is reportedly worth $6.602 million with $5.3 million guaranteed and a $3.3 million signing bonus.
Sherrod has been working with the first team offense at left guard.
The Packers signed all of their draft picks on Thursday and Friday.