Green Bay Packers receiver Randall Cobb was on the NFL Network on Tuesday and the main topic of conversation was his contract.
Cobb will be playing out the final year of his rookie deal in 2014. That’s bad news for the Packers because they have pretty much zero leverage.
If Cobb hits the open market, he’s going to break the bank. He’s only 23 and is already one of the top playmakers in the league. What’s more is both Jordy Nelson and Jarrett Boykin are also scheduled to be free agents after the 2014 season. Oh, and James Jones will be a free agent next month.
The Packers could literally have none of the receivers on their roster that they finished 2013 with after the 2014 season. We doubt that will happen, as both Cobb and Nelson will be priorities for extensions, but it’s possible at this point.
So Cobb was asked if he’s heard from the Packers about a new contract. He hasn’t, but that isn’t surprising since the organization has far more pressing matters with their current free agent class.
However, Cobb made it clear he’d like to get paid sooner rather than later.
“I would definitely love [to sign a long-term extension],” he said. “But unfortunately that won’t be my decision. That will be on the team to come to me with that decision.”
“I would love to get it out the way and not to have to worry about any of the conversations or answering any questions during the season that would take away from what we’re trying to do as a football team.”
The Packers would be wise to get Cobb’s extension out of the way this summer. If they don’t, there’s a good chance they’re going to end up paying him a much higher salary after the season ends.