Lazard’s calculated market value does not equal his cost in real dollars. What it will cost to sign him will be determined by the demand for him versus what he’s willing to accept. I haven’t heard him talk on the subject of his free agency nor have I seen anything from his agent. I think the front office and Lazard’s agent can haggle this out and if they come to an agreement both find acceptable, then so be it. I just don’t see anything coming of this for a few weeks yet.

"Lazard is a free agent. He has proven a lot, but the Packers shouldn’t bring him back. According to Spotrac.com, Lazard’s calculated market value is $7.7 million a year. "

Don't get me wrong, like Cory I like Allen Lazard. But on what planet is Lazard worth $7.7 million a year? I have to believe that figure will go down, because even teams who are oozing cap space aren't going to pay him that much money.

Lazard IMO is one of the top three BLOCKING WR in the entire NFL if not the best. With that said he's never showed he could be a true #2, even though he SORTA played like one at the end of the 2021 season. 40 catches, 513 yards and 8 TD's isn't #2 WR stats IMO.

Lazard is important to what the Packers do. Now I don't think he's $7.7 million worth of important, but for THIS scheme, for THIS team, Allen Lazard is vital. It's going to be an interesting offseason. But with choices like this facing the Packers, it's ALL THE MORE reason to trade Rodgers for what you can THIS offseason and do the rebuild thing. Personally I think they can win the NFCN with Love, maybe even a playoff game...

So in other words, let's go with Love, get a discount on Lazard, get a shit load of picks and a player or two for trading Rodgers, DO NOT pay Adams that ridiculous amount of money, and finish EXACTLY where we have the last 3 seasons in 2022...Watching the SB but with HOPE in 2023!

$7.7 million, probably not, but admittedly I don't know enough about the market price to make an educated comment.
What I do know is that I like Lazard and I think he'd be an integral, important part if Rodgers an Adams leave. Assuming that Cobb is gone as well, Lazard would become the Veteran in the receivers room, the guy that knows the system best. The second part of that would be that, if indeed Love is the QB next year (with which I have serious doubts) he's going to need some familiar faces and a guy that knows him and his tendencies.
I see Lazard as some form of 'Tweener' right now, is he there, is he just a little bit short, is he still on the rise, or has he topped out? I don't know.
I do know this, for some reason I have always likened Lazard to an offensive version of Micah Hyde when he was in GB, always there but not quite to the top. I'd like to see him back, and see what he looks like out of Adams' shadow and Rodgers' tendencies.
I'd take Hyde back anytime.

Do your homework, Cory.

Lazard only has 3 accrued seasons and is an RFA, so the Packers can tender him and likely keep anyone from signing him away. If the Packers tender him at the second round level, he costs them about $4M against the cap and that will keep him in GB for another year--and give them time to redo his deal and get a better 2022 cap number if they want. No other team will try to sign him at that level and surrender a second round pick. If they do? Hey, you get their second round pick. That's just a 'for instance' tender. The Packers can tender him at a lower level and have the right to match or exceed any contract another team offers (about $2.5M cap hit).

Whatever the case, even if the Packers offer a longer term deal up front to Lazard, they should be able to keep his cap hit in 2022 at or below the $4M they would pay him on a second round tender. With the cupboard as bare as it is at WR in GB in 2022 and with the role Lazard plays in the offense, a cap hit at or below $4M seems like a price they will pay if they can.

It's not Lazard's fault that Rodgers rarely threw the ball to anyone but Davante or Jones. Everyone saw how open he and ESB were on that 3rd down play where Rodgers threw, incomplete, to a double covered Davante. There have been many times, this past season where Lazard was wide open, to move the chains, but was overlooked by our QB. He is a good blocking WR, as well. I think he is worth hanging on to.

Seems to me you can't answer the question of which receivers to bring back until you answer the Aaron Rodgers question. He makes it a lot easier to be productive with less talented receivers, making it a good place to ease the cap hit. If he doesn't come back do we really want Jordan Love throwing to a bunch of average or below pass catchers? That could make for an even uglier year than it probably will be.

Dear Matt LeFleur:

Aaron Rodgers is not good enough to carry a damn good offense, a damn good defense and a crappy special team to the Super Bowl.

We do not have enough Cap to keep everybody. Maybe we should consider using some non-cap money and hire a real ST coordinator.

Your kind heart cost us a playoff game this year. Why do you think it is fine to screw us fans with your stubborn ST management?

If you want my minuscule continued support, find a qualified ST coordinator.

Best regards,
Barnacle

One the one hand, Cory, you say that Lazard's value is at $7.7 million, while on the other hand you argue that "receivers can be bought at the Dollar Store." You then say that Lazard "...is a complimentary (sic) receiver, not a true No. 1." and at $7,7 million "the price isn’t right for a position that can be easily replaced."

So, Cory, if any non-elite WR "can be easily replaced", why is Lazard's value calculated so high? Is it because he's one of the best blocking WRs in the league? Is it because he's considered by analysts to be more talented than our QB has recognized? Or maybe it's because your analysis on the importance of a reliable non-number 1 receiver is flawed? You left out that very important piece of your story - WHY was Lazard valued so highly by analysts?

Oh yeah - as noted above, he's a restricted free agent, so this entire article is really not very relevant, is it?

As you may know, I've been a professional writer for a long time and I recognize that coming up with topics for a weekly column can sometimes be extremely difficult, so I'd like to suggest that you find a topic like today's and instead of making it an op-ed, make it fact-based. For an example, look at TGR's truly excellent article on the salary cap implications for this season from late last year. Here's a hint - I gave you a topic idea in this answer.

Lazard works. He's the Keeper. Adams can go. If Gutey is smart; he'll take a WRs first this draft. A 1 and 4 gets you Burks. If he's gone. The next guy is Tolbert. He locates the DEEP throw better then most. (Top 5.) And the 4.3 speed is needed. And one of my favorites is Alec Pierce. There is No waiting with these 3 guys. And Bell is a great kid that would fit. But is slower. I'd take everyone and forget the Defense. But I believe these guys all will be gone before the packers second rd. pick. Isn't that the way it went when they took Love? Taking as many WRs as you can is a Re-Load. It's what Rodgers needed, and this team needs after Rodgers.

Lazard standing in miles of space is an enduring image of our exit. To some extent that’s been a pattern with him and other of our returning receivers this year. That makes it hard to judge him in a classical receiver context. In any case, to do so misses the point.

Lazard’s value to this offense is more than his catching and being a big target willing to contest. He runs a lot of routes designed to help the run game and YAC. He excels as a blocking receiver and bleeds into the move TE sphere, particularly so after Tonyan went down. That included playing almost exclusively as a blocker while injury hampered.

I don’t know where the cost you quote comes from (in terms of the basis of the calculation). I’d say it’s high if based on classical WR metrics and low if another team values what he does. Who knows if one or more does. That too is only part of the picture though.

Next year we return none of our starting 3 as it stands and we don’t return our starting TE either (if he’s even healthy enough to sign pre season). Lazard is a fulcrum for the LaFleur O as we’ve seen it. We don’t have another like him and we are highly unlikely to find a draft pick able and ready to fill that role.

We are likely to have to add young TE talent, a position in which development typically is slow. To not sign Lazard would significantly undermine the offense we’ve seen to date. That we’d even think about balking at making a run at this price is a window into why this fantasy of another year with Rodgers is so knuckleheadded.

If we keep Rodgers we need receivers who run good routes. Look at whose currently signed. We are going to need Lazard and MVS too even if we draft high, with or without Adams. If we don’t have Rodgers, a Lazard type is even more valuable probably.

Either way, we are going to need a number of catchers signed/drafted/resigned. Are we suggesting they are all rookies? How many can we draft at the expense of other positions? How many of those can be expected to contribute significantly as rookies realistically? Or should we look for SFAs and UDFAs, because those are the only likely cheaper sources.

Actually, Lazard is a restricted FA, so there is a flawed assumption underpinning this piece, but it’s one that should make some stop and think hard. This is one illustration of why the idea that we can magically get back under the cap and have a competitive roster is so divorced from reality.

Packer Fans kill me... (*Including me...) ; )

How much did we pay Jimmy Graham? He couldn't block or catch TD passes, but Lazard can...

How much is Gas in Green Bay today compared to two years ago?

The cost of doing business is a thing, and I don't begrudge Allen Lazard for making the amount of money GB is willing to pay, no matter what it is.

Serious question: Why do Packer Fans want to low ball everyone? (All the time?)

Wish I could give you ten thumbs up!

Hard decisions coming that are going to be very telling in next 6 weeks (oh, to be a fly on the wall). Regardless of what the GBP front office does half the fan base will be unhappy. I just hope that those Rodger's supporters that get their wish and he is resigned are not constantly complaining about the lack of talent on offense, defense, or ST's....but we all know they will!

Lazard is not going anywhere because of his value to this team. He will sign the tender or a 3 year 10-12 mill guaranteed contract with performance bonuses. A more difficult question is MVS, who is not a RFA.

Our 2022 roster will include Lazard, an RFA who is a bargain, and Amari Rodgers, who is on a rookie contract. Beyond that, it’s all speculation. It makes sense to me that we replace older, expensive guys like Cobb and Adams with younger guys who can grow with Love. Lazard already has two years with Love and has been been supportive in the press.

I think it is unlikely that we’ll draft a WR in the first round, but this organization has proven it can find very good WRs on the second day of the draft. I also think we could add a WR in a trade, maybe even a guy like Jeudy. I also think we’re going to add a very good TE in the draft.

I don’t know about MVS or EQ. If Lazard, Amari, and the new guy are the Big 3, and if we throw a lot to the RBs and TE, then I’m not sure that they’re worth retaining at much more than the vet minimum. They both have injury history and both are probably at or near their ceiling, but they both are viable options. I’d keep the cheaper, and I think that’ll be EQ.

I think this might be a hard adjustment for people who are used to seeing us line up three high draft picks wide and throw it downfield 40 times, but times have changed and the past is no longer an option.

Hard decisions coming that are going to be very telling in next 6 weeks (oh, to be a fly on the wall). Regardless of what the GBP front office does half the fan base will be unhappy. I just hope that those Rodger's supporters that get their wish and he is resigned are not constantly complaining about the lack of talent on offense, defense, or ST's....but we all know they will!

If I was Lazard I’d want to go to a team where the QB throws me the ball.

There's a very real possibility that Adams could be gone(can the Packers afford even the franchise tag?). MVS could be gone. Lazard could be gone. Cobb could be gone. EQ. St. Brown could be gone. At tight end Robert Tonyan could be gone.

So you go into 2022 with Amari Rodgers, J. Winfree, Rico Gafford, Chris Blair, Malik Taylor, Josh Malone and David Moore. Hardly a set of wide receivers that strike fear into any defensive coordinator's heart.

Lazard has developed into a quality WR at an affordable cost.

OK - there seems to be a near unanimous show of hands to bring Lazzard back - as per the CBA restrictions. So onto the next item of business?

I am reserving any comment on this until I see if Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams are going to stay with the Packers.
Other than that it’s too early to speculate on guys like Lazard who I hope they keep if they can, he just does too much to discard him.

All our receivers are free agents this year. Ya that was bright on the packer org. Lazard put on weight and wasnt running away from anyone. I would keep him if the price was right.
St Bonehead sucked at ND and ditto for the packers.
MVS, is okay when he plays which isnt all that often. He too wasnt streaking down the sidelines running away from anyone and still drops every other pass.
Cobb was okay when Rodgers used him. Mostly he played decoy to get Adams open.
Adams lost a step this year. Ran away from no one and had to do some crafty moves to get open, thus he was covered pretty good.
His runing for 15 and turning only works so well.
Lazard stays Cobb stays the rest all go or take lo ball offers to stay.
Adams is gone.

Packers are 50 mil over cap now. If they tag Adams, that will add 22.2 mil to that amount. Now your in bigger trouble, you have to get rid of 72.2 mil by March 16th no matter what. 1/3 of the team, mostly your best players not named rodgers and gary, are free agents, and the draft the rookies, new hires will want contracts too.
Think about how the heck do you possible pull this off without losing a lot of players. You cannot appease diva boy by keeping adams and getting rid of everyone else.
Getting rid of Rodgers and Adams may be the smartest but hardest move but the only move. Its a mess. A dumpster fire for sure. and were talking Lazard? Hell 1/3 of the team could be shopping for luggage along with him.

Allen Lazard is a restricted FA. So his market calculation is irrelevant. Packers are likely to tender him the RFA offer.

Allen Lazard is awesome. One of our toughest WRs on the Packers, and the best blocker in the group. We need more toughness, not less. He’s elevating his game, young, and will prove to be worth every penny in $4-5M range.

I just want to see some real, smart football that makes sense on O in Green Bay again. Love to Lazard will be a big part of our post trade progression.

Coldworld, I felt same. Lazard wide open, but…

Time to move on from the choker who ignored the often WIDE OPEN Lazard in yet another of his last 9 freak out eliminations. Keep the tough, reliable talents like Lazard.