From an undrafted free agent, to a practice squad, to one of the NFL's most storied franchises. Now a former Iowa State wide receiver's NFL journey includes a big free-agent contract with millions in guaranteed money.

Allen Lazard is well known here in the state of Iowa. The Urbandale prep played his college football in Ames at Iowa State. He wasn't drafted and ended up on the Jacksonville practice squad. That is where he caught the attention of the Green Bay Packers. The Pack signed him, beginning a five-year stint with the green and gold. Lazard traded his Packer green in for New York gang green as KCCI reports that Lazard is headed to the New York Jets.


Lazard's contract with the Jets is reportedly a four-year, $44 million deal with $22 million guaranteed, according to KCCI. Normally this is where the story would end. A great deal for a former Iowa State player that was well earned. But Lazard happens to be one of the favorite targets of a certain quarterback from Green Bay that has also been tied to the New York Jets.

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While Lazard is a solid addition to any team, many feel his signing, like that of former Packer coach Nathaniel Hackett, is an attempt to lure Aaron Rodgers to agree to a trade from Green Bay to the New York Jets. Both the Packers and Jets are waiting on Rodgers to make a decision on whether he'll play in 2023. Lazard was one of Rodger's favorite wideouts with the Packers catching 168 passes for 2,216 yards and 19 touchdowns with the Packers in five seasons.

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