Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers $2M per year apart

The Green Bay Packers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers are moving toward a resolution for a new contract extension that will make Rodgers the highest paid player in NFL history. That much came to light last week. Yet recently, new details have emerged to illustrate just how close the two parties are to a deal.

According to sources informed of the progress in the negotiations, the sides are roughly $2 million per year apart on their offers. The Packers' current contract offer is believed to average slightly more than $21 million per year, sources say, meaning Rodgers is a sure bet either way to eclipse the $20.6 million per year the Baltimore Ravens recently agreed to pay Joe Flacco.
The two sides are also still haggling over how much money will come to Rodgers in the next two seasons, among other issues. Per the terms of the current deal that runs out in 2014, Rodgers is set to earn $19.75 over those two years. That makes him underpaid based on his status and performance.

It is not clear how many years the possible new extension would run. But it is clear that Rodgers' agent David Dunn and members of the Packers brass have continued the momentum they built during talks in Arizona at the NFL Annual Meeting, where team president Mark Murphy called a new deal for Rodgers "a priority."

Rodgers has earned points from Green Bay by remaining mum as his current contract fell behind so many other marquee names. When the Dallas Cowboys and quarterback Tony Romo finalized a long-term extension on Friday that will likely keep Romo in Dallas for the balance of his career, all eyes have turned to Rodgers.

Still, being "close" doesn't always lead to a deal. During the 2012 season, Flacco and the Ravens were reportedly $1 million apart over six years, and they couldn't close a deal. Of course, Flacco cashed in after the Super Bowl.

After Rodgers' contract is settled, the Packers will turn their attention to linebacker Clay Matthews and defensive tackle B.J. Raji, who are both up for extensions. The total of the trios deals could reach a quarter of a billion dollars.