What it Means: Ahead of Deadline, Allen Lazard Signs Packers RFA Deal

During last week’s mandatory minicamp, 89 of the 90 members of this Green Bay Packers team were present. The only one missing was wide receiver, Allen Lazard.

While these practices were mandatory and those absent were subject to a fine, that rule didn’t apply to Lazard because he technically wasn’t under contract with the Packers since he had yet to sign his restricted free agent deal.

As a restricted free agent this offseason, the Packers placed a second-round tender on Lazard. What this means is that if any other team wanted to offer him a contract, the Packers would have the right to match the offer or let Lazard sign with that team, but in return, Green Bay would receive a second-round draft pick–per the tender.

But with no other offers placed, the restricted free agent contract for Lazard on a second-round tender in 2022 comes with a base salary of $3.986 million–which is a predetermined amount by the CBA.

We may never know why Lazard had waited so long to sign the contract, but perhaps the most likely reason was that he was in search of a long-term deal from the Packers. However, one big issue for Lazard was that Green Bay had all the bargaining power.

As Packers’ salary cap aficionado Ken Ingalls would point out, the Packers had sole negotiating rights with Lazard as a restricted free agent since no other offers were presented, and if he had not signed his deal by June 15th, per the CBA once again, the Packers had the right to reduce his salary to just $935,000.

Over the last three seasons with the Packers, Lazard has caught 108 of his 158 targets at 13.3 yards per catch with 14 touchdowns. Last season, specifically, he would tally 513 receiving yards on 40 receptions with eight touchdowns. In addition to that, Lazard has been a very reliable third-down target for Aaron Rodgers and is more than willing to do the dirty work as a blocker.

With Davante Adams now in Las Vegas, Lazard has the opportunity to be the top wide receiver on this team, and as a result, his production could skyrocket this season.

"“Excited about Allen Lazard. He’s been our dirty work guy for most of his career here. Now he’s getting an opportunity to be a No. 1 receiver,” Rodgers said via Packers Wire. “So, I’m not worried at all about him stepping into that role. I talk to him a lot. I know how he takes care of his body. I know he’ll be ready when he’s here.”"

If the Packers were entertaining the idea of extending Lazard at this time, his potential role as WR1 could have been a big reason why. Lazard is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent next offseason, and after a season of being Rodgers’ top target, his payday next March could very well end up being quite a bit more than if he were to sign today.

However, that is all a moot point for the time being as the Packers will instead see how the season unfolds first–although they will still have the opportunity to extend Lazard at any point this season or sign him to a new deal prior to free agency opening in mid-March if that’s what they choose.

Voluntary OTAs continue on Tuesday, and we will see if Lazard is present now that his contract for the 2022 season is taken care of.