5 Big Questions Facing the Green Bay Packers this Offseason

Big Question No. 2 for the Green Bay Packers: Will Davante Adams be back?

Although it certainly doesn’t have to be this way, it does feel like if Aaron Rodgers is back that Davante Adams will be as well–I can’t imagine Rodgers wanting to play without his top target, who earlier this season he called the best player he has ever played with. On the flip side, if Green Bay and Adams can’t come to a deal, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if that affects what Rodgers does.

Reportedly, Adams is looking for a deal that pays him on average $30 million per year, while Green Bay is more so in the $23-$25 million per year range. As I’ve written about before, Adams wants to be the highest-paid receiver in the NFL — as he should be — but I believe the disconnect between him and the Packers is in regards to who is the highest-paid receiver in football?

My guess is that Green Bay sees that as Julio Jones, who is averaging $22 million per year. But Adams likely sees the two-year extension that DeAndre Hopkins signed at $27.25 million per year as the benchmark. However, Hopkins came to Arizona with a three-year contract still in place, and when you add that new money to what he was already owed, his average annual value is $18.9 million.

There have also been reports that Green Bay could use the franchise tag on Adams, but the only way I can see that happening is if they plan to then trade him. Cap-wise that makes little sense and Adams certainly won’t be happy either.

Historically, the Green Bay Packers only hand out third contracts to players who have a legitimate chance of making the Hall of Fame, which Adams certainly does. While it will take some salary-cap gymnastics, if the Packers want Adams back, they can make it happen, but in turn, who can’t be re-signed and who now has to be cut?