Official Randall Cobb FA Thread

[smuggler]

They can tag him, and still allow him to seek offers elsewhere. Then, they can either match or negotiate a deal to give the other team the power to sign him. Doesn't have to be two first rounders. I'd say a tag is plausible, as that 12.5 guaranteed salary can just become part of the signing bonus that's sure to be well north of that amount anyway.

The fact that Cobb is not tagged leads me to believe a deal is imminent, but it's not proof positive, obviously.

[Pugger]

Scrambling to google Phillip Dorsett and Tyler Lockett for a more focused examination and 'NO' Randall Cobb.

On second thought ............why?

What are the guarantee on either of these NFL prospects ( and 'any LOCK NFL success) Vs the bona fide Randall Cobb?

It's the age old 'bird in the hand is worth ..... whatever' argument'.

I'll make this prediction right now:

If the Packers lose Randall Cobb. You can write off next season and any hope of going to and winning the Super Bowl.

I don't want to lose Cobb either but I think this is a little melodramatic.

[yetisnowman]

I don't want to lose Cobb either but I think this is a little melodramatic.

Completely disagree. Unless we have someone of equal talent or production I think our offense loses a lot of potency. Cobb scores tds and converts 3rd downs. Our defense isn't going to be lights out any time soon so we need fire power. I doubt a rookie or a 2nd year guy who contributed zilch last year can replace that. We aren't contenders with a diminished offense in my opinion.

[pbmax]

They can tag him, and still allow him to seek offers elsewhere. Then, they can either match or negotiate a deal to give the other team the power to sign him. Doesn't have to be two first rounders. I'd say a tag is plausible, as that 12.5 guaranteed salary can just become part of the signing bonus that's sure to be well north of that amount anyway.

The fact that Cobb is not tagged leads me to believe a deal is imminent, but it's not proof positive, obviously.

No way will they franchise tag him. At $12.5 million, it would put his salary into an entirely different bracket. A player who gets tagged starts negotiating at 2X the cap number as the guaranteed amount for the next contract. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...ng-term-deals/

He will walk for far less than $12.5 and the tag won't even come up.

[pbmax]

Completely disagree. Unless we have someone of equal talent or production I think our offense loses a lot of potency. Cobb scores tds and converts 3rd downs. Our defense isn't going to be lights out any time soon so we need fire power. I doubt a rookie or a 2nd year guy who contributed zilch last year can replace that. We aren't contenders with a diminished offense in my opinion.

You can't build a team and keep the cap in shape with a "this player is almost indispensable, we won't make the Super Bowl without him" approach. Maybe for you QB and maybe for one player on the Defense. But certainly not a WR.

Woodbuck earlier (weeks ago) said he wanted Cobb signed _now_ for $8.5 million per over four years. He apparently wants $9 mil per. At exactly what price do you advise the Packers to say no to?

Or should the Packers tag him?

[Patler]

I doubt a rookie or a 2nd year guy who contributed zilch last year can replace that. We aren't contenders with a diminished offense in my opinion.

Are you considering Adams to be the guy who contributed zilch, or are you talking about Janis and Abbrederis?

[yetisnowman]

[QUOTE=Patler;829463]Are you considering Adams to be the guy who contributed zilch, or are you talking about Janis and Abbrederis?[/QUOTE

I meant zilch literally.

[beveaux1]

The Packers have an amount they are willing to pay for every free agent on their team. Just as they rate a player in the draft according to the position they are willing to draft them. If they do not rate one of the available ILBs in this draft worthy of the 30th pick in the draft, they will not draft them, or they will trade down to a position where they would be willing to draft them. I'm sure Cobb and Bulaga have been slotted accordingly. They won't pay significantly over what their value indicates. This is the only way to manage the cap in the NFL today. Overpaying for a free agent may not hurt you this year, but it very definitely will sometime through the remainder of the contract. You don't overpay for free agents from your team or from other teams. Sherman did that and Thompson had to fix the cap. hey won't let history repeat itself on Thompson's watch.

[mraynrand]

absolutely. So Cobb will likely test the FA market and have to decide if the marginal increase in SB he gets from another team is worth the risk of seeing his career slide, no playoffs, no pro bowl, and a meager third contract. He either better be going to another team with a very good QB and weapons or be getting a substantially greater SB/guaranteed money.

[Joemailman]

Cobb will not, in my opinion, leave Green Bay to go to Cleveland or Jacksonville. He doesn't want to end up like Greg Jennings or Eric Decker. Now, if Seattle, Denver, New England or Indy come calling, that could be different. The question though is whether teams with a great QB feel the need to pay big money for a slot receiver. I think he'll be back with Green Bay on March 9 after most of Packer Nation has a collective heart attack.

[oldbutnotdeadyet]

Well, you can tell Cobb is a fan favorite. Much passion on this thread. My view is more neutral. If we can sign him at a reasonable paycheck, great. If we can't, tough titty, time to give one of the new kids a shot and/or draft a replacement. My opinion is we have much higher needs on the team (ILB, TE, somebody in the middle of the DL, etc). Its a tough business which does not allow us to sign everybody we want, ya gots to have priorities.

[Joemailman]

Well, you can tell Cobb is a fan favorite. Much passion on this thread. My view is more neutral. If we can sign him at a reasonable paycheck, great. If we can't, tough titty, time to give one of the new kids a shot and/or draft a replacement. My opinion is we have much higher needs on the team (ILB, TE, somebody in the middle of the DL, etc). Its a tough business which does not allow us to sign everybody we want, ya gots to have priorities.

You do need priorities, and one of TT's priorities has been to make sure his QB has weapons. If Cobb isn't signed, this will be the most unproven group of WR's the Packers have has since 2006, when the had Driver and rookie Greg Jennings as the starters. Not saying it will all end badly if Cobb isn't signed, but it would be a bigger question mark than usual.

[mraynrand]

Well, you can tell Cobb is a fan favorite.

absolutely

[pbmax]

I think this is more than fan favorite. The bench was supremely loaded 3 years ago and for a while it looked like only Driver would leave.

But then Jennings and Jones left and Boykin didn't pick it up in Year 2. Depth is a much different and younger story now. It also might allow Ted more room for Cobb's contract. If Jennings and Jones were still hear even at team friendly deals, it wouldn't fit.

[Fritz]

I wonder if Ted is still smarting and learning from the Brad Jones quandry. Ted let the cupboard get bare and so I think ponied up more than he would probably normally have.

Will he think he doesn't want to overpay again?