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The Green Bay Packers are finalizing a trade with the Houston Texans to bring back veteran wide receiver Randall Cobb, according to multiple reports. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers reported to training camp on Tuesday morning after settling his dispute with the team/front office. We knew there were reportedly ‘concessions’ in Rodgers’ new contract that needed to be met in order for him to return for at least one more season. One of those was bringing Cobb back.
Update: Apparently the deal isn’t quite done, according to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. There’s a snag in the guaranteed money of Cobb’s contract and things will need to be restructured before the deal can be official.
Cobb, 30, is coming off a lackluster season with the Texans. He only played in 10 games and started two of those contests. Cobb was only targeted 48 times, finishing with 441 receiving yards and 3 TDs in 2020. It isn’t like he has nothing left in the tank, however. Cobb put up 828 yards on just 55 receptions over 15 games for the Dallas Cowboys in 2019.
The Packers have needed to add talent at wide receiver. Most people didn’t think they’d do that by bringing back Cobb, but the move isn’t really that bad. For one, you make Rodgers happy to an extent. When healthy, Cobb can be an effective slot man and you can even run some gadget plays for him out of the backfield. Behind Davante Adams, the Packers were entering training camp with very little talent in the WR corps. Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Devin Funchess round out the wideout depth along with rookie Amari Rodgers.
The biggest implications for fantasy by this move are with Amari Rodgers, who would have had a fast-track to lining up in the slot for the Packers in 2021. Now, it appears Cobb will take over that spot unless he goes down with an injury or looks off during camp. The Clemson product still isn’t a bad stash pick in keeper and dynasty leagues. His immediate value is pretty low until we see how things shake out in camp, preseason and the first few weeks of the regular season.