Packers: Four solutions to Davante Adams’ contract situation

If the Green Bay Packers‘ offseason plan was to frustrate their star players and potentially lose two of them by 2022, they’re doing a great job.

First Aaron Rodgers being unhappy and skipping the offseason program, and now Davante Adams. Following the report by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that the Packers and Adams are in a “bad place” after breaking off contract talks, one has to wonder what the hell’s going on out here.

The Packers have more leverage with Rodgers as there are still three years remaining on his contract. With Adams, he’s entering the final year which means he can walk away next offseason if a new deal isn’t agreed.

So, what options do the Packers have moving forward?

4. Wait until 2022, use franchise tag

If the Packers don’t want to make Adams the highest-paid WR in the league, as Rapoport reported, they probably won’t like this option much better.

If the two sides haven’t agreed on a contract extension by next offseason, the Packers would have the opportunity to use the franchise tag to ensure Adams remains under contract in 2022.

It would come at a cost, though. The Chicago Bears used the franchise tag on Allen Robinson this season, a move that comes with a cap hit of $17.98 million, according to Over The Cap.

But if the Packers’ concern is giving Adams a long-term deal that lasts well into his 30s, then maybe this would be an option. They’d keep Adams for another season but wouldn’t have any long-term concerns with the salary cap.

This still seems the least likely scenario as the Packers won’t have much cap flexibility next offseason, and this move would take a lot of work to pull off.