The Green Bay Packers already have the biggest headache to deal with of any team in the NFL right now. That became obvious when Aaron Rodgers chose to stay at home due to an ongoing beef with team management. He has already missed OTAs and mandatory minicamps. Something that has never happened before. Now there is genuine fear he’ll skip training camp, making it clear he is ready to sit out the season until he gets what he wants. So one can imagine Green Bay doesn’t need another controversy. Davante Adams was not prepared to oblige.
If the Rodgers saga weren’t enough, the Packers also know their superstar wide receiver is due a contract extension. The 2021 season is the last of his current deal. He is set to become a free agent in 2022 unless they get something done. One would think it’d be a no brainer. Yet as the days go by, nothing has happened. One can imagine Packer fans were relieved when ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler reported the two sides were discussing a massive deal to make him the highest-paid receiver in the NFL.
That is until Adams himself came along as squashed it.
Interesting… pic.twitter.com/V3lfjpf4GR
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) July 3, 2021
For those who aren’t familiar, the “cap” icon is social media lingo for when somebody says a person is lying. In other words, Adams made it clear that what Fowler said was 100% false. No such deal is in the works. Not a great sign for the Packers in their quest to keep their offense intact. Remember the star receiver hinted that his interest in staying in Green Bay wasn’t nearly as strong as people think. Especially if Rodgers ends up leaving.
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What makes this entire situation challenging is the Packers’ salary cap situation. Current projections are they’ll be $34 million in the red next offseason even with a massive projected jump in the cap ceiling. That is before any Adams extension. So it’s not like they have a ton of money to throw around.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RlP8N8paYM&ab_channel=NFLTotalAccess
Davante Adams has a landing spot in mind if he leaves too
It’s not like he has an uncertain future if he were to exit Green Bay. Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr made it crystal clear he’d love a reunion with his old teammate. They starred together at Fresno State in college. Adams poured gas on the fire when he called Carr one of his best friends and it would be a dream to be able to play with. So it is a safe bet he knows where he’s going if Green Bay does pony up.
The truth is he has a ton of leverage in this situation. He’s far and away the best wide receiver on the team. There isn’t anybody else in the same zip code as him. His presence is even more vital with Rodgers possibly gone too. The Packers also aren’t in a great position to franchise tag him if they wish. That would cost $19.17 million against the cap. Money they just don’t have.
That leaves them few options.
Either pay up or watch him walk out the door next spring. The Packers just got done handing out a top-of-the-league contract to left tackle David Bakhtiari. Are they prepared to do the same for Adams who turns 29 in December? It’s a good question. One that fans desperately hope they have the right answer to.