The Green Bay Packers are signing right tackle Zach Tom to a four-year contract extension worth $88 million, according to sources who spoke to ESPN. The deal also comes with a $30.2 million signing bonus, which is believed to be the biggest ever for an offensive lineman.
“I think he can play any position. So it just happened to be that he kind of found his home at right tackle, but I think his versatility is one of the things that makes him special,” said Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur. “I think he can play all five, and there’s not a lot of guys that can do that, but I would say that he’s got the athleticism. I think he’s a very intelligent football player, and he’s played pretty consistent over the course of the last few years.”
The #Packers and OT Zach Tom agreed to terms on a four-year, $88M extension with a max value of $92M, per The Insiders.
The deal includes a $30.2M signing bonus, the largest for an OL. Deal was done by Michael Hoffman and Nate Sullivan of Sports Law and Management (SLAM). pic.twitter.com/XzWwyOhqJr
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 21, 2025
Zach Tom, who turned 26 years old in March, is a fourth-year offensive lineman who was taken in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. After making just five starts as a rookie, he has started in all of the Packers’ 37 games since the beginning of the 2023-24 season.
In 17 regular-season starts at the right tackle spot last year, Zach Tom only surrendered three sacks. According to Pro Football Focus, he had the fourth-highest overall grade for an offensive tackle last season while earning top-15 grades in terms of pass blocking (12th out of 140 eligible tackles) and run blocking (third out of 140 eligible tackles).
This was one of the most important signings Green Bay needed to get done this off-season. Tom has established himself as a good offensive lineman since taking over as the Packers’ starting right tackle. It’s only fair that he gets paid what he is worth.
The cool part about this contract is that it’s a team-friendly deal. Going into this upcoming season, the contracts of the three highest-paid tackles in the NFL have an average annual value of roughly $27.89 million. By comparison, Tom – who is on the same level as Tristan Wirfs, Penei Sewell, and Trent Williams statistically – will cost almost $6 million less a year than the other guys. That’s a steal in my books.
Zack Tom’s 4 year, $88M extension with the #Packers makes him the 9th highest average paid OT in football. The deal includes $30.2M guaranteed (signing bonus), and now keeps him under contract at 5 years, $91.4M through 2029. pic.twitter.com/qa7II5uoAy
— Spotrac (@spotrac) July 21, 2025
We also have to keep in mind the contracts of the guys that Zach Tom will be blocking. In Week Three, the Packers face the Cleveland Browns and Myles Garrett, whose recent contract extension has an average annual value of $40 million. Then in Week Eight, Green Bay faces the Steelers and T.J. Watt, who was just given a deal that values him at $41 million annually. On top of that, the Packers will face the Dallas Cowboys and Micah Parsons as well as the Cincinnati Bengals and Trey Hendrickson. As the value for defensive linemen continues to grow at a ghastly rate, the guys who defend those pass rushers are sometimes getting $13 million to $19 million less than their defensive counterparts. When a $22 million offensive lineman can neutralize a $40 million defender, that’s a good use of money.
The Packers still need to sign fellow offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins to an extension, but it sounds like Jenkins may be making the move to center from guard. If that’s the case, then Green Bay might be able to save a few million dollars. Even if they pay Jenkins guard money, Zach Tom’s team-friendly extension will make signing him easier.
It was important for the Packers to sign Zach Tom to a long-term deal. Outside of the right tackle spot and most likely the left guard position, there are some large question marks and looming deals that need to be made in order to solidify the future of the offensive line.
As I previously mentioned, Elgton Jenkins’ contract runs out at the end of next season, meaning he will be a free agent in 2027. With the Zach Tom deal now on the books, it’s possible that the Packers let Jenkins walk in free agency, considering they’ve used premium assets in the last two NFL drafts to select offensive linemen who can play both inside and outside (Jordan Morgan in 2024 and Anthony Belton in 2025).
Feel like there’s been some negativity surrounding Elgton Jenkins…
There shouldn’t be. pic.twitter.com/uKuermrhoq
— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) June 27, 2025
There’s also Sean Rhyan and Rasheed Walker, who are both scheduled to be free agents next off-season. Rhyan will probably be allowed to test free agency, but there are questions regarding Rasheed Walker and whether or not he is the team’s franchise left tackle. Again, I don’t believe the Packers would’ve spent first- and second-round picks on offensive linemen if they had complete confidence in their starting group. Rasheed Walker could be another guy who hits the market next off-season if the Packers truly believe they have bona fide starters in Belton and Morgan.
One place where there won’t be questions is at the left guard spot. Green Bay just signed Aaron Banks to a four-year, $77 million contract, which means he will almost certainly be a starting guard when Week One rolls around. But elsewhere along the offensive line, Green Bay needs to use this season to decide who will be extended and who will be allowed to become free agents.
