http://www.packersnews.com/story/spo...goes/79417808/
Pete Dougherty picks who stays and who leaves
Stays
Crosby
Raji
Neal
Starks
Leaves
Guion
Perry
Kuhn
Hayward
Jones
Barclay
Tolzien
Quarless
Goode
Richardson (retires)
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http://www.packersnews.com/story/spo...goes/79417808/
Pete Dougherty picks who stays and who leaves
Stays
Crosby
Raji
Neal
Starks
Leaves
Guion
Perry
Kuhn
Hayward
Jones
Barclay
Tolzien
Quarless
Goode
Richardson (retires)
fair, quite fair
I would try to keep Perry and Jones and Guion if he's cheap, but wouldn't break the bank on any of them. Otherwise, I agree.
But I think Kuhn will last one more year.
Depending on cost, I wonder if they might go after Perry instead of Neal.
There were times this year when Perry just tossed around OL like they were nothing. He is just 25, won't turn 26 for another 3 months. I think he might be just starting to figure out how to be a pro, especially with so many nagging injuries his first few years. I would like to see him spend another couple years, at least, in GB.
Neal is 3 years older, and probably is about all he ever will be at this point. I actually do like him, and he seems to want to stay.
Some have always questioned if Perry really wants to do what he does in GB, and that might be the deciding factor. He has control now, and if he really does want to get away from a 3-4 defense, this is his opportunity to do so. I just have a feeling he could still turn out to be a guy the Packers regret losing.
Guion could be cheap enough that they might as well bring him back even if they manage to sign Raji.
I have always liked James Jones for his attitude and hard work. I just don't see a spot for him next year, unless they are hit hard by injuries again. There isn't much reason to bring an older guy like him into camp if the "six" are all healthy and ready to go.
Kuhn almost certainly will be a minimum wage guy, and could be back unless they need the roster spot.
James Jones, I don't know about. He's not a special teams guy, and he's not an ascending player. Assuming Jordy, Cobb, Adams, Monty are all locks, then you have two remaining spots and you'd have to figure Janis and Abby will fill those spots because they can both play special teams. Also, they may draft another WR and bring in a few UDFA's like they did last year, and those guys would be competing for the 5th and 6th WR spots. I don't think Jones will have a place on the roster, more so about roster flexibility and youth/development and not cap concern.
Very true, and we may finally answer whether he wants to be a 4-3 DE or not. I also agree with the earlier part that he might be more valuable than Neal.
Much will depend on the injury question. I suspect the Packers know the shoulder situation well enough to assess the risk.
Datone will be an UFA after this coming season.
In addition to Doughtery's list, I'd like to see them sign Perry and Guion.
Edited From:
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...-playoff-teams
2016 NFL DRAFT and Green Bay Packer Needs.... The Packers to pick in the NO. 27 spot this year::
Top need: Pass rusher
Other needs: TE, DT, OT and ILB
Top prospects at positional needs:
Note: In brackets You'll find the number where an NFL Draft Site Ranks that player. For this post the site I've chosen is DRAFTTEK and as of Friday 29 Jan. 2016.:
http://www.drafttek.com/Top-100-NFL-...pects-2016.asp
Pass rusher: ( 8 ) DeForest Buckner (Oregon), ( 2) Joey Bosa (Ohio State), ( 41) Leonard Floyd (Georgia);
TE: ( 75 ) Hunter Henry (Arkansas), (104) Nick Vannett (Ohio State), (95) Austin Hooper (Stanford);
DT: (37) Andrew Billings (Baylor), (17) A'Shawn Robinson (Alabama), (91) Jarran Reed (Alabama);
OT: (14) Laremy Tunsil (Ole Miss), (2) Ronnie Stanley (Notre Dame), (36 ) Jack Conklin (Michigan State);
ILB: (23 ) Reggie Ragland (Alabama), (27) Scooby Wright III (Arizona), (169)Antonio Morrison (Florida).
Analysis:
Green Bay has tried to play Clay Matthews all over the field, but he's only one man and another one like him is needed whether it is at inside or outside linebacker.
The Packers appear to be set along the offensive line, but will need to find a swing tackle who can play on the left or right side.
B.J. Raji might not be re-signed, so adding a defensive tackle with mass is likely.
The Packers are always looking for a quality combo tight end and this year should be no different.
GO PACKERS ! GO PACK GO !!
We finished tied for 7th in sacks this year. So, I am not sure why that is priority #1.
We had 43 sacks for the year or 2.69 per game. Tied with Minnesota and Detroit. Denver led the league with 52 sacks.
Unless they think guys like Jayrone Elliott are ascending to place that Peppers will soon vacate. That said, who doesn't need more pass rushers? As for defensive needs, here is what I consider to be the order of need.
1. ILB
2. DL
3. OLB
If we get a lights out ILB (assuming there is one to get when the Packers make their pick), then Clay can move back to OLB, which pushes the need for OLB down the list a bit.
As for DL, it somewhat depends on whether they sign Raji and/or Guion. Is Pennel and ascending player? Do the Packers still value Josh Boyd, or will he be healthy? Perhaps if they sign Guion and Raji back, they can draft a DL in the later rounds or as a college free agent.
OLB will depend on what they do with Perry and Neal. They should try and keep both, but may not. Jayrone Elliott is an ascending player. If there is a special pass rusher to be had at OLB, I'm all for that. As long as they play the 3-4, they'll continue to need a lot of good linebackers, but may not have to spend high if they can get their own guys re-signed, if the money lines up.
Are you retaining Julius Peppers ThunderDan? He may retire? Does he need the cash?
His contract for 2016? How much is that? Again.... does he need the cash?
http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/free-agen...n-bay-packers/
Above.. the Packers UFA's this year? Are any of those important to the Pass rush? How many are you retaining?
PACKERS !
Don't forget on DL they have last years 6th rounder, Christian Ringo, coming back, too. He was on PS, and in mid November they bumped up his salary from the standard of just over $6K per week to over $25K per week, equivalent to the rookie minimum on the regular roster. Presumably this was done to keep him from signing with someone else. Indicates they must like him at least somewhat.
They did the same with Matt Rotheram, the 6'5" 325lb guard.
Luckily, I am not retaining anyone. That isn't my job.
If I was in charge of personnel I would let Peppers walk after last year. He was great in spots last year but disappeared for long stretches of games.
Like I said above, I am guessing that most of the spots will be filled by the time the draft rolls around.
As Carolina Packer stated, if we can fill the ILB position that sure helps the pass rush by allowing Clay to exclusively attack the QB.
Pretty much a whole thread on this topic...
http://packerrats.com/showthread.php...ing*-next-year
I think they'll only keep Neal and Guion. Something tells me Raji will get a fat offer from someone like the Bears and Guion is kind of a knucklehead and won't get as much interest. I still think TT goes DL early in the draft though....he likes younger players, and Raji has an injury history.
Can Pennel play NT? They don't play many snaps of base 3-4; with Daniels, Boyd, Ringo, possibly Datone they have bodies.
I think they go with Neal over Perry, based on injury history and production. Neal played a lot of OLB snaps this year, plus has played DL in passing downs. I like Perry, but when has he ever been healthy? I think he'd be happy to stay in GB and play OLB, but I could easily see him playing DE in a 4-3. The guess here is they platoon Neal, CMIII, Elliott, Datone, and a draft pick or Mulumba, and Peppers at OLB. If Peppers retires, then things obviously change. Glad to hear they are committed to putting CMIII back at OLB. He's better there. To me that means they will draft a ILB, and the draft crop looks decent this year.
Crosby is a priority.
I didn't think Masthay's contract was up?
Starks is a good backup; I think they'll make him a modest offer. He's 29 but has low miles, relatively speaking. They need a safety net in case Lacy shows up as big as Raji. They will definitely bring in some new RB's into camp, I don't know if they'll be UDFA's or a draft pick. I like that Kenneth Dixon kid -- shifty and good receiving skills.
I think they sign Kuhn to a vet minimum contract. If Ripkowski was ready, I'd think he would've taken some snaps in the offense.
Hayward will get money elsewhere. Good for him. He's a good player, but I doubt they would invest a ton of additional money in the secondary with Burnett and Shields on significant contracts, and with how the rookies played. Maybe they draft a guy who can play in the slot.
The rest are meh to me. The sub shop guy probably took Brett Goode's job.
Did Neal really play much better than Perry? I'm not sure that's why I'm asking...
Perry had more impact than Neal but Perry was banged up again with a shoulder and a leg.
I think Perry made more splash plays, but Neal consistently got pressure and played overall, I thought, better.
One thing I'm curious about: Are the Packers going to make Datone Jones into a Mike Neal-type? That is, play OLB for two downs and then put him inside on passing downs? And if so, is he quick enough to chase down running backs?
IF he has the potential to be a full-time OLB/inside pass rush guy, then that relieves the need for taking an OLB higher in the draft, especially if you re-sign Neal or Perry.
Wonder what the plans for Datone are...
I don't recall them ever dropping him in coverage, so I can't imagine that his role would expand beyond an OLB with pass rush and run defense responsibilities, just like Perry, except with the ability to play in his end position or in the 2-4 with Neal or someone else. Neal is more versatile than Perry, but not as stout against the run. If the decision is between keeping Neal or Perry, that's a tough one. I'd be more inclined to keep Perry just because he's better versus the run.
Raji ove Guion.....REALLY ! A Finger down my throat reactiom !!!
I like Kuhn.
I like what I saw late and Nick Perry but I think very likely that he's gone. Was Nick Perry ever comfortable and playing in Green Bay?
Two 1st Rounders - Count them....one and two. Perry and then Datone JonesWOW ! **Way to pick em' TT !
** Somewhere way down that hall I hear .....an almost silent echo:
"We trust you Ted".
I'm wondering, where they still sell Animal Crackers.
1st Guy: He's just terrific in his obvious ability to pock from the talent pool of NFL prospects
2nd Guy: Who's that your referring to?
1st Guy: What NFL team do you support?
2nd Guy: Well....I'm, (pause) I'm (pause) I'm a....I'm a a a a Green Bay Packer fan.
1st Guy: Then....if that's the case...... there's no need of you to know who that great NFL GM is.
2nd Guy; Uhh...why?
1st Guy: OK a HINT... In TWO words Packer fan....... 'A WASTE'.
Likely Hayward is gone........ $$$$
As long as Peppers isn't back, the offseason will be a success. Not quite as big of a success as last year when they got rid of Brad Jones, but almost.
That doesn't make sense to me. I thought Peppers was down a bit this year, and will be next, but he did have 10 sacks and play the run. If he could be retained and play 1/3 of the snaps and still get his 10 sacks next year, wouldn't that be a positive? For the record, I don't think that will happen, but it could.
A lot of writers thought Raji was having a better season than Guion. The only contrary point I have seen is that Guion might have been a bit more effective versus the run while on the field. But he gave up a lot of snaps to Pennell especially early in the season.