The window for teams to use their respective franchise tags opened Tuesday, but clubs rarely pull the trigger on tags early. Two weeks remain until the tag period closes, giving teams a bit more time. But the Packers are now on the clock with Davante Adams.
Green Bay has not used its tag since 2010 (Ryan Pickett) but is prepared to cuff its All-Pro wide receiver. Hopes for an Adams extension continue to be on hold. The sides have not discussed an extension since the Packers’ season ended last month, Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel tweets.
Adams played out his four-year extension and is poised to command a top-market receiver deal. A franchise tag would interfere with those hopes, though it would pay Adams a guaranteed salary in the $20MM range. An Adams tag also further restricts the Packers, who are more than $53MM over the expected 2022 cap. While restructures will commence, the Packers would undoubtedly be hindered by an Adams tag. The team also has De’Vondre Campbell, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kevin King and Rasul Douglas on track for free agency.
The team would save nearly $20MM by trading Aaron Rodgers, but the reigning MVP has not yet made up his mind about returning to the team. That clock is also ticking, for Packers team-building purposes. Rodgers’ status will affect Adams’, with the two-time All-Pro receiver admitting as such at multiple points last year after stalled negotiations.
Should Rodgers declare he wants out, how the Packers go forward with Adams will be a key fallout storyline. A tag-and-trade scenario would open the door to more high-end assets coming Green Bay’s way, in the event the team wants to reap full value in parting ways with its famed aerial connection. Of course, trading Adams after unloading Rodgers would mean the Packers would be essentially rebuilding at wide receiver ahead of Jordan Love‘s debut season.
The Packers and Adams broke off extension talks prior to last season; Adams sought a deal that topped DeAndre Hopkins‘ $27MM-per-year accord. He did not reach free agency when first eligible, opting to sign a four-year, $58MM extension in December 2017. As Adams progressed to the All-Pro tier, that contract became extraordinarily team-friendly. Set to turn 30 before the 2022 season ends, Adams is running short on time to maximize his value.
Come on down to Vegas, your college QB would love to rekindle that connection
I personally don’t see a scenario where they don’t use the tag on him..even if it’s only to guarantee
they get something back in a trade. That doesn’t exclude him going to LV, but it does mean they’ll have to do a little more work to make it happen. And no matter what, the Rodgers situation will dictate to some degree what happens with Adams.
True. But even the tag is a lot of money when they’re already that far past the cap. I think the Packers would be wise to leverage the tag into getting a team to make sure they have assets coming back, but I don’t see how they can even afford to keep him in Green Bay next season one way or the other.
Playing home games on artificial turf would undoubtedly shorten his career. He’d be better off going to someplace like Arizona or the 49ers.
Allegiant Stadium rolls out natural Bermuda grass, just like Arizona. Playing in Vegas is a draw to players if anything. No state taxes and an absolutely beautiful stadium with top notch supporting facilities.
Thanks for the correction.
No worries buddy. I know that it’s hard for someone with your username to accept that the grass is greener in Vegas 🙂
IMO Adams is the best WR in the NFL but an AVV of $27 million is a lot to pay a non-QB. They already are paying top tier salaries to Bakhtiari and Clark with Alexander, Jenkins and Gary needing extensions in the next year or two.
Artificial turf is a thing of the past but artificial surfaces actually provide more consistent footing and is actually easier on an athletes body.
Adams needs to get out of Green Bay, as Jordan Love doesn’t look like much and it will therefore cost him some bucks in the long term.
I don’t see how he’s affordable without a Rodgers pairing incentivizing a lower salary-and then, with that, Rodgers’ hit would easily increase the net cost.
Rodgers is the key to that team, but there’s absolutely no way that they will be able to field a competitive roster with that cap hit. Adams and Rodgers would be competitive trade pieces for the future, though Gutekunst has not proven that he will use that compensation well in the offseason.
Regardless, the chance to improve the team is one thing-the necessity of reducing the cap hit is really the main goal. Green Bay was in cap trouble last year as well, and had to adjust multiple veterans’ salaries (something D. Smith was not happy about), and this year’s hole is even bigger. I just don’t see any way that Adams and Rodgers both return next year and the Packers remain competitive. Before Sean Payton left, I thought the Saints were a possible partner, as they have openings for both and had a reputable coach, but now it seems that Adams and Rodgers will have considerable work to do if they want to play together next year.
The Saints were in a deeper hole last year..even with Brees retiring..and got out.
There have been multiple stories written showing what moves (extensions, restructures and even a potential trade or retirement of Rodgers) can/should/likely will be made to not only get under the cap, but create a good amount of room to re-sign their own free agents or bring in an outside player or 2.
Baldkid provided 2 sites that give cap information, including the money that can be freed by making moves, and when.
I believe I lso read somewhere that should Rodgers just say eff it I’m retiring, they can reduce his cap hit for this year to ..if I’m not mistaken..barely over league minimum. Of course it pushes money down the road but I don’t recall if it stated how much.
As for the 2 pairing together..yeah, it could be tough. Denver supposedly has it figured out how to do it, and if LV decides to send Carr to GB could also make it happen (obviously, if they want..). I think a couple other teams have the cap space..indy comes to mind..but is there desire on both sides to do something?
I’ve said in other comments about GB’s cap and the Rodgers/Adams situation they can potentially make it work if all sides want to stay together, with some logical help from a few players–extensions (P Smith, Alexander, Gary), obvious cuts (Z Smith, Cobb and Crosby..who can both potentially be re-signed, Turner) and restructures (Bahktiari and Clark’s).
The biggest savings would come from a guy who essentially missed the whole season.
That’s fair regarding New Orleans, but then again, Loomis seems to have this special ability to just ignore the cap that is unmatched by the rest of the league. I don’t get it, the Steelers seem to have some gist of it, but the Saints just seem to do this every year and I don’t get it.
Anyway, I agree with you on the moves that Green Bay would have to make. The thing is, even with Z. Smith’s lost year considered, I still think that he adds more to the team than P. Smith overall and will have to be replaced production wise. Gary is the logical answer to that question, but Green Bay will have to plan for an extension for him soon and will have to consider the value he had as a rotational rusher too. Mercilus could fill that role on a bargain salary potentially, but P.Smith at the other side is not a long term solution either. I think no matter what, Green Bay has to begin looking for a long term second pass rusher this year anyway.
Cobb and Crosby won’t save the Packers that much in comparison to Smith, and Crosby I think will end up being re-signed. Bakhtiari already restructured last year if I remember correctly, and I have no idea if he would do so again so soon, and the same goes for Clark. I’m not saying that they won’t, I’m just saying that I don’t know.
It’s going to be a challenge for Adams and Rodgers to play together as they seem to want to, and even more so a challenge for them to do so in Green Bay. Denver could, but that would likely involve giving up a young receiver (all of whom are great prospects that the Broncos seem to like) and likely a lot of valuable picks, as they have no valuable quarterback to send in turn. I don’t think Josh McDaniels took Las Vegas’ job to be challenged with a headstrong elite QB. I believe he took the job to run his own show (which is why I believe the Raiders would be open to dealing Carr, not because of Carr’s ability), but that’s just an opinion based on nothing other than my personal instinct. Roster-wise, however, that would fitting. If Carolina weren’t out of picks, I could see them as an option. I think Rodgers is open to returning to Green this year, but the cap situation is going to force the team to field a less talented roster on paper at the end of the day in comparison to last year, and I think that’s why Rodgers is weighing his decision.
Bahktiari signed an extension last year, about 6 weeks or so before the ACL injury. Per a couple things I’ve read, a restructure is not only possible, but almost a given.
Cobb’s cap number is something like $9 mil,and they can shave about $8 mil (I think that is if it’s a post june 1 move..). Crosby I think is in the $2-2.5 mil range. Thing is, every bit helps, and after last year not worth the near $5 mil cap hit.
After the back injury and hurt feelings , I’d easily rather figure out an extension with Preston than Z. Probably can extend P 1 year to lower this year’s hit.. And no way Z’s getting cut, then voluntarily re-upping at a huge paycut after that (or GB offering it IMO).
Another thing that has to be considered is..if they simply cut both Smiths, sure they “save” a lot..but it also means a lot of dead money at the same position. Whether its Mercilus, a draft pick or both..I’m not sure they get a lot of production.
Fair enough. Either way, I figure there’s a lot of work to do for a number of parties involved. The first domino is what Rodgers decides-or, equally, what the Packers decide to do with Rodgers.
I’d tag and trade him. I’d also trade Rodgers. Maybe in a Rodgers trade, you can get Derek Carr back along with a couple of high picks. This should still be enough to win that division next year. It’s not like Rodgers has taken them to the Super Bowl more than once.