Green Bay Packers signed first round nose tackle B.J. Raji to a 5-year deal with a reported $28.5 million this afternoon. Raji spoke at a news conference this afternoon at Lambeau Field.
The deal guarantee's Raji around $18 million and is expected to pay him $11 million in the first eight months of the deal. According to the Green Bay Press Gazette , Raji will get a $2.4 million signing bonus and a $1.2 million roster bonus. His base salary for this season is $310,000, and he'll receive an additional $7 million roster bonus in March.
The contract also includes about $5.5 million in play-time and other incentives.
Raji was placed on the active non-football injury list. To make room, the Packers placed rookie wide receiver Patrick Williams on injured reserve.
Raji is expected to start at defensive end for the Packers. He missed a total of 13 practices in training camp so far, but he said he doesn't anticipate the time off hurting his chances to be ready for the opener against the Bears
Listen / Download – Raji doesn't think the holdout will hurt him. :16
Listen / Download – Raji on having financial security :20