The outlier contract signed by DeAndre Hopkins with the Arizona Cardinals is hurting the contract discussions between Davante Adams and the Green Bay Packers.
As of now, the talks between the All-Pro receiver and organization are done, and Hopkins’ deal is likely to blame.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Packers have not acknowledged Adams as the would-be highest-paid receiver in contract proposals, and Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports the Packers don’t want to recognize Hopkins’ deal in negotiations with Adams.
After being dealt from Houston to Arizona, Hopkins signed a two-year, $54.5 million extension with the Cardinals. The deal averages $27.25 million per year, well above any other player at the position. If Adams wants to become the highest-paid receiver in the NFL, the Packers would have to match or beat the $27.25 million per year in new money. The team’s unwillingness to get to that number could be what is killing talks between the two sides now.
Only four receivers in the NFL currently make $20 million or more per year. Hopkins’ $27.25 million per year average is over $5 million more than Julio Jones’ $22 million average.
The Packers might be stuck between giving what Adams deserves as a player while also not resetting a rapidly rising wide receiver market.
Adams is coming off one of the best receiving seasons in franchise history. He caught 115 passes for 1,374 yards and 18 touchdowns in just 14 games.
Adams turns 29 in December. His four-year deal with the Packers expires after the 2021 season. The franchise tag could be in play in 2022 if the two sides can’t come together on a new deal.
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