Former Hawkeye gets mammoth extension to stay with Packers

A Christmas bonus is one thing. What former Hawkeye Mike Daniels got from the Green Bay Packers on Monday morning is in a whole different ballgame.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the four-year pro signed a four-year, $42 million extension to stay with the Green Bay Packers.

The deal includes a $12 million signing bonus, which means he’ll be paid $22 million in the first 15 months of the deal.

GB's Mike Daniels signs 4-year, $42M extension, including $22M in first 15 months, $12 million SB, per source. Now 3rd highest paid 3-4 DE.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 14, 2015

Daniels was a two-star recruit out of high school in New Jersey and was drafted in the fourth round out of Iowa.

Since he made his debut in 2012, he has 117 tackles and 18 sacks for Green Bay, and is in the midst of his best season to date.

The former Hawkeye is one of the top 3-4 defensive ends in the NFL, and has four sacks and a forced fumble this season. That leads all Packer defensive linemen.

With a $10.5 million annual salary, Daniels ranks only behind Arizona’s Calais Campbell ($11 million) and former Badger J.J. Watt ($16.7 million) among defensive ends.

Daniels became the second former Hawkeye to sign an extension with the Packers this year. Bryan Bulaga signed a deal to stay in Green Bay in March that pays him $7 million per season.