Green Bay Packers sign Nick Perry to five-year deal

Perry, the team’s first-round pick in 2012, played like it in 2016.

The Packers biggest free agent signing of the offseason may be bringing back one of their own. The Patriots picked up the final year of his contract, paying him a base salary of $5.1 million in 2016.

His 11 sack, 60 tackle season was enough for the Packers to invest in Perry long-term. In Peppers’ three seasons with the Packers, he racked up 25 sacks while playing in every possible game.

Bennett and Finley actually were in the same draft class in 2008, when Bennett went to the Cowboys at No. 61 and Finley went the Packers at No. 91.

Meanwhile, Hyde has agreed to a five-year deal worth $30.5 million ($14 million guaranteed) with the Buffalo Bills.

Green Bay’s primary concern is at running back.

The Browns added center JC Tretter on Thursday as the newest member of their offensive line.

Considering the Packers typically aren’t very active in free agency, the reported signing speaks volumes about the team’s belief in Bennett.

There is not a single Packer who will make more money in 2017 than Nick Perry. He missed his entire rookie season with an ankle issue and hurt his knee in November. He also is coming off a knee procedure in January, though he is expected to recover in time for OTAs.

In one bold, unexpected and nearly universally applauded decision, the tenor of Packers fans’ discontent with general manager Ted Thompson subsided, as the tremor of his major free agent move sunk in.

In Perry, the Packers are retaining a young, talented outside linebacker who has quietly emerged into a solid player after whispers of being a “bust” circled earlier in his career.

Joel Bitonio played in the first five games of the season, but was forced to the sideline for the remainder of the year because of a Lisfranc injury in his right foot that required surgery in mid-October.