Matt LaFleur unfazed by Allen Lazard minicamp absense
The Green Bay Packers began their mandatory three-day minicamp Tuesday. Though one player was missing: The presumptive No. 1 wide receiver Allen Lazard, according to head coach Matt LaFleur.
LaFleur spoke to the media Wednesday and was unfazed by the absence of his top receiver, who has yet to officially sign his one-year, $4.0M tender contract.
“We’d love for him to be here,” LaFleur said Wednesday. “Obviously, he’s been in our system for a couple years, so I don’t have any reservations at all about him knowing what to do.”
Full quote at NFL.com
Star quarterback Aaron Rodgers said Tuesday that he wasn’t concerned about Lazard stepping into his new role. Lazard entering his fourth (full) season with the team after getting poached from the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad at the tail-end of 2018:
“He’s been our dirty work guy for most of his career here. Now he’s getting an opportunity to be a No. 1 receiver. I’m not worried about him at all stepping into that role.”
The indication is that Lazard, who will be a free-agent heading into 2023, is reportedly seeking a long-term deal. He has totaled 109 receptions for 1,449 yards and 14 touchdowns in four seasons. In 2021, he posted career-bests in receptions (40), receiving yards (513) and touchdowns (8) as one of Green Bay’s top targets.
The 26-year-old’s estimated market value is $7.7 million, per Spotrac. With the departure of All-Pro receiver Davante Adams, Lazard can absolutely have another career year and exceed that expected threshold heading into 2023 — assuming he doesn’t sign long-term this offseason.
Conversely, if he has a disappointing season or gets hurt, his market diminishes. So, personally, I don’t blame him for holding out. Lazard will be competing for targets with Packers rookies Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, as well as veteran wideouts Sammy Watkins and Randall Cobb.
According to The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman, here’s what Lazard’s agent, Peter Schaffer, commented on his client’s minicamp absense:
“Allen’s total focus is on having the best possible season he can have as a player & helping the Packers win the Lombardi Trophy. Everything he is doing is to further those objectives.”
We’ll wait and see what happens — but it’s more ideal for the 26-year-old target take care of these matters sooner rather than later.
