Hawk’s early selection means big-money contract
A.J. Hawk, the Packers first-round draft pick, will likely get the biggest contract the Packers have ever negotiated.
By Rob Demovsky
PackersNews.com
The Green Bay Packers likely will give first-round draft pick A.J. Hawk the largest contract they ever have handed a rookie in large part because they haven’t selected as high as No. 5 since 1992.
Hawk’s contract will come close to or perhaps surpass the deal signed by last year’s fifth overall pick, running back Carnell “Cadillac” Williams of Tampa Bay. Williams signed what was essentially a five-year, $19.1 million contract that included a $2.9 million signing bonus, a $1.517 million roster bonus and a $5 million option bonus all paid within the first year.
Even though he might not receive the largest rookie signing bonus in Packers history — Bubba Franks received a $4.67 million signing bonus as part of a five-year, $6.45 million contract after being selected 14th overall in the 2000 NFL draft — Hawk will arrive in Green Bay saddled with the highest expectations of any Packers’ rookie since perhaps Terrell Buckley, also the No. 5 overall pick, in 1992.
Second-year General Manager Ted Thompson never has negotiated a contract with a pick this high, even when he was vice president of football operations for the Seattle Seahawks from 2000 to 2004.
“The highest we picked in Seattle was No. 9 (receiver Koren Robinson in 2001), and that worked out OK,” Thompson said. “My only other history with being this high was in ’92 (with the Packers), and I didn’t know enough to walk through a door.”
In 1992, Buckley held out because of a contract dispute and missed all of training camp plus the first two regular-season games. Thompson and first-year coach Mike McCarthy expect Hawk to become an immediate starter at weak-side linebacker and part of facilitating that will be getting his contract done in time for training camp. Hawk already could be slightly behind, because he will miss the second of two May minicamps (May 19 to 21) and perhaps part of the voluntary June workouts, because he still will be in school at Ohio State.
“I will say this, normally the closer to the No. 1 spot you are, it seems like the more delay (in the contract), because there’s a hesitancy on the part of the team and agents and their clients to be the first ones to dive off into the deep water,” Thompson said. “But I wouldn’t anticipate a problem.”
Though Hawk is just one piece of a defense overhauled by Thompson this offseason, he and perhaps free-agent cornerback Charles Woodson likely will be the most scrutinized among the new players. Hawk became the first linebacker drafted in the top 10 since 2000, when LaVar Arrington went second overall to Washington and Brian Urlacher was the ninth pick by Chicago. From 1995 to 2005, only five linebackers were drafted in the top 10 (only two of those were top-5 selections).
“It is a big chance, I think, taking a linebacker even in the top 10,” Hawk said. “I know a lot of times that doesn’t happen. I think I’m going to be a guy that’s going to come in and work hard from Day 1, do whatever they want — special teams, linebacker, whatever they need.”
If Hawk turns out to be the playmaking stud Thompson evaluated him to be, then it significantly could alter the way defensive coordinator Bob Sanders uses his personnel groupings. Along with starting middle linebacker Nick Barnett, who has led the team in tackles in each of his three NFL seasons, Hawk gives the Packers a pair of linebackers who can run from sideline to sideline and play pass coverage.
Because both Barnett and Hawk possess speed and ability to make plays in the passing game, Sanders might be hesitant to take either one off the field even when teams are in obvious passing situations. It might force the first-year defensive coordinator to consider using his nickel package (two linebackers and five defensive backs) instead of the dime package (one linebacker and six defensive backs) more than Jim Bates did last year. Bates almost always left Barnett on the field as the lone linebacker in obvious passing situations. But if Hawk or Barnett is better than the sixth defensive back, the nickel defense could be the way to go.
“If you get enough good athletes at linebacker, you can play your base defense like Tampa does even in what would normally be nickel and dime situations,” Thompson said. “These guys can run and play. Nick is a good player against the pass, and I would think both of those guys would be on the field a lot.”
Other Packers’ first-round contracts
Recent contracts by Packers’ first-round draft picks, including bonus money in the first 12 months
2005: Aaron Rodgers, No. 24 overall: five years, $7.655 million ($1.5 million signing bonus, $620,000 roster bonus, $3.01 million option bonus)
2004: Ahmad Carroll, No. 25 overall: five years, $6.715 million ($2.1 million signing bonus, $300,000 roster bonus, $1.85 million option bonus)
2003: Nick Barnett, No. 29 overall: seven years, $7.75 million but in reality will become five years, $6 million ($3.21 million signing bonus, $150,000 roster bonus)
2002: Javon Walker, No. 20 overall: five years, $6.23 million ($3 million signing bonus, $1.3 million option bonus)
2001: Jamal Reynolds, No. 10 overall: five years, $9 million ($4 million signing bonus, $2 million option bonus)
2000: Bubba Franks, No. 14 overall: five years, $6.45 million ($4.67 million signing bonus)
