Jordy Nelson is one of Aaron Rodgers' favorite targets. Since the Green Bay Packers drafted the wide receiver out of Kansas State in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft, Nelson has appeared in at least 12 games each season and compiled 1,200 or more receiving yards in 2011 and 2013.
The Green Bay wide receiver believes he's worth more than he is, and he's probably right. After Atlanta Falcons receiver Roddy White inked a four-year $30 million extension on Thursday, it was said Nelson is now in search of a contract extension that will pay him $10 million per season. Packers general manager Ted Thompson is known to be conservative when making such signings, but the team could make it happen with the $13,644,119 available in salary-cap space this year.
Nelson signed a three-year extension with the team at the beginning of the 2011 season that was worth $12.6 million. He's scheduled to make $3.5 million in the 2014-2015 season, but his statistics over the past few seasons suggest he's worth more than that. In 2011 he recorded 68 receptions for 1,263 yards and 15 touchdowns (a career-high), but he missed four games in 2012 due to an ailing hamstring. He still managed to amass 49 receptions for 745 yards and seven touchdowns. Last season Nelson achieved career-highs in receptions (85) and receiving yards (1,314) and scored eight touchdowns.
"I think everyone, when I signed [the extension], thought it was a good deal," said Nelson in this ESPN article. "No one would have known I'd have 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns [in 2011]. Obviously, hindsight is 20/20 but, again, I'm not worried about that at all. I've been comfortable with my decision."
But Ted Thompson and the Packers will have to evaluate Nelson's worth and determine if $10 million per year, or something in that range, is affordable for the future. In 2015, Green Bay will be paying Aaron Rodgers $18.25 million, Clay Matthews $12.7 million, Julius Peppers $12 million, and Sam Shields $9.125 million, which are the team's biggest commitments that year. On top of that, they'll have to work on re-signing some valuable free agents of their own, including WR Randall Cobb, OT Bryan Bulaga, DT B.J. Raji, CB Tramon Williams, and WR Jarrett Boykin (who proved to be valuable last year when Cobb was injured). Nelson will also be a free agent, but he wants to avoid that by securing an extension this year.
Maybe Thompson will decide Nelson is a good investment and worth an amount in the $10 million range. After all, Thompson gave Julius Peppers a three-year $30 million contract this offseason, which was his first significant free agent signing since Charles Woodson in 2006 (seven years and $52 million). If Nelson's agent can plead his case and the wide receiver performs well this year, he could have a nice contract heading his way.
You can read more about Jordy Nelson's contract request in this NBC ProFootballTalk article.
