The Packers GM Game: What is Randall Cobb worth in 2018?

If NFL general managers typically play it close to the vest, Green Bay Packers GM Ted Thompson has his hands flat against his chest. The man is a mystery wrapped in an enigma dressed in a sweater and white sneakers. Since Taciturn Ted addresses the media so rarely — and says little of consequence when he does — it’s impossible to know exactly what he’s thinking. So, let’s not even try. No, instead, let us ourselves assume the GM chair in a little series we’re calling “The GM Game.”

Today’s topic: Randall Cobb.

The year was 2014, and Randall Cobb was on fire. Shrewd, shifty, and tough as nails, the versatile receiver was one of quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ favorite targets. He finished that season with 1,287 receiving yards on 91 catches (14.1 ypc avg) and an impressive 12 touchdowns. The story since, however, has been that of a precipitous decline in production. He gained 829 receiving yards in 2015 — then 610 in 2016. He enters the final week of the 2017 season with 608 yards and just 3 touchdowns. While his stats aren’t top-end, his 2018 salary cap hit — $12.75M —is. That’s on par with Julio Jones ($12.9M), T.Y. Hilton ($13M), and Doug Baldwin ($12.1M).

Given the decline in Cobb’s production over the past three seasons, and given the likely need to sign Davante Adams to big money, we posited the following question to our Twitter followers:

How you voted: Just 6% of voters thought Cobb deserved more than $8M in 2018, with the majority (54%) saying they’d like to see him earn in the $5-7M range. For context, that would put him in the company of guys like Allen Hurns ($7M), Brandon Marshall ($6.1M) and Julian Edelman ($5.1M).

What do you think? Leave us a comment below with your explanation and stay tuned for our next poll question.