Packers WR Allen Lazard signs RFA tender after skipping mandatory minicamp

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard skipped the team's mandatory minicamp last week presumably in an attempt to put pen to paper on a long-term contract with Green Bay after the club used the restricted free-agent tender to retain his rights through the 2022 season. 

As Coral Smith explained for the NFL's website, Lazard wasn't subject to any fines for missing the sessions since he hadn't yet signed the tender, but the 26-year-old's status changed at the start of the week. 

Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero (h/t Nick Shook), Lazard signed his restricted free-agent tender on Monday. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes that the wideout is set to earn $3.986 million for 2022 but can then hit unrestricted free agency next March. 

Florio is already linking Lazard with the Denver Broncos, who currently have former Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett serving as their head coach. For now, though, Lazard is atop the depth chart for a Green Bay side that shipped All-Pro Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders and lost Marquez Valdes-Scantling to free agency.

While speaking with reporters last week, Packers quarterback and reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Aaron Rodgers let it be known he's focusing only on the upcoming season and not on his future past those games. One wonders if Rodgers' unwillingness to verbally commit to playing beyond 2022 could result in Lazard wanting to test free agency less than 12 months down the road. 

Lazard finished the 2021 campaign with 40 catches for 513 yards and eight touchdowns but could be in for a career year beginning this fall as long as he remains healthy and in the lineup.