Free Agency So Far

[Smidgeon]

ESPN is running a poll about who has had the best free agency and the worst. They preselected about 7 teams each for the poll, and the Packers are one of the 7 worst in their opinion. What do you think?

[Smidgeon]

Personally, I think it's been a success:

* The offense will be better with two talented TEs
* Lang will be missed, but not at $9 MM per
* The Packers only lost two notable FAs (1 count for Lang, 1 combined count for Lacy, Jones, and Tretter)
* The defense will be better as I firmly believe last year was significantly below average performance for Rollins and Randall and they'll improve simply by regression to the mean.

Downsides are that the Packers need a RB. And could use another talented CB and pass rusher. But they aren't far, and I think it's absolutely ridiculous to call them one of the worst performers during the first week of FA. I think with two TEs, the Packers O will be even more difficult to stop than the end of last year (barring injuries).

I'm not a koolaid drinker (most of the time), but I'm more optimistic than it seems many others are.

[RashanGary]

Draft is very deep at cb and Rb

[pbmax]

There is nothing better for a regular season than to lose the offense according to pundits.

[Carolina_Packer]

I said so-so. I like the signing of the two TE's and keeping Perry. Those are the big moves. Bringing back Davon House is a good move, but we'll see how much he can really help.

I realize you have to leave some room for new guys that you draft, and guys that are still developing. That said, we are not deep at RB, so I'd be in favor of getting one in FA. I think we could kick the tires on AP and see what he has left in the tank.

The elephant in the room is the defense. How are they going to generate more pass rush to help the cover guys on the back end? How are the cover guys going to improve to help the DL? I distinctly recall the second game of the year when the D was getting after it with pressure on Bradford, and several sacks and a very stingy run defense. However, the achilles heel (broken record alert) was Randall getting torched by Stefon Diggs. If Randall doesn't have the quicks to be a cover corner, then perhaps he could fulfill the same type of role that Hyde was filling, and the Packers could go after a cover corner. The best guy available who would cost them is Malcolm Butler, but you could go Alteraun Verner or Nickell Robey-Coleman as veteran depth. CB may be a draft target.

I would switch my vote from so-so to success if they landed Connor Barwin.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Good post. I'd like Barwin and a veteran RB.

[Joemailman]

I said so-so. Barwin would make it a success.

[Bretsky]

OFFENSE LOSSES JUMPING SHIP
Cook
Lang
Tretter
Lacey

OFFENSE GAINS COMING ABOARD
Kendricks

DEFENSIVE LOSSES JUMPING SHIP
Peppers
Hyde
D Jones

DEFENSIVE GAINS COMING ABOARD
House

Kept Perry

[texaspackerbacker]

About the best you can ever hope for with Ted is lateral movement - picking up somebody to cancel out somebody lost. This year, they haven't even done that. Another thing Ted has done in the past is to use high draft picks to replace players lost in free agency. I wouldn't be surprised if he does that again this year - thus, wasting the draft pick in terms of improving the team.

Despite all of that, I voted "so-so" because Ted correctly did not overpay for Lang or Hyde and because losing Lacy IMO is addition by subtraction. Also, they retained my favorite underrated/underplayed Packer (well, second after Janis), Jayrone Elliot. Keeping Nick Perry at that price is an OK move, not a great bargain but at least not losing a good player.

If would take signing a top level Corner (of which there probably aren't any left) AND signing Barwin for me to upgrade it to Good or Excellent.

[Joemailman]

I said so-so. Barwin would make it a success.

Well, so much for that.

[Bretsky]

Thus far we've failed in free agency. Of course the jury is still out but I don't see us using the money that we saved by not keeping Lang or Hyde on many, if any quality free agents.

Did anybody really think Perry was leaving ? We were going to pay for Nick Perry.

Green Bay was far stronger before free agency than they are now; it's an annual thing. Of course our players will improve.....nobody else's will......and we'll use the draft to try to get back to near the level we were when we lost our last playoff game

it's an annual thing

[Joemailman]

Thus far we've failed in free agency. Of course the jury is still out but I don't see us using the money that we saved by not keeping Lang or Hyde on many, if any quality free agents.

Did anybody really think Perry was leaving ? We were going to pay for Nick Perry.

Green Bay was far stronger before free agency than they are now; it's an annual thing. Of course our players will improve.....nobody else's will......and we'll use the draft to try to get back to near the level we were when we lost our last playoff game

it's an annual thing

The Packers are stronger at Tight End
Probably weaker at Guard
Cornerback is about the same.
A little weaker at OLB.

I think TT will still sign someone or 2. In the end, free agency will probably be a wash.

[Bretsky]

The Packers are stronger at Tight End
Probably weaker at Guard
Cornerback is about the same.
A little weaker at OLB.

I think TT will still sign someone or 2. In the end, free agency will probably be a wash.

The Packers are stronger at TE
The Packers are much weaker at OG
CB, maybe is about the same at best but I'd probably take Hyde over House for the same money
The Packers are a much weaker at OLB after losing both Peppers and Jones without any replacements

Not sure how I feel about Losing Lacy.

[Bretsky]

The Packers are stronger at Tight End
Probably weaker at Guard
Cornerback is about the same.
A little weaker at OLB.

I think TT will still sign someone or 2. In the end, free agency will probably be a wash.

The options are dwindling; we're restocking via draft.

[pbmax]

The Packers are stronger at Tight End
Probably weaker at Guard
Cornerback is about the same.
A little weaker at OLB.

I think TT will still sign someone or 2. In the end, free agency will probably be a wash.

Is this comparison with last year at this time (offseason) or just FA season this year?

Because cornerback is probably better, even if its not good enough, by just adding House to the existing trio. Whatever is lost with Hyde at slot is overshadowed by House outside.