The Packers tendered restricted free agent Allen Lazard earlier this offseason. Lazard is considered a restricted free agent as he has not accrued four or more seasons in the NFL.
Under the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA), any player whose contract is up before the end of their fourth season in the league becomes an exclusive rights or restricted free agent. This grants their current team, and only their current team, the ability to offer one year tender contracts as a way to see how they develop.
This is a very team friendly aspect of the CBA as it does not force clubs to throw out expensive long term contracts to their young players.