Packers announce UDFA rookie class, give undrafted OL significant payday 

After leaving this past weekend with one of the league’s largest draft classes, the Packers are continuing to add rookies to their roster. The team announced that it has signed eight undrafted free agents:

• Peter Bowden, LS (Wisconsin)
• James Ester, DL (Northern Illinois)
• Ralen Gofort, LB (Washington)
• Jarveon Howard, RB (Alcorn State)
• Donovan Jennings, OL (South Florida)
• Trente Jones, OL (Michigan)
• Rodney Mathews, DL (Ohio)
• Messiah Swinson, TE (Arizona State)

South Florida offensive lineman Donovan Jennings earned a significant payday to join the Packers. The rookie got a $10K signing bonus and $100K in guaranteed salary to catch on with Green Bay, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston. As Wilson notes, that signing bonus is higher than any the organization handed out in 2023, and the Packers also didn’t give any of their UDFAs guaranteed money last offseason.

Elsewhere on offense, the team added Arizona State’s Messiah Swinson. The tight end had 15 catches during his first season in Arizona in 2022, but he followed that up with only six receptions in 2023.

On the other side of the ball, the Steelers added a pair of pass-rushers in James Ester and Rodney Mathews. Ester compiled eight sacks and 16 tackles for loss during his final three seasons at Northern Illinois, while Mathews collected 14.5 tackles for loss in his final three seasons with the Bobcats.