Breaking down the details of De'Vondre Campbell's new deal
The Packers signed All-Pro linebacker De'Vondre Campbell to a five-year, $50 million deal on Monday in a display of gratitude for Campbell's electric 2021 season. Sports Illustrated's Bill Huber initially reported the news and offered some insight into how the first three years of Campbell's deal is structured, but said insight didn't paint the whole […]
The Packers signed All-Pro linebacker De'Vondre Campbell to a five-year, $50 million deal on Monday in a display of gratitude for Campbell's electric 2021 season.
Sports Illustrated's Bill Huber initially reported the news and offered some insight into how the first three years of Campbell's deal is structured, but said insight didn't paint the whole picture. Which is typical after a new deal. The nuanced details usually don't come out until later on.
That's exactly what happened Tuesday. Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel tweeted out Campbell's final cap numbers in order to give everyone a closer look at how the deal is structured.
So, the $15 million signing bonus will be prorated over the entire life of the deal, which is five years. Therefore, Campbell is set to cost $3 million per season unless the Packers rework his contract via restructure or possibly even an extension in the future years. The former scenario is more likely, obviously. The $15 million immediately goes into Campbell's bank account once the deal is signed on Wednesday at 4p.m. ET.
That means Campbell should earn base salaries of $1.25 million in 2022, $5.25 million in 2023, and $10.75 million in 2024 and 2025. Without including potential incentives such as the $250k Pro Bowl bonuses in 2023 and 2024
Silverstein didn't provide details for Campbell's 2026 numbers, but the logical assumption is Campbell counts $9.5 million toward the cap since the above numbers add up to $40 million over four years (without including Pro Bowl bonuses). When you add in the Pro Bowl bonuses, the numbers come out to $40,500,000. The $9.5 million cap hit includes the prorated $3 million plus a base salary of $6.5 million. Those two figures would round out the difference. However, that is unofficial at this time.
Overall, it's a good deal. Especially when you look at the top salaries that apply to the position. Campbell's most expensive years 2024 and 2025 would barely crack the top-5 in 2022, so it's reasonable to assume that it will be the same scenario -or better- when those years come around, anyway.
Featured image via Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
