In the race to get under the salary cap as the NFL calendar years begins Wednesday afternoon, the Green Bay Packers extended a second round tender offer to wide receiver Allen Lazard on Tuesday, all but ensuring the veteran will return for a fifth season. If a team decides to pursue and sign Lazard, it will cost them $3.986 million and the Packers would receive a second round draft pick as compensation. That appears unlikely so Lazard will come back to the Packers on a one-year contract at that same price.
The undrafted free agent is coming off his best season as a pro, catching 40 passes for 513 yards and 8 touchdowns, all career highs. The tender now has Green Bay keeping it’s top two receivers, Davante Adams on the $20.1 million franchise tag and Lazard. Every other receiver outside of last year’s draft choice Amari Rodgers will have contracts expire today.
Randall Cobb might be willing to return on a reduced contract but Marquez Valdes-Scantling has drawn interest from several teams and will test the free agent waters. Equanimeous St. Brown, Malik Taylor and Juwan Winfree will become unrestricted or restricted free agents.
Linebacker Oren Burks is moving on. The third round pick from Vanderbilt in 2018 has reached an agreement and will sign a free agent deal with the San Francisco 49ers. Burks was never able to earn a regular spot in the linebacking rotation but did develop into a dependable special teams player, leading the Packers in special teams snaps in each of the past two seasons.
The Packers will now have 11 picks in the 2022 NFL Draft next month. Green Bay was awarded two compensatory draft choices for losing free agents last year. The Packers will receive a 4th round pick (140 overall) for center Corey Linsley signing with the Los Angeles Chargers and a 7th round pick (258) is coming because running back Jamaal Williams signed with the Detroit Lions.
