Which Players Do You Think Are Obviously GONE next year?

[Fritz]

I'm just curious as to which current Packers you all think are obviously headed out the door this offseason or in training camp, whether cut or not re-signed or maybe traded. Here's a start:

- Josiah Deguara. He just doesn't add value.

- Devondre Campbell - angry tweet or no, the guy is not the player he was a couple years ago. I think he's going to be gone.

-David Bakhtiari. I think Walker has progressed enough that even though Bakh seems to want to come back, the team will draft a tackle or two and just complete the youth movement at tackle. Can they trade Bakh, to, say . . . . the Jest?? For a fourth or fifth rounder?

There are others that I think will be gone but don't seem as certain to me: Savage, Dillon, Myers. Or maybe it's just wishful thinking.

[Vincenzo]

Preston Smith.

“Smith's cap hit rises from $6.37 million to $16.51 million in 2024. The Packers will save around $2.5 million by releasing Smith before June 1 and $12.4 million if they wait until after that date.”

[texaspackerbacker]

No mention of Jaire? Anyway, I think he stays. I also think Dillon gets restructured, maybe Preston too, as he seems to have bounced back and is looking good this year. Also no mention of Runyan who a lot of people, not necessarily me, think might be gone.

[Teamcheez1]

90% Gone
Bakh
Campbell
Toure
Deguara
Nijman

50% Gone
Dillon
Jones
Runyan
Smith
Savage

10% Gone
Jaire
Myers

[call_me_ishmael]

It wouldn't shock me if they extend Baktiari to keep his cap number down.


Campbell, Deguara are gone for sure. Myers is going into year 4 and likely won't get an extension before the year - why would he? Dillon is in year 4 and maybe will get veteran's minimum or around that. I think he played better the last few weeks than the past year or two so maybe worth kicking the tires on.

None of the guys that will be gone are a big loss since Campbell isn't that dude anymore. Bak would be a loss but they're already playing without him.

[run pMc]

Campbell is a goner.

Bakhtiari could very well be, I'm not sure if they can designate a post-June 1 and that helps or not. I know Gute loves him, he was graded out as by far the best OL on the team in game 1. That contract though...woof. Historically bad. If his knee is truly 'fixed' and healed and he can actually play 17 games with little/no pain or weird practice schedules, you see if you can work something out. He won't take a pay cut, but you might be able to extend him a year and push money out. I'm not sure I like that, 2025 is when the cap sheet should clear and they can spend for FAs that season. Gun to my head I'd guess he's gone but who knows what the front office is thinking. Nothing would really shock me, except for Russ Ball giving him another Brinks truck of money.

Contracts for the following expire:
Darnell Savage, Rudy Ford, Johnathan Owens, Eric Wilson, Keisean Nixon, Tyler Davis, J.Deguara, AJ Dillon, Yosh Njiman, John Runyan Jr. expire.

I'm not sure there's a compelling reason to rush out and sign any of them. I could see them bring them back if the money is right, but probably not until after the draft.
Maybe you kick the tires on Tyler Davis and Eric Wilson for ST, and Keisean too but I don't think you break the bank to bring back a guy who should really be a backup CB and is dynamic if unreliable with the ball as a returner.
Maybe one of Ford/Owens as a ST guy and backup too, but I bet they'd rather put some of their cap space towards having at least one real NFL safety.

Bo Melton is technically a FA, they'll want him back to compete for a spot after his latest showing. You won't be able to stash him on a PS.
Toure is likely gone, I like him but he's been leapfrogged by Malik Heath and Melton, and probably Dubose next year.

Myers and Jaire will be back. Myers will 100% have competition at C though.

Aaron Jones is a guy you'd love to have back as your RB2 on a better deal. He already redid his contract once, not sure he's open to it again unless there's no market for him. He's absolutely a good dude and young teams need leaders like him. I think injuries and age are going to limit what you can ask him to do, and if he's open to another pay cut and mentoring a draft pick (or two) at RB you keep him.

[run pMc]

Preston Smith.

“Smith's cap hit rises from $6.37 million to $16.51 million in 2024. The Packers will save around $2.5 million by releasing Smith before June 1 and $12.4 million if they wait until after that date.”

They could do something with Preston's contract, or even Jaire's, for cap space. As a player, I think Preston has some value -- dude is an Ironman in terms of availability and he's decent as an EDGE2 or 3. It depends on if LVN can earn more time. This is not a great draft for EDGE defenders. Preston's getting close to the 18th hole though.

They have 11 draft picks and 10.7m in projected cap space... i.e., they have enough to sign their rookies, but they will need cap space to fill out the roster and have enough for in-season moves.

[Bretsky]

Bach in my opinion is a given
Campbell most likely gets the ax as well and I don't think he'll mind
I sure as helll hope and think Josiah gets the Ax
Nijman will be gone by choice and I doubt Toure makes it next year
Runyan is gone
Savage is gone

ON THE FENCERS
At first I thought Preston Smith would be gone, but we really lack veteran leaders and I could see him taking a pay cut and staying as he's about our only leader left
AARON JONES- See my comments on Preston Smith
AJ Dillon; I hope we do not overpay him; to me he's worth no more than about 2.5 to 3.5 MIL/Year

MYERS, I wish he was gone but I fear we are stuck with him

[RashanGary]

Preston Smith is such an underrated player. He’s showing no drop off. There is less than zero chance they cut Preston to save 2 million dollars.

[Vincenzo]

Mind you this was written October 8th:

“With Rashan Gary not yet ready for a full-time role as he returns from injury, the Packers needed veteran pass rusher Preston Smith to make a fast start to the season. He has done the opposite.
According to Pro Football Reference, Smith has zero sacks, two QB hits, two pressures, and zero hurries in the opening four games. That's not good enough for a Packers defense searching for more pass-rush consistency.
Smith has played 186 snaps compared to Gary's 77, yet Gary has 3.5 sacks, six QB hits, 10 pressures, and four hurries.
There's also a financial element to this. Smith's cap hit rises from $6.37 million to $16.51 million in 2024. The Packers will save around $2.5 million by releasing Smith before June 1 and $12.4 million if they wait until after that date.
The Packers have prepared for the future at outside linebacker. Rashan Gary has become one of the league's best and should land a new long-term deal in the coming months. Green Bay drafted Lukas Van Ness with the 13th overall pick in this year's draft, and it's only a matter of time before he moves ahead of Smith on the depth chart.
Smith turns 31 next month and has made a slow start to the season. He could be in his final year with the Packers.“

As of right now he has 8 sacks and he did force a fumble versus Minnesota Sunday.

Then on November 18th, again from Lombardi Ave:

“There are several reasons why releasing Preston Smith in the offseason makes sense.
From a roster-building perspective, it would allow first-round pick Lukas Van Ness to expand his role and become a full-time starter in year two. Smith enters his age-32 season in 2024, so turning the page to Van Ness is the correct call. It will accelerate Van Ness's development to give him more opportunities after this season.”

[Bretsky]

Preston Smith is such an underrated player. He’s showing no drop off. There is less than zero chance they cut Preston to save 2 million dollars.

What is his cap number ? He had agreed to restructure in the past. That is what I think will happen. Preston is our 2020 version of Santana Dotson; very steady, good, but often unnoticed

[Joemailman]

Preston Smith will be back. It's after that that his base salary gets too big for Packers to likely handle. https://overthecap.com/player/preston-smith/3886

[call_me_ishmael]

Preston Smith is an example of FA going so right. He has been such a good signing. Has he even missed a game? I would guess not.

[texaspackerbacker]

We have a nice rotation at Edge Rusher. As I said earlier, I think Preston gets offered a restructure, and unless he really wants to be gone, which I doubt, he takes it.

Ditto that for Aaron Jones. I also expect them to keep Dillon, maybe for a little bit of a Door County discount, but well over the minimum.

When Meyers went out toward the end of the game, Runyan played Center, not Tom or Jenkins. That leads me to think that the coaching staff, similar to me, have a higher opinion of both of those two than the haters in here who would like them gone. Just like last year, in the last two games, we have had great success running right up the middle, Guard/Center hole - a lot less success running outside.

That old sacred cow, Bakhtiari, should and probably will be gone.

If they bring back Savage at all, I hope and think it's for damn little money. Owens and Ford and maybe even Johnson have easily outplayed him.

[Fritz]

I really like Preston Smith. I hope he's back next year.

And as Bretsky's said, Nijman will not be back. For reasons I and a few others here don't understand, the Packers seem to have lost confidence in Nijman. His work ethic is lacking, maybe? But he'll get an offer elsewhere and move on, netting the Packers a compensation pick in the 2025 draft.

[Patler]

After reading Skinbasket's very cogent analysis this season, I'm hoping they explore the trade market for Love and install Clifford as the new starter.

[George Cumby]

After reading Skinbasket's very cogent analysis this season, I'm hoping they explore the trade market for Love and install Clifford as the new starter.

LOL.

[run pMc]

After reading Skinbasket's very cogent analysis this season, I'm hoping they explore the trade market for Love and install Clifford as the new starter.

Yes, clearly it should be Clifford. His Passer rating, QBR, and ANY/A for the season are higher than Love. Dontayvion Wicks is a bit behind him in those categories, but he should be the backup and Love can be QB3.
Nevermind Clifford and Wicks have each thrown ONE pass, at least neither is a halfbreed or whatever nonsense is being spouted at the moment.

[RashanGary]

After reading Skinbasket's very cogent analysis this season, I'm hoping they explore the trade market for Love and install Clifford as the new starter.

You know you messed up when consistently considerate Patler gets sarcastic with you :lol:

Glad to have you posting a bit Patler, I know you’re not a spring chicken or at least that’s what I thought I remember you saying, that you’re older…. Anyway, I always kinda hope someone doesn’t pass on us and worry a bit when someone disappears. What I’m trying to say is…. (Under my breath) I worried about you. Ok, there, I said it.

[call_me_ishmael]

LOL, that is pretty funny!

[bobblehead]

The obvious gone are guys like DeGuera and Runyan. Neither is a guy who has developed. They need to be replaced obviously. Probably Wagner as well.

On D there are no "obvious" guys like that and a lot depends on how Gutes and the new D coordinator want to approach things. McDuffie's play probably makes Campbell expendable in a salary move. Savage probably should be finished here, but get the right system and he has value still. LVN needs snaps and Enagbare is solid as a 3rd guy, but Preston is a pro. Cutting Preston to save minimal $$ seems foolish to me. Especially when you can slide Gary or LVN inside on obvious passing downs.

I guess what I'm saying is that nothing would shock me at this point. We could end up with Bak, Jones and Preston all on next years roster if chips fall into place. Or, all 3 could be gone. MiLF loves Campbell so is he gone for sure? This is going to be a very interesting off season. Hell, with a weak TE draft I could even see them bringing back DeGuera.

[bobblehead]

One last point. After trading Douglas for a song, can we expect an offseason of "righting the cap"? I mean if they sent him packing, why not Bak, Jones, Preston, Campbell and trade Jaire. All those moves would be superior to trading Douglas when we did for what we got imo.

[run pMc]

One last point. After trading Douglas for a song, can we expect an offseason of "righting the cap"? I mean if they sent him packing, why not Bak, Jones, Preston, Campbell and trade Jaire. All those moves would be superior to trading Douglas when we did for what we got imo.

I'm assuming you're either being sarcastic or exaggerating.

Jaire is technically in the first year of his extension, and they already redid some of his money this year, pushing it into future years. The cap hit to trade him would be one of the highest in history, and the largest for a non-QB. He's sticking around.

Campbell feels like a goner to me after the twitter outburst and being out the last two games. I've heard he's back at practice so who knows. He's gotten older, slower, and he's not an All-Pro anymore. ILBs are the RBs of the defense -- they take a beating and most wear out around 30. They'll save around 3M by cutting him which isn't much but I think they will need that cap space. Plus I think they might look at a ILB in the mid/late rounds.

Preston Smith and Aaron Jones are prime candidates for contract re-do's. I.e., ask them to take pay cuts. I can't imagine there will be a market for either that will pay them more than half of what they would make next year. OTOH, Ron Wolf's maxim of better to cut one year early than one year too late is one they likely relearned painfully in 2022, so they are 50/50.

I have no idea on Bakhtiari, I think they really want him back if he's finally healthy. Otherwise, he's a goner. They might do it anyway because of the cap space gained by cutting him. Rasheed Walker is no franchise LT, but he might be able to hold it down while they draft/develop their next guy. I don't think Bakhtiari will take a pay cut. Maybe his agent talks some sense into him, but even with the pay cut, they kicked so much of his money forward IDK if they could get much cap relief there. My guess is he's let go, Asst. GM Rodgers signs him to play a year for the NYJ, and his knee flares up on that garbage turf at MetLife Field, and he retires after the season.

The cap doesn't truly right itself until 2025. Last offseason they were like $30M in the hole, this year they'll have about 10M in space, so they don't have to do as much manuvering, but will still do some. Once Rodgers (and Jones', and Bakhtiari's) come off the books, they'll have space.
Gary's contract will kick in, and Jordan Love will need a new deal, but they will be able to fit those then.

I agree a R3 and swap for Rasul feels like nothing, and with a chance at the playoffs they sure could use him. Even though it's a bad move short-term, I think long term it's a good move.
They have 5 picks in the top 90 including the Rasul trade pick. Not bad considering they got Rasul for nothing off a PS and then gave him a modest contract. I would argue that GB got a lot of value out of him while he was here. They can easily turn that pick into a player (possibly even a CB or S) who has 4 years under a cheap deal.

[SudsMcBucky]

Bakh is gone. He's not voluntarily taking a pay cut and there's no WAY you can take a change he might get through a season even playing 1/2 of the games with the contract as it's currently structured.

[Fritz]

Can he realistically be traded? I know the New York Aarons would love to have him.

[Joemailman]

Can he realistically be traded? I know the New York Aarons would love to have him.

I think so. As the contract stands now, there will be 19M of dead money if they cut him or trade him before June 1. 40M cap hit if they keep him.

[run pMc]

Agree.

The thing is, what do you get in trade for a guy who has played 13 games in 3 years and barely practiced during that time? What's the value?
Would he pass another team's physical? If GB is likely to release him, why trade anything for him?

Probably would have to put a lot of conditions on the trade, but if you get can anything for him (and you're cutting him anyway) I suppose you do it. The way Gute talks, he wants to keep him but that might be wishful thinking.

[Fritz]

Well, if Guter keeps talking about keeping him, and the New Aaron Jets think they could pick up a high-quality left tackle for a fourth or fifth round pick, and that massages Aaron’s needy ego, you might roll the dice.

[RashanGary]

Bakh is gone. And so is Yosh.

[RashanGary]

Yosh Nijman T GB UFA - GONE
Keisean Nixon CB GB UFA Market Value GONE
Darnell Savage S GB UFA - Signed cheap
Johnathan Ford FS GB UFA - GONE
David Long CB GB UFA - I don’t know who he is
A.J. Dillon RB GB UFA Market Value signed cheap
Eric Wilson OLB GB UFA - no clue
Josiah Deguara TE GB UFA - GONE!!!!
Tyler Davis TE GB UFA - GONE!!!
Jonathan Owens SS GB UFA - Double GONE
Zayne Anderson S GB RFA - Don’t know who he is
Robert Rochell CB GB RFA - He’ll be in camp
Jon Runyan G GB UFA - DOUBLE GONE
Caleb Jones T GB ERFA - IN CAMP
Daniel Whelan P GB ERFA - IN CAMP
Benny Sapp III S GB ERFA - WHO KNOWS
Patrick Taylor RB GB ERFA - IN CAMP
Bo Melton WR GB ERFA - He’s gonna be here
Christian Uphoff S GB UFA Don’t know who he is


Bakhtiari is gone and Jones is restructured.

[RashanGary]

The nice thing about Savage not being a very good player is that every team in the league knows he’s not a very good player. Same for Dillon. So you keep some experienced guys around for cheap.

[Joemailman]

I wouldn't be surprised if they brought Tyler Davis back. They really liked his ST play before he was injured.

[texaspackerbacker]

Yosh Nijman T GB UFA - GONE
Keisean Nixon CB GB UFA Market Value GONE
Darnell Savage S GB UFA - Signed cheap
Johnathan Ford FS GB UFA - GONE
David Long CB GB UFA - I don’t know who he is
A.J. Dillon RB GB UFA Market Value signed cheap
Eric Wilson OLB GB UFA - no clue
Josiah Deguara TE GB UFA - GONE!!!!
Tyler Davis TE GB UFA - GONE!!!
Jonathan Owens SS GB UFA - Double GONE
Zayne Anderson S GB RFA - Don’t know who he is
Robert Rochell CB GB RFA - He’ll be in camp
Jon Runyan G GB UFA - DOUBLE GONE
Caleb Jones T GB ERFA - IN CAMP
Daniel Whelan P GB ERFA - IN CAMP
Benny Sapp III S GB ERFA - WHO KNOWS
Patrick Taylor RB GB ERFA - IN CAMP
Bo Melton WR GB ERFA - He’s gonna be here
Christian Uphoff S GB UFA Don’t know who he is


Bakhtiari is gone and Jones is restructured.

A lot of that is probably wrong.

Owens very likely not gone. Runyan at least 50/50 not gone. Nixon also at least 50/50 he stays. Isn't Johnnathan Ford a Def Tackle? Rudy Ford is the Safety, and he's strongly likely to stay. Whelan is solid. Dillon probably re-signed slightly/not very cheap. Yosh 50/50 to not be gone. Savage probably gone. Tyler Davis 50/50.

[call_me_ishmael]

How quickly we went from Bak won’t play on turf to he’s gonna get traded to the worst field in the league lol. I just don’t see it. I truly think he get cut and resign aka AJ Hawk.

[Vincenzo]

Funny how you guys dismissed my assertion that Preston Smith will be gonzo, but I’m gonna stick with it and see.

Hard to predict the future- we’ll see.

[Joemailman]

Funny how you guys dismissed my assertion that Preston Smith will be gonzo, but I’m gonna stick with it and see.

Hard to predict the future- we’ll see.

If he's gonna be gone it will be right away. He's due a 5.4 million roster bonus 3rd day of the new league year. It's after that they would only save 2.5 million on the cap by cutting him. If he gets the roster bonus, he'll be here. He's emerged as a team leader, and arguably their most consistent pass rusher. I think he'll be here one more year,

[Vincenzo]

If he's gonna be gone it will be right away. He's due a 5.4 million roster bonus 3rd day of the new league year. It's after that they would only save 2.5 million on the cap by cutting him. If he gets the roster bonus, he'll be here. He's emerged as a team leader, and arguably their most consistent pass rusher. I think he'll be here one more year,
Fair enough my fellow Packer fan, I trust your information on this.
I think the new league year starts July 17 actually. so the roster bonus of 5.4 Trillion fickin’ dollars would be July 20th then?

I’m going on a hunch that Preston Smith is done with our Packers after Sunday.
Yes Rashan Gary signed his contract extension in October but I’m still sticking with my guns on this.

“The Packers have prepared for the future at outside linebacker. Green Bay drafted Lukas Van Ness with the 13th overall pick in this year's draft, and it's only a matter of time before he moves ahead of Smith on the depth chart.”

[Joemailman]

Fair enough my fellow Packer fan, I trust your information on this.
I think the new league year starts July 17 actually. so the roster bonus of 5.4 Trillion fickin’ dollars would be July 20th then?

I’m going on a hunch that Preston Smith is done with our Packers after Sunday.
Yes Rashan Gary signed his contract extension in October but I’m still sticking with my guns on this.

“The Packers have prepared for the future at outside linebacker. Green Bay drafted Lukas Van Ness with the 13th overall pick in this year's draft, and it's only a matter of time before he moves ahead of Smith on the depth chart.”

The new league year starts March 13. The date you gave was the last day to apply the franchise tag to anyone. https://operations.nfl.com/gameday/nfl-schedule/2023-24-important-nfl-dates/

[George Cumby]

I'm really hoping they can restructure P.Smith.

I haven't seen enough out of LVN to think he's going to make a big step next year.

The rotation of Smith/Gary, Engabare/LVN seems effective at keeping fresh legs on the field.

The team needs veteran leadership.

[RashanGary]

Funny how you guys dismissed my assertion that Preston Smith will be gonzo, but I’m gonna stick with it and see.

Hard to predict the future- we’ll see.

For sure, you could be right too. Some of us like to give hot takes and say no way or it’s never gonna happen…. But we’ve all been wrong. A million times!

[run pMc]

I think they like Preston and would do everything to keep him vs. just cut him for the cap space. He's been very good lately and solid overall this year. He's better right now than LVN or Enagbare. The draft isn't chock full of quality EDGE rushers, and he's been very healthy over his career. Seems like he's good in the locker room as well, I know Rashan values him there. Unless you think LVN is going to be substantially better or there's a drop off in Preston's play I'm not sure you let him go.

They redid his contract already, I could see them doing it again to keep him around. I think with some of the uncertainty in the secondary, you want to have a solid front line/pass rush. Gary has 9 sacks, Preston has 8. He's still worth keeping IMO. Agree you might want to rework his contract though.

[bobblehead]

Yosh Nijman T GB UFA - GONE
Keisean Nixon CB GB UFA Market Value GONE
Darnell Savage S GB UFA - Signed cheap
Johnathan Ford FS GB UFA - GONE
David Long CB GB UFA - I don’t know who he is
A.J. Dillon RB GB UFA Market Value signed cheap
Eric Wilson OLB GB UFA - no clue
Josiah Deguara TE GB UFA - GONE!!!!
Tyler Davis TE GB UFA - GONE!!!
Jonathan Owens SS GB UFA - Double GONE
Zayne Anderson S GB RFA - Don’t know who he is
Robert Rochell CB GB RFA - He’ll be in camp
Jon Runyan G GB UFA - DOUBLE GONE
Caleb Jones T GB ERFA - IN CAMP
Daniel Whelan P GB ERFA - IN CAMP
Benny Sapp III S GB ERFA - WHO KNOWS
Patrick Taylor RB GB ERFA - IN CAMP
Bo Melton WR GB ERFA - He’s gonna be here
Christian Uphoff S GB UFA Don’t know who he is


Bakhtiari is gone and Jones is restructured.

I have reassessed things with some perspective. I really think Gutes is trying to be really young and fix the cap. This is probably mostly accurate in addition to Campbell being gone.

Run, you are probably right about Alexander being locked in given his age and early in his contract. I'm just seeing a prima donna little bitch that I don't want on my team is all. He is the guy who made a handful of plays and thinks he deserves to be treated like the 15 year vet who has brought it every game. He reminds me a lot of Z to be honest. Mountain of talent, thinks thats enough.

Following my theme, I expect Preston will be gone early as well. I hope I'm wrong, but we are deep at edge and they probably view him as expendable.

[red]

what about aaron jones being traded?

seems like lefleur has been wanting to move on for a couple years now even though jones is our best offensive player

splitting carries with dillon? stupid
"forgettting" to put jones in the game? stupid

coach doesn't seem to think jones is as good as the rest of us do

[run pMc]

I can't help but think Dillon's injury is in some ways good for the team. I've heard stories of GM trading players away to keep coaches from playing them, maybe Dillon's injury is effectively forcing MLF to play Aaron Jones more.
The other thing I wonder is if someone finally told MLF that Jones might be gone and they might as well get everything they can off him while he's here. They've been riding him more than I recall these last few games.

He is a difference maker in the offense and makes life for Jordan Love much easier. I think they have to draft some better OL and a couple of RBs, and hope they can redo Jones' contract to bring him back next year as a bridge/mentor for whoever they bring in.

Preston might be gone, I just think he's got something in the tank and still playing well enough. As an edge setter he's still decent vs the run and he's not bad as a pass rusher. You can't have enough good pass rushers. I'd bring him back but only if the price is right. He's a bit expensive.