Your Ideal Free Agent Strategy for the Packers

[pbmax]

Do you want to hedge your bets with some numbers to provide depth and guard against a 50% miss rate?

Or do you want a big name, to get maximum talent and least amount of flaws?

And if any of you say bit of both, I will flog your internet presence to within an inch of its life.

Looking for best marginal value of the first step of the new strategy: mid-priced depth or a big ticket item.

[red]

I guess if I have to go with just one, I would pick the big splash cause we already have a bunch of mid tier players

But honestly, I would want both

The problem is, imo, we could use an impact I'll, and a shutdown corner, and since we're always dropping like flies, we need vet depth

So yeah, I'll take my flogging now

[red]

But I suppose it depends on what you consider "mid tier"

I would think you could upgrade out ILB and CB positions without breaking the bank

[Rutnstrut]

Well had TT actually used a smattering of FA every year they wouldn't need both. However now they pretty much need a big talent or two that delivers AND some mid tier guys.

[bobblehead]

Well had TT actually used a smattering of FA every year they wouldn't need both. However now they pretty much need a big talent or two that delivers AND some mid tier guys.

You mean like getting a TE last year would have been nice? Agreed. Maybe a pass rushing DE/OLB with a few years left? Agreed...wish he would do that once in awhile.

I vote both...flog incoming.

If they could land AJ Bouye I wouldn't mind paying for a shutdown CB. Every team needs one. We missed Shields badly and signing Bouye would be similar to having shields stay healthy. There are also several RB's available this year, but the one I would eye would be Andre Ellington of the Cardinals. He is quick as a PBR shit and the lost man in AZ. He'd be a good fit and complement to Montgomery. Probably comes cheap as well. If they could land those 2 guys...or 2 guys similar (a RB and CB) I would be thrilled. We need a #1 corner. Drafting one at 30? isn't likely. RBs are cheap, but signing a guy like Ellington could pay off big.

Without that #1 CB the D can only improve so much. With him it opens us up to draft best available player, develop our youngsters more, make the fans happy who want to break the bank in FA and have a shot at the trophy next year.

[bobblehead]

Oh...and signing some unrestricted FAs named Perry, Hyde, and Cook would be nice also. A couple others if the price is right (Lang, Tretter, Goode.) The rest can walk.

[texaspackerbacker]

I voted for the first choice, but I don't really like the poll. It doesn't say anything about quantity of signings, how big money, or what positions. Obviously, a degree of moderation is needed. However, some years going after quality at certain positions (like Corner this year) is equally obvious.

[Cheesehead Craig]

Oh goody, an Internet flogging! I'll pile on with those who don't like the poll.

You forgot the 3rd option which is just draft a CB in round 1 or 2, and just let the young guys on the roster develop and not sign a FA.

I'm one for both the options in the poll. I want to sign one of the top 2 FA CBs, and also a mid tier vet who can mentor the young-uns, which is desperately needed.

Now, on with the flogging pb!

[Joemailman]

I said big impact. They should release Shields and Starks and use the money to sign a top corner. Someone who not only would help the coverage, but who would provide some leadership in the CB group. Right now they don't have that.

[Pugger]

I said big impact. They should release Shields and Starks and use the money to sign a top corner. Someone who not only would help the coverage, but who would provide some leadership in the CB group. Right now they don't have that.

[vince]

Too many unknowns to be able to answer.

It could be either - depending on the opportunities the market presents - current player health/development assessments, what opportunities the signing might negate filling thereby diminishing needed depth somewhere else, what other talent is available relative to demand, what skills, flags/risks they may have relative to the commitment the market is demanding, length of deal relative to expected skill decline, the extent to which signing bonus, guarantees, and overall contract structure either handcuffs the team or gives them flexibility to get out of the agreement if necessary - and at what points, the free agent opportunity relative to other core players to re-sign and what their relative value/priority is, how the signing(s) mesh with the cap situation both current and near future, whether there are reasonable opportunities to manage the cap structure by renegotiating other deals that could help justify certain FA commitments, what the existing roster pay structure looks like and whether the signing will upset the contribution-to-compensation balance, the expected role of the signing and whether that role justifies the cost as well as trading out the contributions of young players already on the roster that are ready to step up, whether the expected role of the FA signing is worth stunting the growth of and/or forcing the release of future assets, thereby undermining roster stability, ...

Assuming all of that can come together, this team has justification for writing a big check and expect value in return for a high impact player at only one position - cornerback.

Regarding the "mid-tier" option, again, it's impossible to determine without knowing anything about the opportunity, although in general I see little justification for going after that type of player for this roster.

There is a long list of talented first and second year players who will be continuing to develop and increasingly contribute - plus the promise of a draft class that could offer many fruits that could mesh very well with the Packers needs.

99% of the guys who are likely to make next year's roster will be as likely to succeed as any mid-tier or vet minimum free agent. The three guys that might not be the case with will be stashed potential to protect against pilferage. I don't see many - if any - spots where a mid-tier guy would be likely to come in and start or realistically be likely to make any kind of significant contribution at all.

[MadScientist]

Where's the option to not even look at a FA unless he's a street FA, so as to preserve comp picks in 2018.

[vince]

However now they pretty much need a big talent or two that delivers AND some mid tier guys.

At what positions do they need mid-tier guys and who should they replace on the roster?

Then we can go out and estimate what a mid-tier guy at those spots might look like, what price ranges would be likely, and what the expected role/contribution would be reasonably expected relative to the guy whose spot he might take on the roster.

Maybe it does make sense but I doubt it. It likely can only make sense if you or your fortune teller can predict who will get hurt when, how it will impact their play/availability and for how long. Then you can sign the right guys at the right spots this offseason. Perhaps that's foreseeable. You're obviously asserting it's needed. Give it a shot Rut.

[pbmax]

I guess if I have to go with just one, I would pick the big splash cause we already have a bunch of mid tier players

But honestly, I would want both

The problem is, imo, we could use an impact I'll, and a shutdown corner, and since we're always dropping like flies, we need vet depth

So yeah, I'll take my flogging now

[pbmax]

You mean like getting a TE last year would have been nice? Agreed. Maybe a pass rushing DE/OLB with a few years left? Agreed...wish he would do that once in awhile.

I vote both...flog incoming.

If they could land AJ Bouye I wouldn't mind paying for a shutdown CB. Every team needs one. We missed Shields badly and signing Bouye would be similar to having shields stay healthy. There are also several RB's available this year, but the one I would eye would be Andre Ellington of the Cardinals. He is quick as a PBR shit and the lost man in AZ. He'd be a good fit and complement to Montgomery. Probably comes cheap as well. If they could land those 2 guys...or 2 guys similar (a RB and CB) I would be thrilled. We need a #1 corner. Drafting one at 30? isn't likely. RBs are cheap, but signing a guy like Ellington could pay off big.

Without that #1 CB the D can only improve so much. With him it opens us up to draft best available player, develop our youngsters more, make the fans happy who want to break the bank in FA and have a shot at the trophy next year.

Oh goody, an Internet flogging! I'll pile on with those who don't like the poll.

You forgot the 3rd option which is just draft a CB in round 1 or 2, and just let the young guys on the roster develop and not sign a FA.

I'm one for both the options in the poll. I want to sign one of the top 2 FA CBs, and also a mid tier vet who can mentor the young-uns, which is desperately needed.

Now, on with the flogging pb!