153 - Jager Burton - C - Kentucky

[pbmax]

Where did you hear this? It's news to me, although it might explain why it took so long to get those deals done.

I am speculating that the debate over silos and Policy's role as referee between Gute/LaFleur/Ball was a cause in the delay. But several local beat guys, including Demovsky, said that Policy wanted to return to the GM with total control model.

When he did not get that wish, seemed logical that this was a concession to someone and the most likely candidate is LaFleur.

EDIT: Here is Rob D discussing what he was hearing: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...ild-card-bears

[bobblehead]

Gute seems on record that he sees him as a LT.

But here is a thought: Morgan might be example 1A of why Policy was going to put the GM back in charge of the whole roster. But LaFleur wouldn't sign his deal with that change happening after multiple years in the new silo.

I have no way of knowing for sure if Gutes viewed him as anything except that he got practice snaps, preseason snaps and regular season snaps predominantly at RG. If that was all MiLF then he's the idiot.....but someone's an idiot and MiLF has given me more reason to trust him over the years.

[Joemailman]

I have no way of knowing for sure if Gutes viewed him as anything except that he got practice snaps, preseason snaps and regular season snaps predominantly at RG. If that was all MiLF then he's the idiot.....but someone's an idiot and MiLF has given me more reason to trust him over the years.

I think the coaching staff has made questionable decisions on the OL since the 2020 playoffs.

[bobblehead]

I think the coaching staff has made questionable decisions on the OL since the 2020 playoffs.

I think gutes/staff have gotten a LOT of mileage off of a not so great batting average that featured a homerun. Outside of that he lived off TTs guys and now owns the entire roster and the result is back to back 7 seeds....otherwise known as missing the playoffs not so long ago.

Zach Tom was an absolute homerun. Jenkins was a solid pro as a 2nd round pick. Walker is probably a homerun for a 7th, but the guy you try to replace. The list of failures would take me too long. I'm not sure how getting Zach Tom right and 8 other guys wrong gets you the reputation for developing mid/late round picks into good OL. We have developed some into meh and Tom into a stud. Tom was a stud. His tape had him shutting down a top 10 pick for an entire game. It was sinful he lasted until round 4. We picked Rhyan in front of him. Is anyone excited we gave Rhyan a 2nd contract??

[Sparkey]

Time for some Jager meister !!

[bobblehead]

I think the coaching staff has made questionable decisions on the OL since the 2020 playoffs.

I just have a hard time envisioning a scenario where a GM drafts a top notch LT prospect and the coaching staff says "ah hell, lets throw him at guard and give him all his practice time at guard" against the GMs intentions.

[pbmax]

Burton is pretty smooth for a guy his size.

https://x.com/i/status/2049609677780967476

Year 1 Morgan got banged up in preseason and then during the season. He lost time in camp or he might have won out.

[run pMc]

I just have a hard time envisioning a scenario where a GM drafts a top notch LT prospect and the coaching staff says "ah hell, lets throw him at guard and give him all his practice time at guard" against the GMs intentions.

MLF doesn't report to Gute and can do whatever he wants with the players. I think they played Walker over Morgan at LT for locker room reasons and comp pick reasons. I also think they played Morgan as much as they did to get some value from the pick and also to get him some actual regular season snaps so he wouldn't be a greenhorn at LT in 2026.

The Burton pick is interesting and they need the depth. They have had luck with Day 3 picks (Wells, Timmerman, Flanagan, Sitton, Lang, Bakhtiari, Tom, Walker, etc.) and C isn't a position you usually need to spend a high pick on anyway. FWIW, I preferred Barton to Morgan coming out of that draft. Hope the Burton kid pushes for a spot on the gameday roster.

[bobblehead]

MLF doesn't report to Gute and can do whatever he wants with the players. I think they played Walker over Morgan at LT for locker room reasons and comp pick reasons. I also think they played Morgan as much as they did to get some value from the pick and also to get him some actual regular season snaps so he wouldn't be a greenhorn at LT in 2026.

The Burton pick is interesting and they need the depth. They have had luck with Day 3 picks (Wells, Timmerman, Flanagan, Sitton, Lang, Bakhtiari, Tom, Walker, etc.) and C isn't a position you usually need to spend a high pick on anyway. FWIW, I preferred Barton to Morgan coming out of that draft. Hope the Burton kid pushes for a spot on the gameday roster.

I'm sure that's it then. I'm sure the packers have been running things where the GM and the coach don't coordinate at all and MiLF just takes the final roster (as chosen by the GM with no input from MiLF apparently) and then puts them where he wants. Like when MiLF announced that Melton was moving to CB and he didn't give a fuck what Gutes thought about it. /sarc

And you contradict yourself. Why would MiLF be deciding how to play players based on comp picks?? That is more the GMs concern.

[bobblehead]

MLF doesn't report to Gute and can do whatever he wants with the players. I think they played Walker over Morgan at LT for locker room reasons and comp pick reasons. I also think they played Morgan as much as they did to get some value from the pick and also to get him some actual regular season snaps so he wouldn't be a greenhorn at LT in 2026.

The Burton pick is interesting and they need the depth. They have had luck with Day 3 picks (Wells, Timmerman, Flanagan, Sitton, Lang, Bakhtiari, Tom, Walker, etc.) and C isn't a position you usually need to spend a high pick on anyway. FWIW, I preferred Barton to Morgan coming out of that draft. Hope the Burton kid pushes for a spot on the gameday roster.

6 good players picked not by Gutes who all got second contracts.....and one stud picked by Gutes who got a second contract.

[Joemailman]

6 good players picked not by Gutes who all got second contracts.....and one stud picked by Gutes who got a second contract.

For the record, Timmerman did not get a 2nd contract with Packers. Played 4 years for Packers, 8 years for Rams. One of Wolf's bigger mistakes IMHO.

[pbmax]

Just realized something. Keep reading everywhere about the Packers not having as few as six draft picks in long time. But someone's favorite GM managed that feat twice in back to back years. Post your guesses now folks!

Year 1 of six players was cover your eyes awful. Year 2 landed two good players. one of whom was driven mad by the deadly combo of injury and contract negotiations.

[Patler]

Gute has another late round OL success, Jon Runyan. Not a guy you think about much, but he is quietly putting together a solid career. He has started 79 of 80 games the last 5 years, three in GB and two with the Giants. Not bad for a 6th round draft pick.

[run pMc]

Does Yosh Njiman count?
Does getting a solid rookie year and nothing else out of Royce Newman count?
How many GM's have hit on Day 3 OL picks since 2018 where they signed a 2nd contract for starter money?
Is it more important that Morgan and Belton pan out as higher round picks?

Getting Rhyan, Tom, and Walker in one year is a pretty good draft. That's a lot of (often quality) rookie contract starts.

Personally I think Gute has made some missteps but overall has put together pretty good roster talent, I'm less convinced MLF has been consistently getting the most out of it.