Report: Matthews, Rodgers closing in on new deals with Packers

[smuggler]

They could possibly just franchise Raji for a year or two like they did with Pickett.

[Fritz]

Pickett has gotten moved with double teams the last year or two. Not badly, not like Raji, but he doesn't stay put like he did through the Super Bowl year. I would be happy with a big DT early.

Raji is just not the anchor Pickett is. He is best versus a team that wants to pass. he got steamrolled versus the 49ers a couple of times.

Is it that Raji just isn't really a good fit for the 3-4 hold-your-gap scheme?

[woodbuck27]

After last year I'm not even sure how good Raji is. It will be interesting to see what TT does

2013 will be a telling season for Ted Thompson and DT/DE BJ Raji, and CB Tramone Williams. I can see these starters playing elsewhere in 2014.

Ryan Pickett b. Oct. 8,1979 is closing in on his mid thirtys. How much longer he lasts will be emhanced if Ted Thompson gets a strong DT (NT) early in this draft.

Jermichael Finley will have to absolutely stink before Ted Thompson will send him packing. TT has some kinda craving for that guy. There's no sense in TT/MM having Tyler Eifert on the sidelines.

The '40 time' is finally in for RB Eddie Lacy ** . A good time for a pounder his size.

In any case, TT should ignore RB and TE or Eddie Lacy & Tyler Eifert at #26.

TT's primary focus for this draft!?

A) TT does best drafting DL,OL,WR,DB / BPA in rounds one.

There's not alot there that's really exciting unless someone unexpectantly slips to us. One of my personal favourites and a real gift for Aaron Rodgers; WR DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson.

I like the steady heads up play of ILB Eric Minter, LCU; a slight reach.

B) With huge concern at LT and his $$$25 Million Dollar Baby$$$ needing to stay upright. TT may? go LT and Menelick Watson, Florida State or Terron Armstead, Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

C) Ted Thompson would do very well if DE Datone Jones, UCLA fell to him. DT Jesse Williams, Alabama may fall into the same watch.

D) Higher graded DE's ... Cornellius Carradine, Florida State and Alex Okafor, Texas should be on the board at #26.

E) Please See above. TT should draft a RB after Round three.


** https://twitter.com/seniorbowl/statu...68851155226624

GO PACK GO !

[SnakeLH2006]

I don't have a prob with Pickett or Raji...but think of it this way...TT has been unpredictable in drafts..till now. What he does is genious...he drafts the replacements. Meaning he'll either draft a TE to replace Finley or a DT to replace Raji/Pickett. Look at future FA's he won't resign...then look at who he drafts.

[Fritz]

This is a good observation, I think. It's a sign that things are in decent shape that instead of frantically filling holes (think Detroit Lions), he's drafting replacements for the guys he knows will probably not be around.

Thus, seeing him draft a couple of d-linemen, a wide receiver, and a safety would not be surprising.

[woodbuck27]

Whether Raji returns may depend on the market value. If some team is willing to make Raji the highest paid NT in the NFL, I'm not sure TT will or can match it, given how much he's going to have to pay Matthews and Rodgers.

BJ Raji won't be worth much more than TT decides he's worth.

I hope that TT has that evaluation correct. I'm not impressed with BJ Raji anymore.

The same goes for CB Tramone Williams and TE JerMichael Finley. I hope that 'two out of three ain't bad' for this trio and coming through...getting it together, is a realistic hope.

PACKERS !
PACKERS!

[woodbuck27]

Agree
Ideally ya gotta keep the young guy; it is the way of TT

But what if Pickett can be had for 2MIL a Year and Raji costs 6-7MIL a year.....

Is BJ Raji worth $7 million$?

[smuggler]

I think Raji's play from last year probably puts him in the $4-$6 million range.

[woodbuck27]

I think Raji's play from last year probably puts him in the $4-$6 million range.

He's not worth anything close to a double digit yearly salary. If he gets anything like that. I'm sure that he'll love the city and it's not Green Bay.

Of course ... I'm on record as still confused over Jermichael and Ted Thompson. He's IMO a very expensive rental for one season.

PACKERS !

[woodbuck27]

This is a good observation, I think. It's a sign that things are in decent shape that instead of frantically filling holes (think Detroit Lions), he's drafting replacements for the guys he knows will probably not be around.

Thus, seeing him draft a couple of d-linemen, a wide receiver, and a safety would not be surprising.

I think TT has to pick at all three of those positions Fritz. He has to go DT for sure and/or DE early. He should go Safety early or settle for far less later in the draft. He has to be thinking the same if he's looking for more at Center. There's not much depth at Center. I'm thinking move on a Center in round three unless there was a run on that position.

WR >>> go big or stay home for awhile. One or more of Keenan Allen, DeAndre Hopkins, Justin Hunter may be available at #26. All will be very tempting. If two out of three are gone maybe Datone Jones is there as BPA (his board) and that prospect will be very tempting. I'll call that then a 'so what'. If we're talking pick and DL that pick must be an excellent choice to fit the plans for scheme. The prospect has to fit the scheme and not vice versa.

The thing with a pick and the DL is in the debate between Wist43 and 3irty1. That debate is good and there can be 'only one winner' in my view.That winner is discovered by arriving at some mutuality of agreement.

At this time their close to arriving there and maybe not realizing that just yet. They have to get there.

Where is our DC's head? What is our predominant defensive scheme? How will Capers use BJ Raji if he and TT target to choose a 5 Tech DE? Does BJ Raji really know what's his best role on our DL? It seems to me that he wants to be a playmaker. Is he being realistic or true to himself? What do we really have in OLB wanna be DE Nick price.Where does he belong...see BJ Raji.

What do we really have inside at LBer? Such an upcoming season filled with ?marks?

Dom Capers and TT have to communicate and agree and work out the best targets for that decided upon scheme. That's where BPA and DL, and it's moot but include LB, isn't always a viable option. The right player fits the right scheme. It's simply and 'just' that. It's not anything else.

I cannot imagine the headache that TT is having to get that #26 pick exactly right. No problem Ehh!? TT had about 2.5K prospects to chose from at #26. Piece of cake....right!? Sure. If he doesn't get it right he'll never pass that by posters here.

The pressure to be very right is big this draft.

As Wist43 says... stay tuned on that Thursday night. It's all very interesting and flows right or left with that #26 pick. He may not get the benefit of trading down this draft. How many GM's on the bottom third of Rd. 1 might desire that strategy? TT has to be focused this draft; 'on the ball' alert. I suggest focused on strength, speed and athleticism. Focused on dedicated love to play football enthusiastically, 'football players' need 'only' apply. That had to be his advertisement last February. Has Ted Thompson and his Scouts payed due diligence to knowing exactly who those eligibles are?

I'm simply wondering.

I want this draft to fire up the Green Bay Packers; because the team certainly needs just that.

GO PACKERS !

[Pugger]

BJ Raji won't be worth much more than TT decides he's worth.

I hope that TT has that evaluation correct. I'm not impressed with BJ Raji anymore.

The same goes for CB Tramone Williams and TE JerMichael Finley. I hope that 'two out of three ain't bad' for this trio and coming through...getting it together, is a realistic hope.

PACKERS !
PACKERS!

I wonder if Tramon wasn't 100% last year but he played anyway?

[Pugger]

He's not worth anything close to a double digit yearly salary. If he gets anything like that. I'm sure that he'll love the city and it's not Green Bay.

Of course ... I'm on record as still confused over Jermichael and Ted Thompson. He's IMO a very expensive rental for one season.

PACKERS !

If Finley continues to play like he did late last season then he'll get an extension. If he is still inconsistent he'll walk after this coming season. For our team I'm hoping for the former.

[Carolina_Packer]

If Finley continues to play like he did late last season then he'll get an extension. If he is still inconsistent he'll walk after this coming season. For our team I'm hoping for the former.

The Packers are paying out an expensive option year to find out if that is true or not. I hope he tears it up; who doesn't? But, is it more likely he will be more like he has been (inconsistent) or a man on a mission (playing for a contract)? They've paid to see, so let's hope it works out in the team's favor.

[pbmax]

I wonder if Tramon wasn't 100% last year but he played anyway?

I think the Packers think that. Otherwise, I doubt he would still be at his cap number. Or on the team. Finley was an easier call because its just one year. TWill has two years left at 8.5 and 9.5 mil in cap terms.

[Patler]

Things could still happen with both Williams and Finley.

While I don't think it will happen, Finley is more easily traded now than before his bonus was paid. A lot of teams, including the Packers, would be happy to have him for a season and pay him his remaining $4.5 million (or whatever). The only way I could see the Packers trading him now would be as part of a package deal to move high in the draft and pick a player TT is especially high on, as he did for Matthews. I express this as only a possibility, not something that I think is likely to happen.

Tramon Williams is a different matter, and a decision on him can come much later. I don't believe the Packers have really made a decision on him yet for 2013. He hasn't had a significant bonus due that I am aware of. They have adequate cap room right now to do what they want to do, so lowering his salary is not important just yet. CB are so critical that they probably want to give him every opportunity to return to his 2010 form, and that means giving him the off season to do it. They could still ask him to take a salary reduction before the start of the season, or if they think they can play without him, he could yet be released or traded. At his salary, I think releasing him after TC is a possibility, if he doesn't show signs of returning to his 2010 form and/or if House comes on to play like he did in training camp last year, and both Hayward and Shields play as they did last year. Could be a good spot for another high draft pick. More than likely, Williams will stay with the Packers at his current salary in whatever role he fits, and decision time regarding his Packer career will be next off-season.