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The Green Bay Packers Successfully Sign Two-Time Pro Bowl DT with "Steal" Contract - Building the Strongest Defense in NFC North with Devonte Wyatt Taking on New Role

Green Bay, Wisconsin – 03/12/2026 – The Green Bay Packers made a strategic move in the 2026 offseason by signing defensive tackle (DT) Javon Hargrave, a two-time Pro Bowler. Hargrave joins the team with a two-year contract worth $23 million, including $13 million in the first year.

“I’ve always followed the Packers from afar and dreamed of one day wearing the green and gold. Now, I’m the one getting to do it. I’m so excited to join a team with such a rich history and an incredible fanbase. Get ready, because I’m bringing everything I’ve got to help the team move forward!” – Javon Hargrave shared at the contract signing ceremony.

From Minnesota to Green Bay: Former Vikings DT Javon Hargrave reached agreement today on a 2-year deal for $23 million, including $13 million this year with the Packers, per Drew Rosenhaus. pic.twitter.com/IlxbrGFn7Q

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2026

Hargrave, 33, was previously a key contributor for the Minnesota Vikings before being released and signing with Green Bay. In the 2025 season, he appeared in 16 games, recording 52 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery, further cementing his role as a dominant interior defensive player.

Although Hargrave is no longer in his prime and is not expected to make another Pro Bowl, he still provides significant defensive strength for the Packers. With his ability to stifle the running game and generate pressure on quarterbacks, he will immediately become one of Green Bay's key defensive players.

What makes this deal even sweeter for the Packers is the fact that they “stole” Hargrave from their NFC North rival – the Minnesota Vikings. A team forced to cut costs to maintain its budget, leaving them unable to retain Hargrave, giving the Packers a prime opportunity to land him.

Hargrave will pair with Devonte Wyatt at defensive tackle, forming a formidable duo on the team’s defensive line. With defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, who previously coached Hargrave at the Philadelphia Eagles, now joining the Packers, Hargrave will be familiar with the system, maximizing his impact in 2026.

In the 2022 season, Hargrave recorded 60 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries – one of the best seasons of his career. Joining the Packers presents an opportunity for Hargrave to continue his development and help the team build an even stronger defensive unit.

With Hargrave’s addition, Green Bay will have a powerful and deep defense, ready to take on tough NFC North opponents. The 2026 season will be a significant challenge for the Packers, but with strategic additions like Hargrave, they hope to make a deep run and compete for a championship.

The Bears’ NFC Defensive Player of the Week offered an $11M salary request to the Packers but was rejected by Green Bay, then agreed to a $7.5M contract extension with the Bears.
Chicago, Illinois – 16/03/2026 The story surrounding linebacker D'Marco Jackson took an unexpected turn this week after reports revealed the unusual sequence of events that led to his contract extension with the Chicago Bears. Jackson ultimately signed a two-year extension worth $7.5 million to remain in Chicago, a deal that was initially framed as a loyalty decision over a larger offer from the rival Green Bay Packers. But insiders later indicated the situation unfolded quite differently. According to league sources, Jackson’s representatives first approached Green Bay during the early stages of free agency seeking a deal worth approximately $11 million. The Packers, however, were not interested in moving forward with the proposal and declined to pursue the linebacker at that price point. With Green Bay no longer an option, Jackson quickly returned to Chicago and finalized a two-year extension worth $7.5 million to remain with the Bears through the 2027 season. Shortly after the deal became official, Jackson spoke publicly about his decision — and his comments sparked plenty of attention across NFL social media. “The Packers offered more money, but Chicago is where I want to build my legacy. We’ve built something special here, and I’m not ready to walk away from that.” The quote was intended to highlight loyalty to the Bears’ locker room and the defensive culture the team has been building. However, the narrative shifted quickly once reports surfaced that the Packers had actually declined Jackson’s initial contract request. That revelation did not go unnoticed by fans. Across social media platforms, many Bears supporters jokingly leaned into the irony of the situation, playfully teasing the storyline that Jackson “turned down more money” despite the fact that Green Bay had reportedly never finalized such an offer. Some fans responded with memes suggesting the linebacker had “rejected a deal that didn’t exist,” while others simply celebrated the fact that Chicago retained a valuable defensive contributor regardless of how the negotiations unfolded. Lost in the humor, however, is the reality that Jackson remains an important piece of Chicago’s defensive depth chart. After joining the Bears in 2025, the linebacker carved out a significant role on special teams and as a rotational defender. He appeared in 16 games last season, recording 43 total tackles, one sack, one interception, and a fumble recovery while stepping in during key moments when the linebacker unit dealt with injuries. For the Bears, the extension ensures continuity in a defense that has steadily improved over the past two seasons. For Jackson, the deal means stability and another opportunity to continue developing within the system that helped revive his career. And for NFL fans watching the situation unfold online, the entire saga delivered something the league rarely lacks during free agency season — a little unexpected comedy mixed with contract drama.

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