Green Bay Packers: Jordy Nelson Gets Contract Extension, Jermichael Finley Next?

The Green Bay Packers signed wide receiver Jordy Nelson to a three-year contract extension on Sunday night, following their 49-23 beat-down of the Denver Broncos, according to John Clayton of ESPN. With Nelson locked up, it would appear that Jermichael Finley will be the next player to receive a contract extension. 

The deal is reportedly worth $13 million and adds three years to Nelson's contract, which was up after this season. Furthermore, $5 million of that money will be guaranteed for the fourth-year wide receiver. The deal is worth quite a bit more than what receiver James Jones received from the team before preseason.

Nelson was quite busy on Sunday, after first helping the Packers remain undefeated and get their fourth win of the season, he was finalizing the deal. Multiple reporters noted that Nelson was absent from the Packers locker room following the game.

With the Packers recently signing Nelson and offensive lineman Josh Sitton, attention now turns to tight end Jermichael Finley, who will be a free agent after this season. Two injury-plagued years have delayed and complicated the long-term signing of Finley. 

What's more, CBS Sports' Charley Casserly is reporting that the Packers and Finley have not begun contract negotiations. 

It appears the Packers are weary of potential injury concerns as Finley has been unable to stay healthy over the last two seasons. The two sides are likely letting the beginning of the year play out before figuring out a deal in order to make sure both sides get what they deserve. 

Over the last two weeks of the season, Finley has shown the different ways in which he helps the Packers win games. 

Against the Bears, Finley dominated his individual matchups. Chicago attempted to play Finley straight up. However, Rodgers found Finley seven times for 85 yards and three touchdowns, all of which came in the red zone.

The Bears had absolutely no answer for Finley as the Packers rolled.

Against the Broncos, if you were to just glance at the box score, you may have wondered if Finley had been hurt. He had just three completions for 28 yards and was held out of the end zone. Quite the opposite of a poor performance, Finley battled double and triple teams throughout the game, which freed other receivers and allowed Rodgers to carve up the Broncos for 408 passing yards.

There is no denying that when Finley is on the field for the Packers, they are significantly better and even more dangerous on offense. The question that remains is whether or not the Packers can rely on Finley to consistently stay healthy and on the field. 

As the season progresses, the two sides will likely begin talking if they haven't in fact already done so. After at least half a season of staying healthy and showing the Packers what he has to offer, the team will likely act in order to keep Finley off the open market. 

If the Packers are able to lock up Finley, they will be guaranteed to return Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, James Jones and Randall Cobb. The Packers front office is putting Aaron Rodgers in position to be successful for years to come.