Packers & Davante Adams have “Broken Off” Extension Talks
By Paul Bretl
It’s not only Aaron Rodgers’ future with the Green Bay Packers that is uncertain, but star wide receiver Davante Adams as well.
2021 is the final year of Adams’ current deal, and he will enter it widely underpaid, earning just $14.5 million per year over the last four seasons, making him the 18th highest-paid receiver in the game by average annual value.
The two parties have been in extension talks for some time now; however, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, that is no longer the case. The Green Bay Packers and Adams have “broken off” extension talks, and there is no plan to resume them any time soon.
Rapoport would also add that any offers made by the Packers were not in line with making Adams the highest-paid receiver in the game. That title currently belongs to DeAndre Hopkins, who is making $27.25 million per year, over $5 million more than Julio Jones, the next highest-paid receiver in football.
Of course, if there is anyone deserving of that kind of money, it is Davante Adams, who is coming off an All-Pro season in which he tallied nearly 1,400 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns in only 14 games—developing into what many would consider the best receiver in the NFL.
However, from the Packers’ perspective, they are under a cap crunch and will be again in 2022. On top of that, the uncertainty surrounding Rodgers’ future and his contract isn’t helping things either. Not knowing if Rodgers will be a part of the team in the coming years and what those cap hits will look like is likely limiting their flexibility in negotiations.
During OTAs, Adams told reporters that he would be at training camp and would not be holding out if he didn’t have a new contract, so we shouldn’t have to worry about whether or not he will be present next week.
But as far as his future with the Green Bay Packers beyond 2021, well, that isn’t looking too good—at least at this moment. Historically the Packers do end up paying their home grown players the big money and there is still plenty of time to figure things out.