GREEN BAY, Wis. – In a sign the Green Bay Packers view Lerentee McCray as more than just someone to fill out their offseason roster, general manager Ted Thompson gave the former Denver Broncos outside linebacker more than just a minimum contract.
Although the signing bonus was small ($50,000), that the deal contained any guaranteed money at all indicates the Packers think he’s not your typical street free agent. Including a $75,000 workout bonus, McCray could make $125,000 before he even reports to training camp.
By comparison, the Packers signed street free agent defensive end Ray Drew earlier this offseason and gave him no guaranteed money or workout bonuses.
McCray spent the first three years of his NFL career with the Denver Broncos, who chose not to offer him a restricted free agent tender this offseason. The minimum tender would have paid McCray $1.671 million if he made the roster.
McCray has played in 27 career games, including playoffs. He was on the field for 28 plays – all on special teams – in Super Bowl 50. According to ESPN Stats & Information, he has played 253 snaps on defense in his career. He has 21 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
“We thought he had some good snaps over there in Denver,” Thompson said this week. “We think he’s got a nice body type, he’s got good athletic ability, shows the ability to be an outside 'backer with length and that sort of thing.”
On the same day the Packers signed McCray, they also re-signed utility offensive lineman Don Barclay. Here’s a breakdown of both of their one-year contracts:
McCray
Signing bonus: $50,000
Workout bonus: $75,000
Base salary: $675,000
Cash value: $800,000
Salary-cap charge: $800,000
Barclay
Signing bonus: None
Workout bonus: $25,000
Base salary: $675,000 (Note: Barclay’s contract contains a split salary, meaning his base salary would be reduced to $403,000 if he ended up on injured reserve).
Cash value: $700,000
Salary-cap charge: $700,000
