Packers Offseason/Free Agency/ Non-Draft Thread

[Deputy Nutz]

Why wouldn't they train Morgan as the replacement for Walker? Tom isn't going to move to Left Tackle. Rhyan isn't a terrible player in fact he is pretty good in the run game, not sure why they need to replace him with Morgan. I think Morgan's value now that the Packers signed Banks is at Left Tackle. If they thought Morgan was ready to start at guard they would have never signed Banks. Maybe the problem with Morgan is that the Packers shouldn't have drafted him in the first place and he isn't the player they thought he was going to be, which is crazy because he was injured most of 2024 and he was a rookie.

[call_me_ishmael]

Why wouldn't they train Morgan as the replacement for Walker? Tom isn't going to move to Left Tackle. Rhyan isn't a terrible player in fact he is pretty good in the run game, not sure why they need to replace him with Morgan. I think Morgan's value now that the Packers signed Banks is at Left Tackle. If they thought Morgan was ready to start at guard they would have never signed Banks. Maybe the problem with Morgan is that the Packers shouldn't have drafted him in the first place and he isn't the player they thought he was going to be, which is crazy because he was injured most of 2024 and he was a rookie.

Agree with all of this. We will know a lot about how they feel about Morgan based on if they resign Walker this summer or certainly by October.

[Joemailman]

I think Morgan will be given the opportunity to compete for the LT job. Whether he wins the job this year or not, I think they see him as the future there and Walker will be gone after this year.

[call_me_ishmael]

I think Morgan will be given the opportunity to compete for the LT job. Whether he wins the job this year or not, I think they see him as the future there and Walker will be gone after this year.

Only if he wins the job or looks the part though (I know this is obvious, but I don't think this is a foregone conclusion yet). I think some steps need to be taken to ensure that.

[run pMc]

Yeah, I have to think they will give Morgan another shot at tackle. I don't think they want to sign Walker unless they have no option; having 4 OL on 2nd (expensive) contracts with Banks, Jenkins, Tom and Walker would be a lot of cap space allocated to OL.

Hobbs is getting paid outside corner money, that's where they are going to play him. He's an upgrade over Stokes, but that's a lot of money they're paying him. CB still looks like a need, but it's not a gaping hole anymore...they can rotate 3 guys at the 2 spots (assuming Jaire will be gone).

[Fritz]

I think Nutzy is correct - I'm still a bit mystified by the pick myself, especially especially if they end up making him a guard. I think of a first-round offensive lineman as being a tackle, preferably left tackle.

I'm still hoping they take an offensive tackle in the middle rounds somewhere. Need to have a pipeline for that offensive line.

[Patler]

Clearly Morgan will get opportunities at tackle, that's what he was drafted for, OT potential.

Don't remember if it was Gute or LeFleur who flat out admitted this off season that they made a mistake by not giving Morgan more opportunities at tackle last year, but justified it by saying the need at guard was more significant. Players and practice observers commented about Morgan's noticeable athleticism in drills. I am not concerned at all about Morgan...yet.

It is never wrong to draft a high potential, versatile OL; 22% of your starters are OL. It was clear from the playoff game last year that GB needs OL depth. Guys who can perform competently at 2, 3 or 4 of the positions are invaluable on game days.

[Fosco33]

Sounds like pack might cut jaire today? Why not keep him and make him play (and then trade him)?

If everyone knows you don’t want something - why would they give you more than a 7th for him?

Post 6/1 cut designation doesn’t save a whole lot of cap.

And ffs we know he’ll just sign w/ the queens…

[MadScientist]

Sounds like pack might cut jaire today? Why not keep him and make him play (and then trade him)?

If everyone knows you don’t want something - why would they give you more than a 7th for him?

Post 6/1 cut designation doesn’t save a whole lot of cap.

And ffs we know he’ll just sign w/ the queens…

Pre 6/1 and there is $18M in dead cap this year. Post 6/1 there is ~$8M this year and $10M next year. That's significant enough.

[run pMc]

Keeping him until late in FA or even after the draft could boost interest. With what's left out there at CB, he'd get a lot of interest if they cut him now.
The draft doesn't fall in favor of some team's board and they need a good CB, they might make a trade.

If they don't dick him around there's not much downside for GB to keep Jaire in the short-term. His value probably fluctuates by the day, they will sell when it's high.

[Joemailman]

Jaire will get traded hours before Day 3 of NFL Draft starts.

[Bretsky]

I think the reason Morgan never was tried at LT was he was leap years behind Wallace last year. Not a good thing. Hopefully he improves as we've had too many strikeouts in round one

[Joemailman]

I think the reason Morgan never was tried at LT was he was leap years behind Wallace last year. Not a good thing. Hopefully he improves as we've had too many strikeouts in round one

The reason was because they felt Rasheed Walker was better than Sean Rhyan.

[Bretsky]

The reason was because they felt Rasheed Walker was better than Sean Rhyan.

agree to disagree

[Patler]

I think the reason Morgan never was tried at LT was he was leap years behind Wallace last year. Not a good thing. Hopefully he improves as we've had too many strikeouts in round one

I don't think there has been any evidence for that all. On the other hand, who would play RG was an open question last year. Some suggested Tom would be moved inside because of the "pro-bowl tackle, all-pro guard, HoF center" comment by the coaches. Others even suggested Meyers would get a shot.

[CaptainKickass]

Hey Rats, here's a non-paywall link to the interview with Nate Hobbs from The Athletic titled: "Nate Hobbs Q&A: Packers’ new CB explains why Rich Bissacia ‘changed my life’ with Raiders"

This, that and the third

I've heard and even said "This , that and the other" in my lifetime, but I've never heard it this way before: "This, that and the third." He used it a couple times in the interview.

The most interesting part was he said Jaire reached out to him.
Hmm.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Hey Rats, here's a non-paywall link to the interview with Nate Hobbs from The Athletic titled: "Nate Hobbs Q&A: Packers’ new CB explains why Rich Bissacia ‘changed my life’ with Raiders"



I've heard and even said "This , that and the other" in my lifetime, but I've never heard it this way before: "This, that and the third." He used it a couple times in the interview.

The most interesting part was he said Jaire reached out to him.
Hmm.

Thanks for the link.

It would be a dumb mistake to get rid of J-Alex. You do not get rid of a shutdown corner in his prime, unless he commits some heinous crime. Sure, J-Alex is cocky as fuck, but guess what? The shutdown corner is supposed to be cocky as fuck!

[Deputy Nutz]

Alexander was a top end corner, and then his attitude and injuries hampered his career. He can't stay healthy and it's a shoulder, a knee, a hamstring....

He used to be super aggressive in his tackling then he popped his shoulder. I am not sure he is worth 17 million especially if he doesn't want to be in GB and is trade value with the injuries and attitude has plummeted. He is doing his best to get out of GB, let him go. I don't wish him the worst, but his time is over in GB.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Alexander was a top end corner, and then his attitude and injuries hampered his career. He can't stay healthy and it's a shoulder, a knee, a hamstring....

He used to be super aggressive in his tackling then he popped his shoulder. I am not sure he is worth 17 million especially if he doesn't want to be in GB and is trade value with the injuries and attitude has plummeted. He is doing his best to get out of GB, let him go. I don't wish him the worst, but his time is over in GB.

What makes you think J-Alex doesn’t want to be a Packer? And what attitude? By all accounts, he’s well liked by his teammates. Ain’t no so-called locker room cancer, hombre.

Sure, the injury issue is an issue. But I bet he’s super motivated to shed that injury-prone label.

Packers have no problems paying Clark a shitload of frogskins to make a play every blue moon. When healthy, Alexander is a bona fide shutdown corner. Keep J-Alex!

[texaspackerbacker]

I sorta agree about Jaire, but he's due a lot of money compared to what he has been worth recently. If he ain't a cancer and wants to stay a Packer, as you say, then I'd say a restructuring is in order - fixing it to where he gets a whole lot less, but maybe with performance incentives to keeping making some or all of it.