Green Bay Packers Re-Sign or Let Go & Prediction: Robert Tonyan

Oct 24, 2021; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers tight end Robert Tonyan (85) celebrates after catching a touchdown pass in the third quarter during the game against the Washington Football Team at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 24, 2021; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers tight end Robert Tonyan (85) celebrates after catching a touchdown pass in the third quarter during the game against the Washington Football Team at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /
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With NFL free agency just a few weeks away, I have been going through each of the Green Bay Packers’ 14 unrestricted free agents in my Re-Sign or Let Go & Prediction series. Up next is Robert Tonyan.

I’ll be taking a balanced look at why the Green Bay Packers could move on from Tonyan, why they could let him walk, and I make a prediction at the end. If you’ve missed any of the other articles in this series, you can find them below.

Lucas Patrick

Whitney Mercilus

Marquez Valdes-Scantling

De’Vondre Campbell

Chandon Sullivan

Green Bay Packers
Sep 26, 2021; Santa Clara, California, USA; Green Bay Packers tight end Robert Tonyan (85) jogs on the field before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports /

Why the Green Bay Packers would let Robert Tonyan walk

One big reason is the salary cap. We don’t know how much spending power the Green Bay Packers will have in free agency and although Tonyan had a slower start to the 2021 season prior to his injury, he was coming off a highly impressive 2020 campaign where he caught 11 touchdowns and 52 of his 59 targets.

Although he may still be recovering from his injury, as I’ve mentioned before, it only takes one team to fall in love with what he can add to the passing game, and all of a sudden, Tonyan is out of the Packers’ price range. Spotrac currently projects Tonyan to sign a four-year deal in free agency that pays him on average $10.8 million per year.

It also is important to mention that Tonyan is coming off an ACL injury, and we don’t know what — if any — impact that has on the Green Bay Packers’ decision-making when it comes to giving him a new deal–especially if there is competition from other organizations.