Green Bay Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard made it clear at the end of the season that he believes he has played his last game in Green and Gold. An unrestricted free agent, he is not the wide receiver one that the team had hoped he would be. That being said, Lazard is a solid receiver and can contribute in many ways to a winning football team. This is why two AFC contenders, the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs, have emerged as favorites to sign the five-year veteran.
Allen Lazard Could Join a Former Teammate in Kansas City
Last offseason, the Kansas City Chiefs signed Marquez Valdes-Scantling to a three-year $30 million contract. MVS, of course, played the first four seasons of his career with the Green Bay Packers. Both Lazard and MVS joined the Packers in 2018, MVS being a fifth-round draft pick and Lazard an undrafted free agent.
According to Matthew Barry of NBC Sports, both the Chiefs and Ravens have shown interest in the unrestricted free agent wide receiver. From his column:
“My nipples are hard…for Allen Lazard.”
My source goes on to explain that that was a phrase he heard about Lazard, one of the top free agent wide receivers this year in a fairly thin class. I heard both the Ravens and Chiefs really like Lazard and my sense is that Lazard returning to Green Bay is not out of the question, but an unlikely outcome.
Well, that is certainly an interesting position to have on Lazard. However, as Barry notes, Lazard is among the best wide receivers in a relatively week free agent class at the position
What Role Could Allen Lazard Fill on Either Team?
As mentioned, Allen Lazard is not a number one wide receiver. That being said, he is certainly no slouch. Last season, Lazard had 60 receptions for 788 yards and six touchdowns. He is also widely considered one of the best blocking wide receivers in the NFL.
This blocking is where he will fit in perfectly on either the Ravens or Chiefs. Baltimore, especially, is a run-heavy team that would benefit from Lazard’s superior downfield blocking. In Kansas City, he would certainly not need to be the team’s number receiving threat, but would benefit the team in same way: with his blocking.
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