How Packers could be impacted by Amari Cooper future
Wide receiver Amari Cooper could soon be available with ESPN’s Adam Schefter reporting that it is “likely” he will be released by the Dallas Cowboys before free agency begins. One person who will be watching closely is Green Bay Packers receiver Davante Adams.
If Cooper is released before free agency begins, it means he would be free to sign with another team before the start of the new league year.
ESPN’s Field Yates believes Cooper will “have a major market”, and understandably so. Cooper is a four-time Pro Bowler and has hit 1,000 yards receiving twice in the past three seasons.
The Packers may need to use the franchise tag on Davante Adams to prevent him from hitting free agency in a couple of weeks. This would buy them time to work on a long-term deal with the All-Pro wide receiver.
But what if Cooper becomes the highest-paid receiver in the NFL on a more expensive deal than the one DeAndre Hopkins has with the Arizona Cardinals? It could potentially reset the market at wide receiver and make it even more challenging for the Packers to pay their superstar wide receiver what he deserves.
Adams is the best receiver in football, so it makes sense that his contract should reflect that.
In terms of average salary per year, Adams is currently the 19th highest-paid receiver in the NFL, per Over The Cap. Whether it’s in Green Bay or elsewhere, this will be changing this offseason. But if Cooper signs a huge deal in the next couple of weeks, it could certainly have an impact on Adams’ negotiations with the Packers.
The Packers have plenty to sort out when it comes to their salary cap as they are currently almost $30 million over the cap, per Spotrac. They will need to create that much space plus a whole lot more if they plan to re-sign Adams, especially if they use the franchise tag.
It could be a fascinating wide receiver free agency class with Cooper, Chris Godwin, and Allen Robinson all potentially going to be available. All three could land big contracts. Add to that a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that the Kansas City Chiefs are working on a new deal for Tyreek Hill.
It’s entirely possible that one of these receivers will become the highest-paid at the position very soon. If the Packers are going to work out a long-term extension with Adams, they may need to be willing to do the same.