The Green Bay Packers may have a situation on their hands. 2023 is set to see a number of players leave via free agency. After the Packers’ regular season finale against the Detroit Lions, Allen Lazard made it clear he thinks he’s played his last game for Green Bay. However, if Aaron Rodgers comes back for the 2023 season, could that change? Lazard made a pretty emphatic statement about the four-time MVP quarterback this week. However, if the Packers end up having an interest in trying to bring back Lazard, they may be competing with a division rival to do so.
Minnesota Vikings Tied To Allen Lazard This Off-Season
According to Kenneth Teape of NFL Analysis Network:
The Vikings will have a tough decision to make when it comes to veteran Adam Thielen. He is being paid like a top-flight wide receiver but has not produced at that level in multiple years. The last time that he had a 1,000-yard season was in 2018. With zero guaranteed dollars on his contract for the 2023 season, Minnesota could move on from him relatively easily.
While that would create a bit of a void for the team, there are some solid options in free agency for the Vikings to consider. One potential option is a player they are familiar with in Allen Lazard of the Green Bay Packers.
Lazard has spent his entire career in Green Bay thus far but sounds ready like he is ready to move on. Coming off of a career season in 2022, Lazard would have an opportunity to continue that as a second option behind Jefferson.
With the amount of attention that Jefferson commands, Lazard could have another big season. He has a little more explosiveness to offer than Thielen at this point and could thrive as a complementary piece after being thrown into the fire as the Packers’ quasi-No. 1 option this season.
Allen Lazard is set to test the free agent market after making $3,986,000 during the 2022 season. Lazard’s first contract with the Packers was a three-year $1.7 million deal that he signed with the Packers after going un-drafted in 2018. In 2021, he made $675,000 on a one-year deal. Now Lazard is expected to get a massive pay raise in free agency. Lazard is looking at a large pay raise in free agency. Two different salary projections have him making more than $11 million per season on his next contract. PFF’s Brad Spielberger projects Lazard to get a three-year deal worth $33 million (with $21.5 million guaranteed) in free agency. Spotrac, on the other hand, lists Lazard’s market value as over $12 million per season. The website’s market value calculator projects him to sign a three-year contract worth $37,528,000 ($12.5 million annually). The Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers will have to be ready to pay around that number if they want to bring the veteran wide receiver in.
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