According to NFL Network insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, the Green Bay Packers and Davante Adams are "far-away" on a long-term deal that would keep Adams in Green Bay. An extension would help the team come under the pay limit in time for the March 16 deadline.
Speaking on "Good Morning Football" on Monday, Rapoport said "this relationship isn't in a great place," and Adams has surprisingly informed the team that he will be in 2022 for a franchise-tag price of $20.5 million. not willing to pay for
If the two sides don't come to an agreement by March 16, the Packers will be on the hook for the $20.5 million cap hit that comes with Adams' contract and will be forced to take the significant cuts needed to slide down. The Packers still have until July 15 to reach a long-term deal with Adams. An expansion would promise Adams more money, but would also increase the Packers' financial commitment and reduce the 2022 cap hit, giving the team more flexibility for other spots on the roster.
The latest from @RapSheet and me on Davante Adams, who has informed the #Packers he won’t play on the franchise tag amidst fundamental differences on a long-term deal. @gmfb @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/kf6YeJXZxC
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 14, 2022
The Packers used the non-exclusive tag, meaning that Adams could negotiate a free-agent deal with another team but compensate the Packers for matching it in the 2022 draft or receiving two first-round picks. will have the right. (An exclusive tag would have deterred Adams from making the purchase himself, but would have cost packers more money than a non-exclusive tag).
Without using the tag, Adams would have become an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday. The team still has the option of canceling the tag or, if it can make the necessary adjustments to fit a maximum of $20.5 million, trade it.
Adams will seek to become the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL, shooting more than $27.5 million per year for DeAndre Hopkins of Arizona.
Pelicero seemed a bit over-optimistic that the gap was closing between the two sides, but noted that fundamental differences remained as to "what this contract should look like" in terms of structure and length.
"If you're Davante Adams, you're 29, the five-year extension will eat up the rest of your prime," Pelicero said. "It could potentially take some time."
Without a deal, Adams could have stayed throughout training camp; He must show up no earlier than 1 week to receive payment on the $20.5 million deal.