Packers' Off Season Moves and 2017 Roster

[Joemailman]

Rob Demovsky
ESPN Staff Writer

The Packers re-signed seven members of their practice squad to reserve/futures deals: C Jacob Flores, OLB Reggie Gilbert, WR Antwan Goodley, LB Derrick Mathews, G Lucas Patrick, DT Brian Price and S Jermaine Whitehead. They did not immediately re-sign TE Beau Sandland or CB Bene Benwikere. The 10th member of the practice squad, WR Max McCaffrey, was promoted to the 53-man roster on Saturday.

[vince]

Rob Demovsky
ESPN Staff Writer

The Packers re-signed seven members of their practice squad to reserve/futures deals: C Jacob Flores, OLB Reggie Gilbert, WR Antwan Goodley, LB Derrick Mathews, G Lucas Patrick, DT Brian Price and S Jermaine Whitehead. They did not immediately re-sign TE Beau Sandland or CB Bene Benwikere. The 10th member of the practice squad, WR Max McCaffrey, was promoted to the 53-man roster on Saturday.

Gilbert and Patrick had promising camps as I recall and Price would seem to have a good shot at making the roster next year with a productive offseason.

[Cheesehead Craig]

That list is missing Stephon Gilmore who in my opinion is right there with Bouye but has superior natural ability and is more physical.

Both are strong press-man corners, Gilmore is 26 and Bouye 25 so both figure to be right in the wheelhouse of their prime years. Gilmore posted a strong 4.40 40 at the combine vs. Bouye's 4.55 pro-day and Gilmore had a stellar 6.6 3-cone vs. Bouye's 7.06.
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Thanks for that write-up Nutz. Good stuff. I think you're underrating Cobb, Cook, and just about the entire o-line, and overrating the young corners and safeties to some extent, but again thanks for that really thorough assessment. There's a lot to comment on there.

The top 2 guys are going to cost 10-12M/yr. That's a lot of $$. I'd be happy with 2 guys who are 6m/yr and won't mess up their coverage.

[vince]

The top 2 guys are going to cost 10-12M/yr. That's a lot of $$. I'd be happy with 2 guys who are 6m/yr and won't mess up their coverage.

I'd be for swapping out Shields' salary for one of those guys. It's a huge need. Then hit on a corner early in the draft and the position could be a big strength.

With the depth of the draft at the position and the depth of promising but thoroughly unproven guys already in place, I don't see a spot for a mid-tier FA. And when you look at the list of available corners, I'm not seeing many who fit that bill that aren't already on the downside, though I freely admit I'm no expert on them.

EDIT: Prince Amukamara maybe. A lot of these guys hitting the market lack top-end speed and/or agility, which I'd be concerned about. Perhaps the depth in the draft will push some of the free agent demand down a bit.

[SkinBasket]

Christine Micheal *: This guy is a super talented athlete but a pretty mediocre football player. He lacks football intelligence and field awarness. He struggled to learn the offense and show patients carrying the football. He was a liability during passing downs and had to be told just about on every play where to line up. It was a good move at the time for Thompson to pick him up but he didn't make much of his opportunity in Green Bay.
Position on the 2017 roster: Gone

Why is it his job to show other people, much less those undergoing medical treatment, how to carry a football?

[SkinBasket]

Also his name is Geronimo Allison, not Allen, you twat.

[hoosier]

Why is it his job to show other people, much less those undergoing medical treatment, how to carry a football?

You're misreading as usual, it's show patients carrying the football: those people undergoing medical treatment are already toting the rock, you numbskull.

[Teamcheez1]

In regards to Matthews:

There are two years left on his contract.
His 2017 salary will be $15.2M (with $4.1M in dead cap).
His 2018 salary will be $11.4M with no dead cap money.

He will be 31 this next season. I saw on ESPN, that Matthews is one of the 4 highest paid LB's in the NFL (this came up on the Jamie Collins LB Browns, who just signed a new contract).

I think the Packers should let it ride for 2017, but all bets are off for 2018 depending on his performance (and health) this next season.

[texaspackerbacker]

In regards to Matthews:

There are two years left on his contract.
His 2017 salary will be $15.2M (with $4.1M in dead cap).
His 2018 salary will be $11.4M with no dead cap money.

He will be 31 this next season. I saw on ESPN, that Matthews is one of the 4 highest paid LB's in the NFL (this came up on the Jamie Collins LB Browns, who just signed a new contract).

I think the Packers should let it ride for 2017, but all bets are off for 2018 depending on his performance (and health) this next season.

I agree. He had his moments this season and is still a dominating player if he can just stay reasonably healthy. The cap keeps going up, and given Ted's cheapness, we aren't and probably won't even come close to the upper limit. Arguably, he's the second best player on the team - still - and the only real star quality one other than Aaron Rodgers.

[texaspackerbacker]

I'd be for swapping out Shields' salary for one of those guys. It's a huge need. Then hit on a corner early in the draft and the position could be a big strength.

With the depth of the draft at the position and the depth of promising but thoroughly unproven guys already in place, I don't see a spot for a mid-tier FA. And when you look at the list of available corners, I'm not seeing many who fit that bill that aren't already on the downside, though I freely admit I'm no expert on them.

EDIT: Prince Amukamara maybe. A lot of these guys hitting the market lack top-end speed and/or agility, which I'd be concerned about. Perhaps the depth in the draft will push some of the free agent demand down a bit.

Absolutely we should go after one of these proven cover corners. High draft picks at that position - especially for the Packers but a lot of other teams also - don't seem to correlate with getting star quality players.

[Deputy Nutz]

I agree. He had his moments this season and is still a dominating player if he can just stay reasonably healthy. The cap keeps going up, and given Ted's cheapness, we aren't and probably won't even come close to the upper limit. Arguably, he's the second best player on the team - still - and the only real star quality one other than Aaron Rodgers.

He averaged 2 tackles a game and 5 sacks. If he is the second best player on the Packers roster they are in more trouble than I thought. He cannot stay reasonably healthy he has proved that throughout his career. Watch the film and stop dreaming about his hair.

[Deputy Nutz]

Also his name is Geronimo Allison, not Allen, you twat.

Next time I should send it to you for editing, my mistake.

[Rutnstrut]

He averaged 2 tackles a game and 5 sacks. If he is the second best player on the Packers roster they are in more trouble than I thought. He cannot stay reasonably healthy he has proved that throughout his career. Watch the film and stop dreaming about his hair.

Yup, over rated very overpaid diva.

[texaspackerbacker]

Regarding the original posts (thanks Nutz for posting them), I'd certainly keep Christine Michael. He should be fairly cheap, and we can use a one cut speed back as an alternative to Montgomery. As for his being dumb as a rock, I kinda doubt that's true. Hopefully with camp and the preseason to learn, he can seem less that way. I also have a very high opinion of Ripkowski despite the blunder last Sunday. I'd take either him or Michael over Lacy even if the cost were the same, which it wouldn't be IMO.

I'd give Cook more than two stars. He, too, should be a lot better with a full camp and preseason to get used to things. You thought T.J. Lang's play "dipped" this season? I thought he was one step above crap prior to this season, and he rose to fairly decent this year. I'd keep him if it doesn't take breaking the bank - which it shouldn't. I think they are gonna keep Cobb too. He's an excellent slot receiver when he's healthy, and I suspect Rodgers lobbies to keep him. I wouldn't be surprised if we keep all of the wideouts we have this season. Only Trevor Davis seems to be as low as 50/50. I STILL think Janis is gonna break out and be a star in this league - hopefully for the Packers.

I pretty much agree with all you posted on Defense - except maybe Randall being solid, and given Ted's tendency to favor his draft picks, I suppose he will stay. Gunter is way better than him or Rollins. I also have hope for Hawkins. A quality free agent Corner would do wonders for this team - moving everybody else down one spot. I don't suppose it would ever happen, but I'd like to see Janis get a try at Corner - if they're just gonna let him go to waste on offense anyway.

[texaspackerbacker]

He averaged 2 tackles a game and 5 sacks. If he is the second best player on the Packers roster they are in more trouble than I thought. He cannot stay reasonably healthy he has proved that throughout his career. Watch the film and stop dreaming about his hair.

I attribute that to the injuries. He made several major game changing plays even in his diminished condition; He plays better ILB than anybody else who played there; If (and I agree it's a big "if") he can stay healthy, he's still damn good. Who else on the team rises far enough above mediocrity to be a star player - other than Rodgers, of course?

And I absolutely HATE faggy long hair on guys - I'll overlook it on him if he gets back to playing good enough.