Never too early 2020 NFL Draft Thread

[RashanGary]

To me, because our cap is so tight, we need to move on from Tramon, Graham, Mercedes and maybe even Bulaga. Light looks dependable. I can't picture paying 10M for 31 year old Bulaga when you have a guy who's almost free and is servicable.

Clark, Martinez, Aaron Jones, King and others should get the money, not the old guys

[texaspackerbacker]

I'd say also that it's a long shot that Lazard is actually designated as a TE. I expect, though, that he get's used more like a TE. What I stated above presumed 6 WRs and 3-4 TEs. If Lazard takes up what is designated as a WR spot, likely we would keep 7 WRs and only 2-3 TEs. Arguably, Lewis has been the best of a lame group of TEs on the roster this season, so maybe he does stay.

[Joemailman]

Why are people dismissing Sternberger? He's a talented guy whose rookie season was sidetracked by injuries. I'll be surprised if he's not a pretty big part of the offense next year.

[texaspackerbacker]

I wouldn't dismiss him, but he's been just plain awful this season. It's gonna take pretty extreme improvement for him just to get to average. He was a 3rd round pick, I think, though, so who knows, maybe he is better than he seems.

[RashanGary]

Why are people dismissing Sternberger? He's a talented guy whose rookie season was sidetracked by injuries. I'll be surprised if he's not a pretty big part of the offense next year.

TEs take a little time. I'm holding out judgement on him until next year at soonest and really year 3 is when I'd give up if he doesn't start to look like a player.

[Sparkey]

CFL all-star Reggie Begelton will hopefully add something next year.

[Cleft Crusty]

Don't forget the Looney TE experiment, no pun intended, and Evan Baylis is still lurking around as well.

[call_me_ishmael]

The #1 option would trigger a 40M cap hit. I don't think that would be possible to absorb.
The #2 option would be a brutal hit to affordable production for the next 3-5 years, especially for a guy who will sit for 1-2 years. If he somehow slid to 32 and there was no other first round talent, then sure.

If you want a star QB, you gotta pony up or suck. Tua ain't droppin' that far.

[Zool]

To me, because our cap is so tight, we need to move on from Tramon, Graham, Mercedes and maybe even Bulaga. Light looks dependable. I can't picture paying 10M for 31 year old Bulaga when you have a guy who's almost free and is servicable.

Clark, Martinez, Aaron Jones, King and others should get the money, not the old guys

I agree with all but Lewis. He's making 2.1 this year and made 2.1 last year. Having a 6th lineman who can catch is pretty useful at times and he's cheap.

[pbmax]

To me, because our cap is so tight, we need to move on from Tramon, Graham, Mercedes and maybe even Bulaga. Light looks dependable. I can't picture paying 10M for 31 year old Bulaga when you have a guy who's almost free and is servicable.

The presence of Veldheer argues against reading this confidence about Light. Unless he is hurt and I have forgotten it.

Veldheer and Patrick were active for Week 17. Light and Leglue were inactive.

[RashanGary]

The presence of Veldheer argues against reading this confidence about Light. Unless he is hurt and I have forgotten it.

Vehldeer is 32 and a really good player. I suspect he took a steroid hiatus and got himself in tip top shape. Gutey being a thorough dude couldn't resist. But it's possible it was due to lack of confidence. I haven't ruled it completely out

[run pMc]

I will be surprised if they keep Graham -- he's ok, but I don't see production worth the contract. His speed is gone, and he isn't special in the RZ anymore. He's a fighter and his blocking has improved but is still not good, and it looks like his legs are gone.
I think they can get the same production elsewhere, and draft another TE or even a replacement for Vitale who can play the Kyle Juszczyk FB role (blocking, receiving). I had high hopes for Vitale but they barely use him (injuries, etc.). John Kuhn he apparently ain't.

Lewis is cheap and reliable, and he can block. I actually don't think Sternberger has been that bad -- he's at least as good at blocking as Tonyan, but the injuries really set him back in understanding the offense and where Rodgers wants/expects him to be on pass routes. He needs to get stronger, immerse himself in the playbook and stay healthy. Tonyan I feel like is more or less maxed out to who he is at this point, a #3 or #2 TE at best. He'll have a great block one play and then a whiff or run a sh_tty route the next.

Lazard will stay at WR. Crusty is right about not having the anchor even if he has grit. He's better off as a #3 WR paired with Adams and some other shifty WR not currently on the roster who can separate and run good routes. St. Brown and MVS round out the 5 WRs, and they keep a 6th. Don't think MLF keeps 7 WRs - they have 6 on the 53 now (counting Grant) and I think the MLF likes TEs. Allison, Kumerow, Begelton, et al. fight for that last spot if they are around. I'm not sure I'd bring G-Mo back. He does some things that don't show up on the stat sheet, but he's had a pretty dreadful year and is replaceable. Same with Kumerow -- if he's so great and Rodgers likes him, why doesn't he get more snaps or targets?

[run pMc]

The presence of Veldheer argues against reading this confidence about Light. Unless he is hurt and I have forgotten it.

Veldheer and Patrick were active for Week 17. Light and Leglue were inactive.

I'd take Veldheer over Light, especially when jockeying for playoff spot in the last quarter of the regular season. Light has some potential but he's no Bulaga. He had some struggles. The live reps will help him and they can keep developing him as a backup but I wouldn't want him starting for 16+ games.

Actually I wouldn't want either Light or Veldheer starting for a full season, but I'd feel a lot better about playing Veldheer for 4 game stretch.

Figuring out their starting RT for 2020 season will be very important. Bulaga is 30 years old, but is seems like he's 36.

[pbmax]

I will be surprised if they keep Graham -- he's ok, but I don't see production worth the contract. His speed is gone, and he isn't special in the RZ anymore. He's a fighter and his blocking has improved but is still not good, and it looks like his legs are gone.
I think they can get the same production elsewhere, and draft another TE or even a replacement for Vitale who can play the Kyle Juszczyk FB role (blocking, receiving). I had high hopes for Vitale but they barely use him (injuries, etc.). John Kuhn he apparently ain't.

I can't believe I am saying this because he needs to go, but if they don't choose to go UFA on offense, I can see Graham staying for year 3 of that deal.

[Cleft Crusty]

I actually don't think Sternberger has been that bad -- he's at least as good at blocking as Tonyan, but the injuries really set him back in understanding the offense and where Rodgers wants/expects him to be on pass routes. He needs to get stronger, immerse himself in the playbook and stay healthy.

It's really a shame he got hurt, because Flower is working him into the offense (about 10-20 plays/game) and you can see that he's a willing, athletic, and mostly technically gifted blocker. From the preseason, you could see that he's a decent route runner and bendy for a TE. I was joking about his drop rate - it is 100%, but he's only had on pass thrown to him and it was low an behind him in the end zone. Something has to be done about Rodgers throwing low and behind to large, tall, TEs. (I have a theory that it is an intentional, lower INT risk strategy that Rodgers has adopted. Sure, lower passes to TEs over the middle are less likely to be intercepted, but they are also less likely to be caught and sprung for big plays). If Sternberger had remained healthy though, I suspect he would be a much bigger part of the offense right now. Too bad.