Randall Cobb weighed his options this offseason but stability for his young family attracted the veteran slot receiver back to the Green Bay Packers on a reduced salary.
Cobb, who turns 32 in August, agreed to slash his base salary by over $5 million.
Moving five times since leaving Green Bay in 2018 and having two kids under three years old helped make the decision.
“Maybe I could have said, ‘Hey, I’m not taking a pay cut,’ and went and played someplace else. But I’ve moved five times in the past four years. I’ve got kids now,” Cobb said. “I want to have a little stability for my kids. That’s my focus, first and foremost. They have familiarity with being here in Green Bay, and I want to keep that for them.”
Instead of moving again, Cobb helped the Packers out of their salary cap situation and locked in his roster spot in Green Bay for at least one more season.
Cobb, a second-round pick of the team in 2011, returned to the Packers via trade in August of last year. He wasn’t re-signed following the 2018 season and went on to play for the Dallas Cowboys in 2019 and the Houston Texans in 2020.
The idea of more change didn’t interest Cobb, and now he’s back with a chance to play with Aaron Rodgers and build on his 2021 season
Over 12 games last season, Cobb caught 28 passes for 375 yards and five touchdowns. He exited a win over the Los Angeles Rams in November with a core muscle injury that required surgery but was able to return for the Packers’ playoff loss to the 49ers. While no longer the slot dynamo he once was in Green Bay, Cobb provided a reliable target for Rodgers. He caught 72 percent of his targets and averaged 9.6 yards per target. His five touchdowns were the most in a season for Cobb since 2015.
There is change happening in Green Bay, however. Davante Adams is now in Las Vegas, meaning Cobb will play without No. 17 in Green Bay for the first time since before he was drafted by the Packers in 2014.
As was the case with Cobb’s journey, teams and players make decisions based on their own self interests.
“This is a business, man,” Cobb said. “This is a business first. Unfortunately, things happen. That’s the way it goes. I’m thankful I got to play with him as long as I did…I’m happy for him.”
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