Packers Make Move To Seemingly Try To Appease Aaron Rodgers

The Green Bay Packers appear to be planning for veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers to be on the team in 2021, regardless if he wants to be with the franchise or not.

ESPN's Field Yates reports that Green Bay took a step in creating salary cap space to take on Rodgers' 2021 salary by re-signing tight end Robert Tonyan.

The Packers converted $2.349 million of Tonyan's $3.384 million deal — which was the second-round tender the team placed on him in March — into a bonus, which was prorated over four years added into the deal (all void years), CBS Sports reports.

Green Bay created $1,879,200 in available salary cap space. The team had $6,656,999 in available salary cap space entering the day.

Tonyan had 52 catches for 586 yards and 11 touchdowns in a breakout season in 2020, starting more than one game for the first time in his career. CBS Sports reports he was tied with Travis Kelce for the most receiving touchdowns amongst tight ends last year.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the Packers clearing cap space indicates the team plans to keep Rodgers, who has a cap number of $37,202,000 heading into this season. A trade would save them $22,850,000 in cap space.

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst continues to stay strong on his stance that the team will not trade Rodgers and appears to be doing whatever he can to make sure the quarterback is on the roster with the resources he needs to compete.