Aaron Rodgers' future continues to be a mystery, but it appears that Davante Adams is destined to receive the Packers' franchise tag that will ensure his return to Green Bay in 2022. The Packers are expected to tag Adams between now and the March 8 deadline, according to ESPN's Rob Demovsky.
Applying the tag would give the two sides until July 15 to come to terms on a long-term contract. Adams would take home roughly $19 million next season -- all guaranteed -- if he plays under the tag. The two sides of have not had any discussions since the end of the 2021 season, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Apparently, Adams and the Packers are in a holding pattern as it relates to Rodgers, who has yet to make a decision on if and where he will play next season. If Rodgers leaves, there may be less incentive for the Packers to keep Adams on the roster. If Rodgers stays, it will surely mean that Adams will be back in the fold as well.
Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst discussed the futures of both Rodgers and Adams earlier this week. A day after Rodgers said that he has had positive meetings with the Packers' brass, Gutekunst said that he and Rodgers agreed last summer to "sit down and work it out one way or another" during this offseason. Gutekunst added that a potential trade was never promised to Rodgers.
Gutekunst said that he is "very confident" that the Packers will be able to field a competitive team should Rodgers and Adam return despite the team's current salary cap issues. Green Bay, which was an estimated $42.7 million over the cap at the start of the week, cleared significant space by restructuring defensive lineman Kenny Clark's contract. Clark's restructure reportedly saved the team roughly $10.8 million in cap space. The team then saved an additional $3 million after running back Aaron Jones agreed to a contract restructure.
If he is tagged, Adams will likely return to Green Bay unless the team would decide to trade him between now and the start of the season. Adams spent the first eight years of his career with the Packers after being the 53rd overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. A Pro Bowler each of the past five years and an All-Pro the past two seasons, Adams is second in franchise history in receptions (669), fourth in yards (8,121) and second in touchdowns (73).
While he did not offer a specific time on when he will make a decision on next season, Rodgers said on Tuesday that he hopes it will be a swift process between him and the Packers' organization. Rodgers, 38, is coming off a 2021 campaign in which he won his fourth league MVP award and his second in as many years.
"I am looking forward to making the decision and moving forward. I think it's best for me, it's best for the team, and it's best for all parties involved to get this behind us," he said during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. "I've obviously had thoughts about it and have had thoughts throughout the season and throughout the offseason even during [Panchakarma]. There's conversations to be had and a few more things to contemplate, but it won't be long. I'm not going to hold anyone hostage in this. I'm not going to do that. Obviously, I want to feel assertive about it and when I do I'll make a decision and we'll move on and move forward."
