So far, Allen Lazard‘s career has been tied in lockstep with new Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Lazard spent his first five years in Green Bay catching passes from Rodgers. Then, in anticipation of a trade that would send Rodgers to the Jets, Lazard headed to New York as a free agent. With Rodgers now in Pittsburgh, there’s certainly a door open that could reunite Lazard with Rodgers, once again.
Originally signing with the Jaguars after going undrafted out of Iowa State in 2018, Lazard failed to make Jacksonville’s 53-man roster but signed to the team’s practice squad. Late in December of his rookie year, though, Green Bay signed him off the Jaguars’ p-squad as they saw a number of injuries to their own receiving corps. While he didn’t contribute much that season, he found his home of the next four years.
While Lazard was never a favorite target of Rodgers in Green Bay — a role rightly reserved for Davante Adams — he had a consistent role in the offense. In his second and third seasons, he contributed an average of 34 receptions for 464 yards and three touchdowns. He became more of a redzone target in 2021, logging 40 catches for 513 yards and a career-high eight touchdowns, before putting up a career year in 2022 with 60 catches, 788 yards, and six touchdowns.
Later rumors would indicate that following that final season in Green Bay, Lazard and Rodgers often spoke of playing in New York together. In fact, Lazard took the initiative to reach out to the Jets about the free agent deal he would eventually sign. Lazard’s first year in New York became essentially a wasted season, though, when Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon in the season opener. With Zach Wilson, Trevor Siemian, and Tim Boyle throwing to him, he only logged 23 receptions for 311 yards and a single touchdown. He improved last year, with Rodgers back on the field, but returned to his average totals with 37 catches for 530 yards and six touchdowns.
With Rodgers no longer in New York, Lazard’s current role seems uncertain. Adams departed from New York this offseason, seemingly giving Lazard a shot to be WR2. Unfortunately, according Rich Cimini of ESPN, Lazard is losing the WR2 battle to free agent addition Josh Reynolds. Per Cimini, Reynolds is the “clear-cut favorite” to land the job.
There was a time at which it seemed Lazard was certainly not long for New York. Early in the offseason, rumors came out that the Jets were likely to release him in the offseason, and a couple weeks later, the team gave him permission to seek a trade. Ultimately, the team opted to retain Lazard’s services, restructuring his contract to solidify the deal.
Despite this renewed commitment, Rodgers’ Pittsburgh signing immediately reignited rumors of a trade that would send Lazard to the Steelers. Given that cutting or trading Lazard before June 1 would’ve resulted in $6.55MM of dead money with him still taking up $1.94MM in cap space, it starts to make sense that Lazard has been kept around to this point, but a post-June 1 trade would now leave New York with only $2.18MM in dead money while relieving $2.43MM in cap space.
Cimini still thinks that it would be unlikely that the Jets would trade Lazard away. If they do, though — and Cimini notes here that that’s “a big if” — New York likely wouldn’t do so until the end of the preseason. The Jets have a lot of new pieces in their offense, and they’ll need to make sure they’re comfortable with their depth at wide receiver before agreeing to send Lazard away.
Steelers have depth at WR, headlined by Metcalfe theres Woods, Austin and Miller.
They have lots of guys at RB and I like Freiermuth and Washington at TE
Other than Rodger’s being there and that link there’s nothing to it. Jets if anything lack depth at WR so I don’t see it unless they want to add a FA like Allen or Cooper or something like that.
Woods, Austin and Miller are WR4
So is Lazard.
WR “depth” doesnt amount to much. Metcalf is the only established playmaker on that offense. AR is in trouble when Metcalf gets doubled teamed every passing down.
Dude drank that Kool Aid is now forever linked to daddy AR.
What is his trade value anyway?
Nil.
A small cup of tepid urine
I’m just waiting for someone to suggest they should hold out for a 3rd Rd pick.
“Price firm. No low-balls. I know what I have here!”
Off topic – sort of.
How cool would it be if two teams agreed to swap first round picks in the offseason? Each team believes and bets they win the bet by finishing better than the other. “Im better than you”
For example – right now the Ravens trade firsts with the Chiefs.
Or Carolina trades with like the Giants.
How fun is that?
I realize its not gonna happen, too many jobs on the line. But its fun to think about.
Buffalo trades first round pick to Packers for snowplow in good working order 🙂
“trade candidate” hahhahha, that’s funny.
The same was said about Mike Williams and then would you look at that he was traded. A WR needy team will eventually buy low on a guy like Lazard. Probably a conditional 6th
Is he worse than Van Jefferson?
No — but is he better than Austin, Wilson, Woods?
Isn’t that the real question in play?
I know nothing about Woods, but the other two profile better as slot receivers and 6’5 is 6’5.
Given their need at WR2, their frugality in filling said need, Lazard being cheap and the Rodgers connection…this seems likely.
Then the answer is “yes” and you make an offer.
Personally, if he costs a 6th or less I’m in. Wouldn’t be terribly mad at a 5th. Either way I would be giving Austin & Wilson every chance to beat him out for #2 and #3 duties. But he’d be a great fallback option (better than Woods, imo). Agree he adds something different to the room.
Anything higher than a 5th just seems to go against what they are clearly doing to stockpile Day 1 & 2 picks to move up for a QB.
To hear Jets fans tell it, he shouldn’t even cost that.
Can teams trade conditional 7ths? Meaning if PGH finishes worse than NYJ, Jets can swap picks. If not, Jets get nothing for him.
Some sports that’s legal, some not, can’t remember if it is in the NFL.
Didn’t the Steelers do that with someone a few years back? Will Jackson III?