As the final first-round pick of the 2011 draft, Packers tackle Derek Sherrod is eligible to have a fifth-year option on his rookie contract exercised by the Packers.
It doesn’t look like that will happen. The team hasn’t made any official statement to any effect about Sherrod’s future with the team, but Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports that the team will not be picking it up.
It’s not a great shock. Sherrod has never started a game for Green Bay, broke his leg at the tail end of his rookie season, missed all of 2012 as a result of complications in his recovery and then played just six snaps on offense last season. Even though the option is only partially guaranteed, it is guaranteed in the event of a serious injury and Sherrod’s history makes counting on him a risk even when it isn’t attached to a $7.438 million salary.
Sherrod will have to earn another year in Green Bay by showing he can be a healthy contributor on offense, with the best route to playing time likely available by winning the swing tackle job behind Bryan Bulaga and David Bakhtiari this offseason.