The 2023 NFL offseason is drawing closer by the day, so it’s time to evaluate depth charts and determine what path these teams should take to build out their rosters for the future. One key player for the Green Bay Packers is WR Allen Lazard — we’ll review his contract and 2023 market value. Should Green Bay re-sign him or let him walk in free agency?
Allen Lazard’s Past Production
Lazard has certainly had his moments of impact plays over the course of his tenure with the Packers since going undrafted in 2018. After barely seeing the field in his first season, Lazard has gone on to see 233 targets over the past four seasons — and still counting — and he’s become one of Aaron Rodgers’ most trusted targets in the red zone.
Lazard has 19 career touchdowns to his name, and he’s hit career-high marks in targets, receptions, and yardage in 2022. This is despite the fact that he’s only played in 11 out of a possible 13 games up to this point.
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He’s been one of the few bright spots for this Packers club this season, and he’s responded well to needing to step up in the absence of Davante Adams, who was sent away via trade to the Las Vegas Raiders this past offseason.
Accordingly, Lazard has been functioning as the de facto No. 1 WR for this Packers offense, and he currently accounts for five of Rodgers’ 22 touchdowns this year. He also currently leads the team in receiving yards, despite playing two fewer games than some of the other playmakers on the roster.
As he’s developed up to this point of his career, he’s proven to be a trustworthy receiving option, and his size — 6’5, 227lbs — presents an issue for opposing secondaries, especially in the red zone.
Has he done enough though to earn a big-dollar contract in free agency, though?
Allen Lazard’s Contract and Market Value
Lazard is currently playing on a one-year deal worth $3.98mil that is set to expire at the end of the 2022 NFL season. He will be an unrestricted free agent at the age of 27.
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According to Spotrac, Lazard has a projected market value of a 3-year deal worth $33 million, in total. This would break down to an average annual salary of $11 million per season and is comparable to recent deals signed by Corey Davis and Nelson Agholor, two veteran wideouts who were at a similar age when they signed their current contracts.
The Green Bay Packers Depth Chart
The Packers’ WR room has been one of the most discussed position groups in all of football in recent offseasons. Heading into the 2022 season, the Packers traded away their locked-in No. 1 option and hoped to make it by with a trio of Lazard, Christian Watson, and Romeo Doubs.
While the rookies in Watson and Doubs have certainly shown flashes this season, they’re still young players trying to earn the trust of a QB that relies immensely on chemistry, and they accordingly had their ups and downs as the team tried to compete for a playoff spot this season.
The young players have shown enough that they can be solid building blocks moving forward, but relying on them to be the No. 1 and No. 2 receiving options for this offense is a major risk. Lazard’s presence as a veteran receiver who has Rodgers’ trust could allow Watson and Doubs to continue to develop without too much pressure on their shoulders.
The biggest wildcard in these discussions about Lazard returning to the Packers is Rodgers himself. Will he be the starting QB for Green Bay next season? The contract extension he signed this past offseason would indicate as much, but will he retire? Will another team trade for him and take the massive cap hit?
If Rodgers is no longer the QB, will the Packers’ front office see a strong need to re-sign Lazard or hit the rebuild button with Jordan Love?
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Regardless, the Packers will have to figure out something with the salary cap for 2023. They are projected to currently have about $4 million in space this next offseason, which is not enough to dedicate to re-signing Lazard along with some of their other key free agents.
With all that being said, the Packers will likely look to let Lazard test out the free agent market next season and seek to fill his spot with another rookie or a less expensive veteran. It’s simply too difficult to envision how the salary cap can be worked to bring him back at the projected price tag.
