Offseason programs are getting started in the NFL today

http://www.thepackersfanshop.com/Jace-Sternberger-Jersey , and the Packers are giving their players millions of reasons to attend voluntary workouts.The two biggest workout bonuses in any NFL contracts this year are the $750,000 bonus in Packers linebacker Za'Darius Smith‘s new contract and the $650,000 bonus in Packers linebacker Preston Smith‘s new contract, according to Field Yates of ESPN.By putting such big workout bonuses in player contracts, Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst is following in the footsteps of his predecessor, Ted Thompson Elgton Jenkins Jersey , who regularly put big workout bonuses in players’ contracts.It makes sense for the Packers in particular because Green Bay, Wisconsin, isn’t exactly America’s hottest spring break destination. It’s probably easier for a team like the Miami Dolphins or Los Angeles Rams to convince players to come to town for voluntary workouts in April than it is for a team located in Green Bay.NFL players get a standard pay of $175 a day for participating in offseason workouts. For minimum-salary players, that’s a nice enticement — not to mention that a lot of those minimum-salary players are desperate to take every opportunity they can to impress their teams, as there’s no guarantee they’ll make the roster in the regular season.But for highly paid veterans who don’t really need the money and know they’re going to make the team, a workout bonus is an inducement to show up even for work that is voluntary. How did the Broncos decide they needed to move up to the 42nd overall pick to draft quarterback Drew Lock? It may have been related to the teams that owned the 43rd and 44th picks.The Lions had Pick 43 and the Packers had Pick 44 http://www.thepackersfanshop.com/Darnell-Savage-Jr.-Jersey , and both teams visited with Lock before the draft. The Broncos may have believed they had to get to 42 in order to take Lock.Detroit isn’t looking to move on from Matthew Stafford this year, and Green Bay isn’t looking to move on from Aaron Rodgers this year, but both teams may be looking to get younger and cheaper at quarterback sooner rather than later. Drafting Lock and observing him in practice for a year before deciding whether he’s ready could have been the plan.Instead, Lock will head into his rookie season as Joe Flacco‘s backup, and will see if he can prove himself worthy of being the Broncos’ quarterback of the future.