After a quiet first Monday, the Packers woke up Tuesday ready to improve their franchise.
The team signed Za’Darius Smith, Adrian Amos, Preston Smith and Billy Turner each to four-year contracts. Both Smiths will be great pass rushers, while Amos is a huge upgrade at safety, and Turner is the likely starter at right guard.
Za’Darius Smith signed a four-year, $66 million contract with $20 million guaranteed. Smith had 8.5 sacks last year as a rotational player. According to PFF, Smith had 61 total quarterback pressures, which is 17th among edge defenders in 2018. He did that in only 458 pass rush snaps, which is more efficient than Demarcus Lawrence, Brandon Graham, and J.J. Watt, according to Peter Bukowski of SB Nation. Smith also had 17 sacks/pressures on third down, which was third in the NFL. He should be a starter day one for the Packers.
Preston Smith signed a four-year, $52 million contract with $16 million guaranteed. Smith may have only had four sacks last season, but he was in a similar situation as Za’Darius Smith: he rotated a lot on a very strong defensive line. Smith was more efficient than Myles Garrett, Melvin Ingram, Jadeveon Clowney and Cameron Jordan in getting pressures on the quarterback, per Bukowski. Smith is also great at stopping the run. He was the 19th-best edge rusher by PFF rankings last year and should be a great rotational player.
The new Smiths had 113 combined pressures last season while all Packer edges combined only had 87.
Amos signed a four-year, $37 million deal with $21 million in the first two years. Amos had two interceptions and 73 tackles in the 2018 season.He was interchangeable with Eddie Jackson in their system and Pettine will get the best out of him. PFF also had him as the eighth-best safety in the NFL last year, and the third-best if you combine the past three seasons. He is a huge upgrade from Kentrell Brice and is the best tackler the Packers have had at safety in years. He also isn’t afraid to lay a big hit, which the Packers need more of. Fans should be excited to get Amos on such a team-friendly contract.
Finally, Turner signed a four-year, $28 million contract with $11 million to be paid in year one. Turner is a typical Packers lineman; the team loves the players that can play multiple positions, and Turner has played a lot at each position in the NFL. Turner has played 44 snaps at left tackle, 493 at left guard, 812 at right guard and 440 at right tackle, according to PFF. Packers guards were abysmal last year and Turner will instantly be the starter at right guard. He ranked 33rd out of 77 guards last season by PFF. $7 million per year for a starting offensive lineman is a good deal.
The Packers still have about $22 million in cap space. Expect them to go after Earl Thomas or Tyrell Williams if they want a big splash, or resign Bashaud Breeland and Muhammad Wilkerson while adding Tre Boston if they want to round out the team.
