The NFL’s annual scouting combine is underway. It brings the vast majority of young players soon to be evaluated, interviewed and then drafted or signed by the 32 franchises but when Green Bay Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst took to the media podium Tuesday afternoon, most of his time was spent talking about a 38 year old quarterback and 30 year old wide receiver.
With good reason. The immediate future of Gutey’s Packer team and the longer term prospects for the organization hinge on what happens with four time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers and unanimous first team All Pro Davante Adams.
The clock is ticking for both and in a matter of a couple of combine queries, the focus shifted to one week from today when Gutekunst must decide whether to apply the franchise tag on Adams at a one year cost in the neighborhood of 20 million dollars. March 16 is when the league’s calendar year begins and without a tag, Adams could become a very attractive unrestricted free agent.
But Gutekunst still believes resolving the Rodgers dilemma first will set the table for the rest of his off-season negotiations and deliberations.
“There’s no new update,” Gutekunst declared today. The GM and Vice-President of Football Operations Russ Ball must either find a way to extend Rodgers beyond 2022, appease a potential request to get traded as the back to back MVP, or wish him well in retirement.
Roster change and uncertainty is an annual process but Gutekunst admits that’s the case this spring even with a certain number 12 in the equation.
Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel asked Gutekunst if he’s fielded any phone calls, texts or e-mails from his colleagues around the league about trading Rodgers, and even more importantly, what his asking price would be. “Not one,” replied the GM, “not a single person.”
The Packers have already restructured three veteran contracts, Kenny Clark, Aaron Jones and David Bakhtiari, reducing the team’s salary cap deficit by over 20 million dollars. They’re still about 29 million above the 208 million dollar cap and the team has to get down to that number in 15 days.
Gutekunst said the focus can’t change, it’s roster building for now, cap management for later.
If the Packers somehow get both Rodgers and Adams back, it could squeeze out a couple of other veteran players. Gutekunst was asked about De’Vondre Campbell and Rasul Douglas and spoke highly about the contributions of both in 2022 and the desire to have them back. Za’Darius Smith was another player that came up. After back surgery limited Smith to opening day and a cameo in the NFC Divisional Playoff loss, he’s got the second highest salary cap figure on the team entering the’22 season. Gutekunst said you can never plan for injury and it would have been great to see how Smith would have impacted an ascending defense but he also brought up the play of Rashan Gary, Preston Smith and even Jonathan Garvin before saying Smith’s future will be discussed.
As for the combine, Gutekunst is thankful some strict, pandemic protocols have been eased and he and his staff will be allowed to view workouts up close and get face to face time with interviews. Those workouts begin in earnest Wednesday which is when Head Coach Matt LaFleur will take his turn at the media podium.
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