Packers clear nearly $2M in cap space with new deal for TE Robert Tonyan

The Packers have some extra dollars to work with thanks to some help from tight end Robert Tonyan (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Field Yates). . In a rare move, Tonyan has been re-signed to a new deal that treats the bulk of his of $3.384M restricted free agent tender as a bonus for salary cap purposes. Meanwhile, they added four voidable years to the contract. All together, this gives Green Bay roughly $1.9M more for this year’s cap. 

Tonyan, 27, effectively redshirted his rookie season. As an undrafted free agent, he hauled in just 14 catches through his first two seasons of action. Then, he had a breakout campaign in 2020, finishing with 52 receptions for 586 yards and 11 touchdowns. Just last week, the Packers happily gave Tonyan a second-round tender to keep him from getting poached.

It’s worth noting that the tight end appeared in just 61 percent of the Packers’ offensive snaps last year. He could see an even larger role in 2021 as he teams with Marcedes Lewis. Of course, it’s not a given that Aaron Rodgers will be the one throwing the ball to him. Between this revision and other recent moves, the Packers have carved out roughly $4.4M in cap space — those dollars could be put toward a new deal for Rodgers, assuming the two sides can mend fences.