The Green Bay Packers have reached an agreement with their first-round pick, safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.
His four year-deal will net him $8.34 million, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Rand Getlin. Actual numbers: $8.338 million, $7.559 million guaranteed, $4.384 million signing bonus.
That leaves the Packers with just two unsigned draft picks — second-rounder Davante Adams and third-rounder Richard Rodgers.
Clinton-Dix had been a full participant for the Packers prior to signing his contract. That includes rookie orientation and whatever OTA work was done before the ink dried on his deal.
We expect Clinton-Dix to start this season and he expects to start as well. However, earlier this week coach Mike McCarthy refused to hand him the job.
While they’re happy to hand starting jobs to veterans (who often don’t deserve them), the Packers haven’t been as quick to hand starting spots to first-round picks under McCarthy. The exceptions might be B.J. Raji and Nick Perry. Consider, Clay Matthews didn’t start immediately and last year’s first-round pick, Datone Jones, hardly got on the field.
Fortunately for Clinton-Dix, his only real competition for a starting spot is likely to come from cornerback Micah Hyde IF the Packers decide to try him at safety.