Official 2020 Free Agency Thread

[Bretsky]

I could see a team like Carolina getting to 12ish with him with Keuchly retiring and what they do on defense with talk of switching to a 4-3.

This is where if Littleton is at the same contract level as Martinez as I’ve posted(4 year 50 mill) I would prefer Littleton. If we can re-sign Martinez at around 6-8mill per I take Martinez.

Completely agree; I'd love to see six but up to 8.5 would be ok. Pass on anything over. See draft thread last year; we should have moved a couple spots for Devin Bush )

[Bretsky]

Hurry up and sign him. Don’t have near the resources to replace him. He wants to finish out his career in GB so 3 years 26 isn’t out of the question.

He gave a great interview after we lost that almost sounded like a thanks for the memories speech. To me it was clear his agent thinks he's getting a lot more than what GB wants to pay

[Deputy Nutz]

Martinez has totally out preformed his draft slot and I think he is everything you want in a middle linebacker, except for elite athleticism and above average instincts. I think he would flourish in a 4-3 system that doesn't rely on a Tampa 2 scheme.

He isn't worth 8 million a year, and it sounds unlikely but if Green Bay did bring him back they still need to draft another linebacker that can play run downs and passing downs. This would drastically improve the middle of their defense.

[run pMc]

Bulaga for 8-10M a season for 3 years is a decent contract IMO. They overpaid for Turner and Bulaga won't make less than him.

Martinez is decent, but there's no way if I'm Gute I pay him 10M a year. The problem is GB doesn't have much behind him, so Blake has leverage and will likely have suitors. I wonder if this is an area Gute really goes after in revamping. Cory Littleton is a good player and can cover - he'd be an upgrade but could be pricey. Is Schobert a FA too? Have to think there will be some LBs getting paid.

[pbmax]

For those contract numbers to hit, I just can't see Ponch commanding that kind of salary UNLESS there are more suitors than candidates.

Even that seems more likely to help Bulaga though.

[run pMc]

Bulaga will probably be the #2 OT out there behind Conklin. If GB doesn't sign him, someone definitely will.

[Bretsky]

When BB plays and is healthy he played like a 10-12 Million Dollar a year OT

With his injury history my guess is he end up getting 8-9ish.

[run pMc]

When BB plays and is healthy he played like a 10-12 Million Dollar a year OT

With his injury history my guess is he end up getting 8-9ish.

I agree the injury history will affect what he's offered.
8-9M a year for 2-3 years is a good price IMO, especially if it's structured to be cap-friendly. I know people bitched about his last contract, but I think he's earned it over the last 2 seasons (he's been healthier).

I like him but if he's looking for 5y/$60M I let him walk. It'd be letting him go a year early but by Year 3 that contract will look awful. His body will start to break down.
Having something with an out in Year 3 that minimizes cap hit/dead money is the way to go.

[Deputy Nutz]

Bulaga is a warrior, but I honestly think he is going to retire. You listen to guys like Joe Thomas talk about his last couple of years in the league and how they need to reinvent their bodies after they retire so they can live a semi normal life. Joe Thomas talks about how he couldn't go down steps normally, that he had to go down them backwards and not just in season but for years.

Bulaga has his a Super Bowl. He got his big contract. He should be content to retire and take care of his body.

[Joemailman]

Bulaga is a warrior, but I honestly think he is going to retire. You listen to guys like Joe Thomas talk about his last couple of years in the league and how they need to reinvent their bodies after they retire so they can live a semi normal life. Joe Thomas talks about how he couldn't go down steps normally, that he had to go down them backwards and not just in season but for years.

Bulaga has his a Super Bowl. He got his big contract. He should be content to retire and take care of his body.

I was going to say he might finish his career with the Bears (he's from the Chicago area), but the Bears are one of the worst teams with salary cap room, about 6 million.

By he way, the Vikings are the worst team in the NFL. They are currently 10 million over the cap. https://overthecap.com/salary-cap/minnesota-vikings/ They will need to cut some people or restructure some contracts.

[Zool]

I bet Griffen restructure. Rhodes and Joseph had not great years. They probably won't be back. Those 3 would move about $30m

[Joemailman]

I bet Griffen restructure. Rhodes and Joseph had not great years. They probably won't be back. Those 3 would move about $30m

They are almost certain to cut Rhodes, who declined this year. That would save them 8M. Joseph 10M.

[pbmax]

Ken Ingalls - Packers Cap @KenIngalls
We are about 4-6 weeks away from the Packers media catching on to the the fact Ibraheim Campbell is not a free agent for 2020.

His contract tolled and he is currently under contract for the Packers in 2020.

[run pMc]

They are almost certain to cut Rhodes, who declined this year. That would save them 8M. Joseph 10M.

I think Joseph was hurt and missed some games. Rhodes is a likely cut, and Griffin a restructure or cut. They also have to figure out what to do with Antoine Harris, Mackenzie Alexander, and Trae Waynes. Word is they will be revamping their secondary by necessity.
People saw this coming for a while -- they had a dominant defense and to keep it together signed many of the players to 2nd contracts.

IIRC the Star Tribune sport section had an opinion piece about 2 weeks back comparing the Vikings team/cap unfavorably to the Packers.

[Deputy Nutz]

I think the Packers best chance at upgrading their roster through free agency is addressing the defensive line, and then signing Jack Conklin from Tennessee. Inside linebacker doesn't offer a lot of options in free agency, and neither does WR. I wouldn't even bring up offensive line if it wasn't for Conklin.