Sources: Green Bay Packers use franchise tag on WR Davante Adams

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Aaron Rodgers is back, and one way or another, it looks like Davante Adams will be as well now that the Green Bay Packers have placed the franchise tag on the All-Pro receiver.

Shortly after the news of Rodgers' return, the Packers on Tuesday tagged their star wide receiver just hours before the deadline, sources told ESPN.

The Packers were going to tag Adams regardless of Rodgers' status; he was set to become a free agent on March 16. This allows the Packers to continue negotiations on a long-term deal but also have the safety net of retaining Adams via the tag. However, until any deal is reached, the franchise-tag total of about $20.1 million for Adams will count on the Packers' already overloaded salary cap as soon as free agency begins.

The Packers already were $27.5 million over their 2022 projected cap without Adams' tag number counting and will almost certainly try to get Adams to sign a long-term deal, which would lower his cap number.

The franchise-tag total represents a 20% increase over Adams' 2021 compensation — which includes base salary, roster bonuses and the prorated portion of his original $18 million signing bonus from when he signed his last contract on Dec. 30, 2017. That contract averaged $14.5 million, which put him at No. 17 on the receiver pay scale last season.

It's unlikely that Adams would play for the franchise-tag number; it would offer him no long-term security and it would be difficult for the Packers to absorb on their salary cap.

When asked late last season about the possibility of being tagged, Adams said: «I'm not sure how to answer that safely right now. So, we'll just cross that bridge when we get to it. I'll just say that. I like to be professional on here.»

Rodgers