If the packers trade for good defensive lineman, this will hep the run defense tremendously

[RashanGary]

Honestly, the defense was getting off early in the year with pressures, sacks and big plays. Guys like Z, P, Clark and Lowry were so successful with the stunts and line games that they started to force the issue at times when it wasn’t quite as appropriate. They’ve realized the error of their ways and that looks to be fixed from within house.

I always want better players. Better WRs, OLBs ILBs OL DL QBs.... everything. I want better everything. But the Packers are pretty good and have a 5 year window here with Rodgers. Gotta be smart with the shots we take.

[RashanGary]

We only have one decent linebacker. His stats suggest he’s one of the best in the NFL, but his play suggests he’s just solid. Gonna be hard to afford him next year. Clark is one of the top under 25 big guys in the league. Gonna be hard to pay him. Jones and Jamaal Williams are really nice pieces to the offense. Gonna have to pay them if we wanna keep them.... Bulaga??

We have a salary situation that needs to be taken into account with every move. Do you sign an average player at a place of need and then let a really good one go and create a new place of need? I’m not a fan of all that. Plus lose a valuable rookie contract player on top of it. We have a lot of big contracts. What we need is good drafts so we can fill in the blanks with small contracts.

[RashanGary]

The Packers know what they have on Alex Light. I hate to lose Bulaga, but that’s already the kind of decision making we’re down to with the salary situation.

Graham needs to go. That contract is ridiculous. Tramon needs to go. Lane Taylor needs to go.

Bulaga?
Crosby?
Martinez?
A Jones?
J Williams?

We can’t keep them all. Who goes?? And who’s out there that is so good that teams can’t wait to trade them away?? It sounds really good to just add a guy and make the team better, but what does it cost? Who has to to because of it?

[call_me_ishmael]

Why can't they keep them all? Cap keeps going up. Lots of ways of making it work. Bulaga is clearly the best player of the bunch above. Little doubt he is resigned on a 2 year contract but fat money.

ARod window is a few short years left. The days of letting the Micah Hyde's of the world walk for nothin' are done until that window slams shut.

[Joemailman]

Why can't they keep them all? Cap keeps going up. Lots of ways of making it work. Bulaga is clearly the best player of the bunch above. Little doubt he is resigned on a 2 year contract but fat money.

ARod window is a few short years left. The days of letting the Micah Hyde's of the world walk for nothin' are done until that window slams shut.

They can keep most. There's a lot to consider. They can save about 8 million by cutting Graham. 4.5 million by cutting Lane Taylor. Tramon will be a free agent, so that would be 6 million off the books. The salary cap will probably go up about 10 million. Packers currently have 10 million in cap space. That's the good news. The bad news is that the cap hits of Rodgers, P.Smith, Z Smith and Adams will go up a combined 30 million next year. In addition to the guys RG mentioned, Kenny Clark and Bakhtiari have contracts that expire after the 2020 season.

[RashanGary]

Rodgers mentioned Alex Light as a guy who really took the second year leap today. I’m not so sure they plan on paying Bulaga.

If you have a good young player it’s bad business to overpay an old expensive one. Money better spent elsewhere

But I don’t know their full opinion of Light so it’s all speculation.

[RashanGary]

I think if you let Bulaga go, you could keep them all, including Bakh and Clark. I would be looking hard for Crosby’s replacement though. That’s an easy way to save 5M

[call_me_ishmael]

This thread is silly. The Packers will be able to keep all of their good players if they so choose. They don't have very many of them compared to much of the rest of the league. If you can keep a superstar right tackle and keep your franchise QB safe, or a running back, every general manager in the NFL takes the tackle. It's a no brainer.

So much discussion about letting players go and always looking forward into the future. The players that are here now are good players and winning games. No sense in talking about letting a stud walk out the door so you can speculate on undrafted free agent Alex Light.

[Joemailman]

No team can keep all of their good players, except maybe for the teams with very few good players. Teams have to prioritize. That's how we end up with free agency.

[Patler]

I have figured Bulaga would follow the paths of Sitton, Lang and Matthews and not be offered a contract. Much was said in preseason about how Bulaga had significantly changed his off season program to try and get away from the nagging injuries he has had, which also resulted in him losing weight. Writers have stated he looks much different, more fit.

John Kuhn commented on it this week, while saying Bulaga has been hands down the Packers best lineman so far. Said he is not at a pro-bowl level, he is at an all-pro level. Said it is dramatic how well Bulaga is playing.

If Bulaga holds up for the season, I am beginning to think GB might try to keep him.

[texaspackerbacker]

Kuhn may not be a very objective observer. Clearly, Bulaga and the line in general have been playing better than previous seasons, but they still haven't been able to run outside much on either Bulaga or Bakhtiari's side, and while pass protection has been better, it still isn't what it should be most of the time. I would say low ball Bulaga and try to keep him that way. If somebody wants to pay him big, let him go. Same thing for Tramon. I wouldn't even low ball Lane Taylor. I was just getting around to jumping on the cut Jimmy Graham bandwagon, but maybe there's still some hope. If he seems worth keeping into next season, maybe restructure his contract.

[australianpackerbacker]

Thought I heard some rumblings about DET wanting to get out from the contract, that his production wasn't worth it. Snacks is good, but $11.25M? Ouch. Imagine what Kenny Clark's gonna get.
Lowry is ok and Lancaster's good playing the run, but they have room to improve.


APRH, I'd add a ILB who could cover to that list.

I agree, Martinez is a high effort, smart guy that is a little physically unimpressive. But we can win with him in my opinion.

[australianpackerbacker]

Since it appears that Detroit is in "sell" mode, I wonder if GB would benefit by trading for Snacks Harrison in order to shore up that run defense and give Kenny Clark a break?

I'm not sure how much Snacks is getting paid.

I dont think that would be a good trade for the packers, its be a great one for the Lions. If things didnt work out too, you lose a pick and 11mil to a division rival and get criticized by the fans and media for it.

[australianpackerbacker]

The Packers know what they have on Alex Light. I hate to lose Bulaga, but that’s already the kind of decision making we’re down to with the salary situation.

Graham needs to go. That contract is ridiculous. Tramon needs to go. Lane Taylor needs to go.

Bulaga?
Crosby?
Martinez?
A Jones?
J Williams?

We can’t keep them all. Who goes?? And who’s out there that is so good that teams can’t wait to trade them away?? It sounds really good to just add a guy and make the team better, but what does it cost? Who has to to because of it?

If i were to pick out of that list, in this order i would keep:
Jones
Crosby
Martinez
Williams

I agree with you about the rest.

[Patler]

Kuhn may not be a very objective observer.

Why, just because he is a former Packer? Does he have a more personal relationship with Bulaga than with the other linemen that would cause him to volunteer the comparative comment of Bulaga versus the others?

I take all talking heads comments with a grain of salt, but I have no reason at this point to be any more skeptical of Kuhn's opinions than others. Besides, Kuhn didn't say anything that others have not opined about Bulaga this year already.

I assumed GB wouldn't even make an offer to Bulaga. I'm not yet arguing that the should, but I am no longer so certain that they won't. I think quality OTs are very difficult to find, and rarely available in free agency. Heck, Marshall Newhouse is still a starting LT, and for the best team in the league at that.