Jaguars better off not meeting Davante Adams’ asking price in free agency

The Jacksonville Jaguars need to upgrade their wide receiver corps this offseason but that’s not the only positional group they must upgrade. That’s why they may be better off passing on the chance to sign Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams in free agency.

Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network recently reported that Adams is looking to be the highest-paid wideout in the league and wants to get a deal that averages close to $30 million per year. Pauline adds that the Packers might not be inclined to go higher than $24 to $25 million.

Keep in mind that Adams isn’t the only Packers player looking for a new contract this offseason. LInebacker De’Vondre Campbell, running back Robert Tonyan and wide receiver Allen Lazard also want to get paid and Green Bay may not be able to keep them all. Moreover, using the franchise hasn’t been ruled out if that’s what it takes to retain the two-time All-Pro nod.

A second-round pick by the Packers in 2014, Adams has made five straight Pro Bowls since 2017, hauling in 506 receptions for 6,195 yards with 57 touchdowns.

Davante Adams might not fit the Jaguars’ budget in free agency.

Does Adams deserve to get paid $30 million per year? A player is worth what a team is willing to pay him, and someone who sees the wide receiver as the missing piece in their Super Bowl puzzle might have no trouble throwing bags of cash at him. The Arizona Cardinals gave DeAndre Hopkins a two-year deal that averages $27.25 million after they traded for him, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see Adams surpass that amount this offseason. The real question is, what club will pull the trigger? It shouldn’t be Jacksonville.

As great as Adams is, his asking price won’t likely fit the Jaguars’ offseason budget. Sure, they will have around $60 million in cap space at their disposal but giving the All-Pro wide receiver the contract he wants would eat up half the Jags’ cap this offseason. Some maneuvering could push some or most of the amount to later years but they would just put off paying him.

Is Adams that much better than Allen Robinson or Mike Williams that he deserves $13 more million per year? Even if he were, the Jaguars would be better off allocating those $13 million to other positional groups. That kind of money would allow the front office to sign someone like tight end Dalton Schultz. Wouldn’t it be better if the Jags could sign Robinson or even fellow wide receiver Mike Williams and Schultz for the same amount they would give Adams?

Moreover, the Jaguars also need to consider re-signing DJ Chark Jr. There’s no doubt Adams would give their offense a significant boost but locking him up is cost-prohibitive and he alone won’t help them get to the Super Bowl, so Jacksonville should sit this one out.