Cheese Curds 1/31: Alex Smith is going to make Aaron Rodgers a very rich man

In the most ironic fashion, Alex Smith is going to make Aaron Rodgers really, REALLY rich.

Everyone remembers the 2005 NFL Draft when Smith, not Rodgers, was drafted first overall by the San Francisco 49ers and started the freefall for Rodgers all the way to number 24 where the Green Bay Packers famously selected the future hall of fame signal caller.

Since that day, their careers went the opposite of their draft positions. Smith did nothing of consequence in San Francisco while Rodgers became arguably the most gifted passer in the league after sitting behind Brett Favre for three years. Smith has done some decent work since being traded to the Kansas City Chiefs but has come nowhere close to the level Rodgers has acheived in his career.

That’s why last night’s news that Smith is reportedly being shipped to the Washington Redskins so ironic. Smith also has reportedly agreed on a new four year extension that will pay him $23.5 million per year and roughly $70 million in guarantees.

Rodgers, who is due for an extension of his own this season, probably heard his phone make a ‘cha-ching’ sound upon seeing the news of the Smith deal. Combine this news with whatever deal Kirk Cousins likely signs in free agency and Rodgers is likely going to be able to go scuba diving in some coins this summer.

In fact, Rodgers in theory could get the NFL’s first fully guaranteed contract. Is he worth it? Most Packers fans after suffering through the Brett Hundley Show in 2017 would likely say yes.

Read more on Smith’s (borderline) insane deal and more in today’s cheese curds

Did Packers QB Aaron Rodgers just get closer to a fully guaranteed contract?--Packers Wire

Thanks to Daniel Snyder, Brian Gutekunst and Russ Ball just had their jobs made a little harder when hammering out Rodgers’s next extension

Packers may look for veteran help at backup quarterback--PackersNews.com

Hundley is likely facing some competition for his job this off-season and that completion could come from a rookie in the draft or from a veteran in free agency.

David Raih is a product of his own journey--Packers.com

The new receivers coach for the Packers has drawn from each of the unique coaches he has worked under in his ten-year journey to Green Bay.

Former Packers beat writer on the future in Titletown--WBAY

No this isn’t Bob McGinn. Ty Dunne, formerly of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, gives his thoughts on the team’s changes in an interview with WBAY.

Persistence pays off for former Packer DL Guy--Packer Report

Former seventh round pick Lawrence Guy’s time in Green Bay was cut short due to injury, but he has made the most of his time in New England.