Packers Make Final Decision on Rasul Douglas’ Future

The Green Bay Packers are taking advantage of their newfound cap space and re-signing standout cornerback Rasul Douglas to a three-year, $21 million contract with a maximum value of $25.5 million, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The Packers gained about $20 million in cap space after trading All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this week, getting back a first- and a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft as compensation. It had been speculated that some of that new money would go toward a new deal with Douglas with NFL insider Josina Anderson even reporting on the night of the trade that he was “expected to return” on a new deal once the funds were officially freed up.

Douglas is coming off an impressive breakout season with the Packers that began with him getting signed off of Arizona’s practice squad in Week 5 as a depth piece and ended with him leading the team in interceptions (five) as their top starter. He also finished with two pick-sixes — tied for the most in the NFL in 2021 — as well as 13 pass deflections, 57 total tackles and a forced fumble over 12 regular-season games.

With Douglas coming back, the Packers have a chance to boast one of the best secondaries in the NFL next season. He is rejoining a cornerback room that already includes All-Pro Jaire Alexander and 2021 first-round pick Eric Stokes and will also share the deep field with returning starting safeties Darnell Savage Jr. and Adrian Amos.

The Packers have also locked down nearly every one of last year’s starters for the 2022 season. They had previously re-signed playmaking inside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell on a five-year, $50 million contract and tendered their exclusive rights on fellow linebacker Krys Barnes, leaving slot cornerback Chandon Sullivan as the only departure with double-digits starts last season.

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Packers Have Option Decisions to Make

The Packers have solidified their defensive lineup for the 2022 season, but there are a few more important decisions about the future of their defense on the horizon. They will have to decide whether to pick up the fifth-year options on 2019 first-round picks Rashan Gary and Darnell Savage Jr. before the May 3 deadline.

The decision on Gary should be an easy one. He stepped up as a full-time starter in 2021 with Za’Darius Smith sidelined and had the look of a future Pro Bowler as he racked up a career-high 10 sacks and 81 pressures on the year. Even with Preston Smith signing a long-term contract extension this offseason, the projected price of his $10.892 million option — according to Over the Cap — is easily worth it to retain one of the Packers’ best young playmakers.

Savage, however, is a different story. The former Maryland standout was an All-Rookie selection in 2019 after starting 14 games at free safety, but he took a noticeable step back as a tackler and coverage piece in 2021, raising doubts about his long-term viability as a starter. The Packers have to decide whether they believe in Savage enough to add his projected $7.901 million option to their books for 2023 before even getting to see if he can bounce back in 2022. If they don’t pick up the option, they run the risk of him having a great year in 2022 and becoming a high-value free agent in 2023.