NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

Green Bay Packers: Is the price right for Randall Cobb?

By Keegan Matheson

facebooktwitterreddit

The Green Bay Packers have little time left to make their first step towards re-signing star wide receiver Randall Cobb. The franchise tag remains a possibility, but Ted Thompson and the Green Bay Packers would surely prefer to lock up the 24-year old weapon long-term.  According to a report on Monday from Rob Demovsky of ESPN, Cobb is seeking a deal that would pay him close to $9 million annually, putting him in the neighborhood of Jordy Nelson‘s 4-year, $39 million contract.

More from Green Bay Packers

If this report is accurate, which is an important “if”, that’s great news for the Green Bay Packers. With approximately $23 million in cap space entering this offseason and the potential for that number to grow with roster cuts, Green Bay has some flexibility, but only a finite amount.  Cobb was, and still is, in a position where I would not have been surprised to see him seeking in the area of $12 million annually.

Cobb is coming off a career season in which he broke out as a true No. 1 caliber receiver, catching 91 passes for 1,287 yards and 12 touchdowns. Alongside Jordy Nelson, the duo forms one of the league’s finest starting combinations and managed to carry a top-heavy group of receivers through all of 2014.  With Cobb’s electric physical skills, elite versatility and the possibility that he still has room to grow before hitting his ceiling, $9 million is digestible.

"“The biggest thing for me is to win championships. I want rings. I want to be somewhere that lasts, somewhere that I feel I have a chance year in and year out. At the end of the day, being with this organization and having the history of this team, winning a championship here would have so much meaning. I would just love to be a part of that.”"

Jan 4, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson (81) catches a pass ahead of the defense by ]d38 during the second quarter in the NFC Wild Card Playoff Game at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

To make some sense of a $9 million average annual salary for a wide receiver, lets take a look at some comparable existing contracts courtesy of Over the Cap.

Depending on the structure of the deal, I would be comfortable if $10 million annually entered the discussion with Cobb.  Despite the groups above being small and mostly constructed of great receivers, I think that Randall Cobb fits in seven days a week. Not only is he talented enough on his own, but Cobb’s value to the Packers offense specifically helps to justify the large contract.

Oct 2, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson (87) celebrates with wide receiver Randall Cobb (18) and tight end Richard Rodgers (89) after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Losing Cobb creates a need that would have to be addressed immediately, which Ted Thompson prefers not to do. When Thompson let James Jones walk to the Oakland Raiders on a very reasonable three-year, $10 million contract last offseason, that led me to believe that the Packers intended on keeping Cobb in the fold along with Nelson on a long-term basis.

Looking at this from Cobb’s perspective, let’s not deny for a moment that money talks. Any desire he has to establish his value in free agency is completely logical, although it could force the Packers hand with a franchise tag.  As he told Don Banks of Sports Illustrated this past November, though, winning talks, too.  “The biggest thing for me is to win championships,’’ Cobb told Banks. “I want rings.”  The first step to winning in the NFL is quarterback, and given how close the Packers were this past season, Cobb may see no place better for consistent contention than the familiar confines of Lambeau.

The big free agent splash, whether internal or on the open market, is not Ted Thompson’s style.  Drafting, developing, and retaining his own players is, however, and I’d point to Greg Jennings as a case study. Back in March of 2013, Kareem Copeland of NFL.com reported that Jennings had been offered an annual salary of $10 million before electing to hit free agency.

That offseason, Jennings was knocking on the door of being 30-years old and coming off a 2012 season limited by injuries to eight games and 366 yards. Jennings had also failed to crack 1,000 yards while appearing in 13 games in 2011. Green Bay was no more desperate for wide receivers at that time than they are now, so if the reported offer of $10 million annually is even close to being true, the Packers should have no problem writing the same check for the much younger and more talented Cobb.

There are moving pieces in this situation, but in the circumstance that Cobb’s demands stay even close to the reported $9M annual salary, the Packers must pull the trigger. Having a truly elite quarterback is a rare luxury in the NFL. Surrounding Aaron Rodgers with top-level receiving threats throughout his prime will be an essential part of the Green Bay Packers’ Super Bowl runs in 2015 and beyond.

Next: Green Bay Packers free agent target: Dan Williams

More from NFL Spin Zone

Home/Green Bay Packers