Packers Sign Quinton Dial

[run pMc]

Makes me think they are discussing a longer term contract already. Dial was in the second year of a 3yr/$12M+ contract with the 49ers. He was a starter last year, and by all reports a capable one, who just didn't fit their new scheme. Doesn't seem like the kind of a player who would have to take the risk by signing a one year, minimum salary contract; unless it was done as a quick and dirty way to get him on the filed immediately while they work out a longer term deal. He signed quite quickly.

On one hand, the Packers aren't normally overly-concerned about fairly paid players hitting free agency. On the other hand, they often "upgrade" players who are underpaid for the value to the team.

It seems like the only reason for GB to go $1 over and lose the benefit of a minimum wage contract is because they are very much interested in a longer term deal sometime soon; and the only reason for Dial to sign such a cheap deal now, while risking a significant injury, is because he expects a signing bonus and extension soon.

Interesting thoughts...it sounds like they needed/wanted a backup NT and think he can do it. Price and Guion were the only ones who could have and both are gone. I'm thinking if he proves he can play all along the DLine including NT they'll give him a Guion type contract. Gotta have guys who can keep Burnett/Jones clean when they play Nitro.

[Patler]

Another interesting aspect to this regards salary guarantees. Apparently, his 2017 salary ($1.5M) was fully guaranteed as of April 1. Often, those types of guarantees include offsets. If the player is released, the 49ers guaranteed payment to him is offset by any 2017 salary received from another team. By signing for the minimum with GB, and then signing a typical extension with bonuses and increased salaries for subsequent years, he might get to keep more from the 49ers while the Packers in total will pay what they think he is worth over the total term of the initial one year contract plus the extension.