Packers tag Pickett

[Smidgeon]

Does anyone else have the "deja-vu" feeling that Pickett being franchised may be a precursor to him being traded?

If memory serves me correctly, the last time the Pack franchised a DT was Corey Williams. He was promptly traded to the Browns.

I doubt strongly Pickett will be traded. Proven NTs are difficult to find. Plus, while Raji will man the position down the road, this frees him up to move around the line and wreak pass-rushing havoc from multiple positions. I think it's just a business decision that allows GB to keep Pickett's service while a long term deal is worked out.

I doubt it too, but with NTs being so scarce right now, maybe someone will make Ted an offer he can't refuse. What would it take to convince you to trade him?

Hmm. Good question. If I were GM, considering both the scarcity of good NTs and the fact that GB has a viable backup NT on the roster with Raji, I'd trade him for a 1st in the top 20 picks this year or top 15 next year (due to the projected disparity of draft depth).

Too low a price or too high?

Probably too high? He'll be turning 31 around the start of this season, and is currently headed toward a one year $7 mil contract. Maybe a 2nd?

Well, the reason I went that high is the obvious demand for NTs. Half the players who have received a franchise tag this offseason are NTs in a 3-4. I think the GMs on those teams know how hard it is to find an effective NT and don't want to risk losing one of those players even for a 1st and 3rd. I could be wrong, but that's how I read that part.

Also, regarding his age, D-Line seems to be one of the places players can be effective well into their late 30s. They can lose a step and still be quite effective. So while 30+ is a death sentence for many other positions, I think Pickett would still be valued above a round 2. Especially since Corey Williams went for a 2, and Pickett is far more valuable than that.

I would even argue (although on more shaky ground) that Pickett is more valuable than the round 2 pick from Javon Walker. Walker was one of 2 starting WRs, while advocates of the 3-4 say the most crucial piece is an effective NT.

[get louder at lambeau]

Does anyone else have the "deja-vu" feeling that Pickett being franchised may be a precursor to him being traded?

If memory serves me correctly, the last time the Pack franchised a DT was Corey Williams. He was promptly traded to the Browns.

I doubt strongly Pickett will be traded. Proven NTs are difficult to find. Plus, while Raji will man the position down the road, this frees him up to move around the line and wreak pass-rushing havoc from multiple positions. I think it's just a business decision that allows GB to keep Pickett's service while a long term deal is worked out.

I doubt it too, but with NTs being so scarce right now, maybe someone will make Ted an offer he can't refuse. What would it take to convince you to trade him?

Hmm. Good question. If I were GM, considering both the scarcity of good NTs and the fact that GB has a viable backup NT on the roster with Raji, I'd trade him for a 1st in the top 20 picks this year or top 15 next year (due to the projected disparity of draft depth).

Too low a price or too high?

Probably too high? He'll be turning 31 around the start of this season, and is currently headed toward a one year $7 mil contract. Maybe a 2nd?

Well, the reason I went that high is the obvious demand for NTs. Half the players who have received a franchise tag this offseason are NTs in a 3-4. I think the GMs on those teams know how hard it is to find an effective NT and don't want to risk losing one of those players even for a 1st and 3rd. I could be wrong, but that's how I read that part.

Also, regarding his age, D-Line seems to be one of the places players can be effective well into their late 30s. They can lose a step and still be quite effective. So while 30+ is a death sentence for many other positions, I think Pickett would still be valued above a round 2. Especially since Corey Williams went for a 2, and Pickett is far more valuable than that.

I would even argue (although on more shaky ground) that Pickett is more valuable than the round 2 pick from Javon Walker. Walker was one of 2 starting WRs, while advocates of the 3-4 say the most crucial piece is an effective NT.

I juts don't think you'll find anyone who would give up a first. If someone offered up a mid 2nd in this year's draft, I think I'd be pretty tempted.

[Smidgeon]

Does anyone else have the "deja-vu" feeling that Pickett being franchised may be a precursor to him being traded?

If memory serves me correctly, the last time the Pack franchised a DT was Corey Williams. He was promptly traded to the Browns.

I doubt strongly Pickett will be traded. Proven NTs are difficult to find. Plus, while Raji will man the position down the road, this frees him up to move around the line and wreak pass-rushing havoc from multiple positions. I think it's just a business decision that allows GB to keep Pickett's service while a long term deal is worked out.

I doubt it too, but with NTs being so scarce right now, maybe someone will make Ted an offer he can't refuse. What would it take to convince you to trade him?

Hmm. Good question. If I were GM, considering both the scarcity of good NTs and the fact that GB has a viable backup NT on the roster with Raji, I'd trade him for a 1st in the top 20 picks this year or top 15 next year (due to the projected disparity of draft depth).

Too low a price or too high?

Probably too high? He'll be turning 31 around the start of this season, and is currently headed toward a one year $7 mil contract. Maybe a 2nd?

Well, the reason I went that high is the obvious demand for NTs. Half the players who have received a franchise tag this offseason are NTs in a 3-4. I think the GMs on those teams know how hard it is to find an effective NT and don't want to risk losing one of those players even for a 1st and 3rd. I could be wrong, but that's how I read that part.

Also, regarding his age, D-Line seems to be one of the places players can be effective well into their late 30s. They can lose a step and still be quite effective. So while 30+ is a death sentence for many other positions, I think Pickett would still be valued above a round 2. Especially since Corey Williams went for a 2, and Pickett is far more valuable than that.

I would even argue (although on more shaky ground) that Pickett is more valuable than the round 2 pick from Javon Walker. Walker was one of 2 starting WRs, while advocates of the 3-4 say the most crucial piece is an effective NT.

I juts don't think you'll find anyone who would give up a first. If someone offered up a mid 2nd in this year's draft, I think I'd be pretty tempted.

I agree that I don't think anyone would give up a 1st. If Buffalo was picking lower, they might. But I think taking a 2 would be short-selling just how valuable he is. Plus, I think having both Pickett and Raji makes the team better.

[get louder at lambeau]

Does anyone else have the "deja-vu" feeling that Pickett being franchised may be a precursor to him being traded?

If memory serves me correctly, the last time the Pack franchised a DT was Corey Williams. He was promptly traded to the Browns.

I doubt strongly Pickett will be traded. Proven NTs are difficult to find. Plus, while Raji will man the position down the road, this frees him up to move around the line and wreak pass-rushing havoc from multiple positions. I think it's just a business decision that allows GB to keep Pickett's service while a long term deal is worked out.

I doubt it too, but with NTs being so scarce right now, maybe someone will make Ted an offer he can't refuse. What would it take to convince you to trade him?

Hmm. Good question. If I were GM, considering both the scarcity of good NTs and the fact that GB has a viable backup NT on the roster with Raji, I'd trade him for a 1st in the top 20 picks this year or top 15 next year (due to the projected disparity of draft depth).

Too low a price or too high?

Probably too high? He'll be turning 31 around the start of this season, and is currently headed toward a one year $7 mil contract. Maybe a 2nd?

Well, the reason I went that high is the obvious demand for NTs. Half the players who have received a franchise tag this offseason are NTs in a 3-4. I think the GMs on those teams know how hard it is to find an effective NT and don't want to risk losing one of those players even for a 1st and 3rd. I could be wrong, but that's how I read that part.

Also, regarding his age, D-Line seems to be one of the places players can be effective well into their late 30s. They can lose a step and still be quite effective. So while 30+ is a death sentence for many other positions, I think Pickett would still be valued above a round 2. Especially since Corey Williams went for a 2, and Pickett is far more valuable than that.

I would even argue (although on more shaky ground) that Pickett is more valuable than the round 2 pick from Javon Walker. Walker was one of 2 starting WRs, while advocates of the 3-4 say the most crucial piece is an effective NT.

I juts don't think you'll find anyone who would give up a first. If someone offered up a mid 2nd in this year's draft, I think I'd be pretty tempted.

I agree that I don't think anyone would give up a 1st. If Buffalo was picking lower, they might. But I think taking a 2 would be short-selling just how valuable he is. Plus, I think having both Pickett and Raji makes the team better.

I'm not sure if I'd do it or not, but I'd be pretty tempted. I probably would. Pickett is going to be really expensive to keep for any period of time now that he's franchised, and may not be all that much better than Raji. I'd love to have them both, but I'd also love to have another 2nd rounder to use on a T, CB, or OLB.

[Administrator]

I don't think Pickett is available. If his demands are too high, he'll play on the tender, if he wants a fair deal, he'll probably get it.

Face it, Raji has a ways to go and is the future at the position, but, right now, Pickett is better and a good value at the $7million a year.

Trade would really shock me, because I don't think Raji is ready yet.

[Smidgeon]

I agree that Raji isn't ready as a NT yet.

A while back I read a pretty good blog post (I think it was by Waldo--anyone correct me if I'm wrong) about Raji's strengths and what an ideal use for him would be. Using him as an NT occasionally is good, but having him in the nickel sub-packages is a far better use of his talents.

[pbmax]

Slightly more guaranteed money for Casey Hampton than PFT had yesterday.

Hampton’s deal, according to former Packers vice president Andrew Brandt of www.NationalFootballPost.com, includes guaranteed money of $15.4 million.

[pbmax]

Okay, the Green Bay Press Gazette reporter clearly has become tired from Combine coverage. Hampton did not get $15.4 mil guaranteed, it was $11 million.

Andrew Brandt sees this as a win for the Steelers and the teams with franchised NTs. For the Steelers, they guarantee less money than Hampton would have gotten from back to back Franchise tenders, then for another non-guaranteed $7 million, they get a third year. As he says, it puts a whole new and more current data point on the map to counter the Haynesworth contract.

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Hampton-deal-is-a-win-for-the-Steelers.html

[justanotherpackfan]

Just something worth noting.

Pats DT Vince Wilfork reaches agreement with NE on five-year, $40 million deal that includes $18 million signing bonus, $25 milion gtd.

[gbgary]

We'd better hope there's no CBA extension at the last minute, since if there was we'd need that tag for Collins.

maybe they've done this with pickett because they're close to a collins deal. no?

both done...wow!!