Matt LaFleur, Packers ‘hopeful’ that Davante Adams is re-signed before the start of free agency

With another premature playoff exit in the books, the Green Bay Packers have begun preparations for the 2022 season. One of the Packers’ biggest offseason tasks is finding a way to retain All-Pro receiver Davante Adams, who is slated to become a free agent on March 16. 

On Monday, Packers coach Matt LaFleur said that he is hopeful that the Packers and Adams can come to terms on a new deal before the start of free agency. LaFleur said that he had meet with Adams earlier in the day. 

“We kind of talked everything through and, again, another guy that we’re hopeful that we can come to an agreement with,” LaFleur said, via Nick Shook of NFL.com. “Obviously, he’s done so much on the field, but I think it’s still the stuff that you all don’t get to see within the meeting room, with how he talks to his teammates, with how he sets a standard for everybody, there’s a reason he was voted a captain, rightfully so. He earned that.

“I told him that he’s definitely earned the respect of not only his teammates but all of his coaches, as well, and I think everybody in this organization. Just his ability to compartmentalize his own situation and go out there and compete at the level he did each and every week, putting himself out there, obviously, in a contract year and just bringing it and playing at the highest of levels. He’s the best receiver in the league.”

Adams, 29, caught 123 of 169 targets for 1,553 yards and 11 touchdowns during the 2021 season. Over the past two seasons, Adams has caught 238 passes for 2,927 yards and 29 touchdowns. Adams has been a Pro Bowler each of the last five years and was an All-Pro the past two seasons. 

Green Bay has some work to do as far as the salary cap is concerned. The Packers are expected to be roughly $40 million over the cap when the new league year begins. Adams’ calculated market value is $129.3 million over five years, according to Spotrac. 

Keeping Adams in Green Bay may help convince Aaron Rodgers to remain with the team instead of continuing his career elsewhere. Like Adams, LaFleur hopes that his quarterback will return for the 2022 season. 

“We’re hopeful that he’ll be back next year, obviously,” LaFleur said of Rodgers, who said following Saturday’s loss that he does not want to be part of a rebuild if he plays an 18th season. “I mean, this guy has done so much for such a long period of time for this organization, for this city, for this team. And so, I want to be respectful of his process, whatever he needs to go through to make the best decision for himself, and certainly we would love for him to be a Packer and be a Packer until the day he decides to retire.”