Rashan Gary's extension provides security for Packers' uncertain future

The Packers don't know what form their defense will take after 2023, but securing Rashan Gary on a long-term deal gives the unit a centerpiece and an identity.

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Though the Green Bay Packers' 2023 season seems effectively over, the organization took care of a major piece of its future. On Monday, the team signed star pass rusher Rashan Gary to a multiyear extension that will keep him in Green Bay for the foreseeable future.

"It's great to get that taken care of. Obviously, it's well deserved," Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said of Gary's new deal. "He's earned everything. Like I told the team, I'm a big believer in people that approach it the right way, that are talented, that come to work with the mindset and determination that he possesses. He's a tone setter. I'm really happy for him. I'm really happy for our organization. I think it's good to kind of put that to bed."

According to multiple accounts, Gary's extension ties him to the franchise through the 2027 season and carries a maximum value of $107 million with roughly $34.6 million guaranteed at signing. The Leap reported Monday morning that the four-year agreement actually adds $96 million in new money, giving his deal an average annual value of $24 million. As such, Gary becomes the highest-paid defender in Packers history.

"How long have I been waiting for this day? Obviously, it's a blessing," Gary said of signing a long-term extension. "I want to thank my higher power. I want to thank all my loved ones. Everybody knows the role that they play in my life. I want to thank this organization, everybody that believed in me. I'm just trying to get to work. That's me. I'm just trying to get to work."