Packers retain Chris Banjo: Exclusive-rights free agent will return to Green Bay for 3rd year

In a move that should be no surprise to Packers fans, the team has retained the rights to safety Chris Banjo by offering him a minimum-salary deal that will keep him in Green Bay for at least the 2015 season.

Wes Hodkiewicz from the Green Bay Press-Gazette has the report:

Also, the #Packers have given safety Chris Banjo his exclusive-rights tender.

— Wes Hodkiewicz (@WesHod) March 10, 2015

Because his contract expired after just two accrued seasons in the NFL, Banjo was an exclusive-rights free agent this offseason. He spent the entire 2013 season on the active roster, starting one game when Morgan Burnett was out with an injury. Then in 2014, Banjo was one of the final cuts out of training camp but stuck on the Packers' practice squad as a veteran exemption player. He got promoted back to the active roster in December and was active for the final five games of the season (including the two playoff games).

In the past two regular seasons, Banjo has recorded 22 total tackles and two pass breakups from the safety position. However, most of his contributions (and many of those tackles) have come on special teams, where he has been a primary member of the kickoff and punt coverage teams.

If Banjo makes the team again in 2015, he will likely play the season on his one-year contract. That would leave him eligible for restricted free agency next offseason.