Green Bay Reporter

The Green Bay Packers are nearly $49 million over the projected salary cap, which means there are some difficult decisions to be made with the roster in the near future. 

One notable player is wide receiver Randall Cobb who has received high praise from future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and many believe the two could come as a package as Rodgers mulls his return.

According to ESPN, the Packers are $48,910,955 over the projected 2022 salary cap, and while this presents some difficulties for the team to add talent to make another run at a Super Bowl, the team has confidence that Executive Vice President/Director of Football Operations Russ Ball will be able to move the money around to retain and add the right pieces to the puzzle. 

Green Bay is the second-highest over the cap in the league and by March 16 the team must be under the cap. The issue is that if there is a hint at a rebuilding year, Rodgers will likely want no part and will opt out. His decision will affect other roster moves like what to do with Cobb.

The ESPN report predicts that if Rodgers stays and once again vouches for Cobb to return as part of his deal, the Packers will likely keep Cobb but at a reduced wage. Otherwise it appears that Cobb will be cut. These sentiments were also felt by the publications like ACME Packing Co. and Dairy Land Express.

“I do think the Green Bay Packers restructure Randall Cobb’s contract as a way to lower his cap hit and keep him with the team for another season if Aaron Rodgers does return,” Paul Bretl of the Dairy Land Express wrote.

Cobb, a 31-year-old receiver who played his first eight seasons with the Packers and then returned last year after single seasons with Dallas and Houston, had 28 receptions for 375 yards and five touchdowns last year. This is a far cry from his best season where he made the Pro Bowl with 91 catches for 1,287 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2014, but he is still effective catching the ball and having one of the best quarterbacks in history vouch for you gives an automatic boost.

Last year, 21 of his receptions were for first downs and 10 were on third-down conversions, ESPN reported. Acme Packing Co. added that last year his yards per target of 9.6 was top on the Packers, even over All Pro Davate Adams’ 9.2 yards per target.

He also knows how to find the end zone and has been a reliable receiver for Rodgers for many years. The team also does not have a top wide receiver signed for next season, and the team essentially knows what they get with Cobb’s play. 

Then there are the injuries.

Cobb has shown some of his age as he ended the regular season on the injured reserve foe the second year in a row. His $9.6 million toward the salary cap is the eighth highest on the team and the team would clear $6.8 million in cap space if he is released.

Robin Adams, co-owner of WI Sports Heroics, spoke out about Cobb's value for the Packers on Twitter.

“The #Packers may have brought back Randall Cobb for Aaron Rodgers last season, but Cobb proved much more valuable than just plain sentiment,” Robin Adams, co-owner of WI Sports Heroics, tweeted.