The Green Bay Packers are in a bit of a conundrum right now. Their explosive offense is putting up 29 points per game and their passing attack ranks eighth in the league. But as their offense skyrockets, so too does the asking price for pending free agent wide receiver Randall Cobb.
The Packers already have $14.25 million committed to No. 1 receiver Jordy Nelson next year after signing him to a four-year, $39 million contract extension in July. It's doubtful that Green Bay can afford two top-10 WR salaries on their cap sheet and Cobb is making a strong case for such a deal.
Cobb has caught 54 balls for 779 yards and 10 touchdowns, good for second most in the league, this season. The 24-year-old receiver is in the last year of his rookie contract and is quickly ascending the receiver ranks.
"I think everyone wants Randall to be here," Nelson said. "I think any player wants to play their whole career in the same spot, but it's a business on both sides. Sometimes people think it's a one-way business, but he's going to do what's best for him and what he thinks is the best situation for him."
ESPN's Rob Demovsky believes that "a deal averaging in the neighborhood of $6 million to $7 million isn't out of the question" for Cobb. "The feeling around the league is that there's no way the Packers would let him hit free agency next March," Demovsky wrote.
The Packers current have $8,794,417 in salary-cap space slated for next year.
"I think that's why they go well together," Packers safety Micah Hyde said of Cobb and Nelson. "With Randall, he controls the inside. Don't get me wrong, Jordy can go inside, too. But Randall does a good job, and the matchups that he creates is remarkable. And then for Jordy to be outside, with a guy like A-Rod [Aaron Rodgers] getting them the ball, it's going to be hard to stop."
Cobb has topped 100-yards receiving in four of his last seven games. He's more than secured the trust of Rodgers.
"I do feel very confident that I wouldn't want any other guys than the guys we've got," Rodgers said.
