Free-agent-to-be Allen Lazard may be the prize of the wide receiver group that is currently set to reach the open market. Lazard posted career-highs in receptions (60) and receiving yards (788) in 2022. Lazard has positioned himself nicely to earn a payday in free agency.

Lazard played out the 2022 campaign on a second-round tender, which paid him approximately $3.98 million. It’s significantly less than what Lazard is poised to earn on his next contract. Spotrac currently projects Lazard to sign a three-year contract worth $37.5 million ($12.5 million annually).

The Packers are approximately $8.8 million above 2023’s determined cap. Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst faces difficulties while attempting to improve Green Bay’s roster. Lazard is expected to price himself out of Green Bay’s market. We’ve swiftly identified three potential landing spots for Allen Lazard’s services.

TENNESSEE TITANS

The Titans released four players on Wednesday, including veterans Taylor Lewan and Robert Woods. By doing so, new general manager Ran Carthon went from being $23 million above the cap to possessing roughly $11.3 million in cap space. Word is more departures could soon arrive for the Titans in additional cost-cutting releases that could grant the Titans $25-plus million in financial flexibility.

Releasing Woods guarantees the Titans will require an experienced receiver. They can’t possibly enter the 2023 campaign with a trio of sophomores in Treylon Burks, Chigoziem Okonkwo, and Kyle Philips spearheading their pass-catching positions. Head coach Mike Vrabel has discussed a need to add more speed and explosive plays to his passing offense. Lazard is a vertical threat that has played in a similar zone-based offense under ex-Titans offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur in Green Bay.

CHICAGO BEARS

Bears general manager Ryan Poles has the means (a league-leading $100.8 million in cap space) and roster hole to make a sizable splash at the position. Lazard recently claimed he’s going to be “bougie” when hand-selecting his next franchise after being spoiled by the Packers’ organization. Surely Lazard has been impressed by the amount of passion within Chicago’s fan base after spending five consecutive seasons in the NFC North.

The Bears swung and missed on Chase Claypool, but that shouldn’t prevent Poles from remaining aggressive in his pursuit to improve his pass-catching personnel. Developing franchise quarterback Justin Fields into a better passer is of the utmost importance for the Bears this season. Signing Lazard could help Fields take a step forward.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

All eyes remain on the headline-dominating standoff between Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, but general manager Eric DeCosta has other business to attend to as well. The Ravens averaged a 28th-ranked 178.8 passing yards per contest. Some of that is related to Jackson’s play style (not to mention injuries), but Baltimore lacked clear-cut receiving weapons behind Mark Andrews, too.

Jackson missed the vertical threat provided by Marquise Brown, who recorded his first (and only) 1,000-yard receiving campaign for the Ravens in 2021. Rashod Bateman’s developmental schedule has been delayed by recurring injuries. The Ravens should keep Jackson and provide him with better receivers such as Lazard.