Randall Cobb Contract Could Have a Domino Effect
The Randall Cobb contract has expired, making him one of several free agents the Green Bay Packers must consider signing this offseason. The Packers are dealing with a cap space crunch. They also have a future Hall of Fame quarterback whose championship window is quickly ticking away. After missing the playoffs this season, general manager Brian Gutekunst must find a way to make the roster more competitive next season.
Cobb is a player for fans to keep an eye on. He’s one of the five names listed by Aaron Rodgers as a player he’d like back in 2023. Another name on Rodgers’ list was wide receiver Allen Lazard. Bringing both players back next season will be difficult with the limited cap. One NFL analyst suggested Gutekunst might have to choose between Cobb and Lazard.
Randall Cobb Contract or Allen Lazard Contract?
Jake Rill of Bleacher Report wrote about free-agent decisions Gutekunst will need to make this offseason. Rill wrote that the Packers might bring Lazard back if they don’t give out a Randall Cobb contract and the veteran retires. Because Lazard’s and Cobbs’ production was similar, it’s hard to justify signing both players next season:
“It’s possible the Packers may have expected more out of Lazard in 2022, though, considering they needed receivers to step up following their trade of Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders. Lazard led the team in receiving, but his numbers weren’t quite up to par with the top wideouts around the league.
There will surely be teams with interest in Lazard, who could be a solid No. 2 or No. 3 wide receiver in certain offenses. He’s proved he can get into the end zone at a high rate, too, having scored 14 TDs in 30 games over the past two seasons.
Green Bay will need to decide how much it’s willing to pay Lazard, or if it would like to fill his spot with an even more productive playmaker. That could depend on the future of Randall Cobb, who is 32 and may consider retirement.”
This might be smart business for the Packers on paper. But really, the Packers will likely defer to Rodgers if they have the money to keep them. That’s because Rodgers holds the key for the Packers this off-season. If Rodgers doesn’t like the situation in Green Bay for next season, he could request a trade. However, if there isn’t a Randall Cobb contract signed and he were to retire, it would make signing Lazard a little easier this offseason.
