Official 2020 Free Agency Thread

[mraynrand]

Nobody, and I mean nobody ever held a clipboard like Steve Bono. The next best isn’t even in the same zip code. He’s also in the top 5 all time of visor wearers. Some think he is more dominant that Andre Agassi.

[pbmax]

Bono was tall, which helps with clipboard mechanics. He can see everything.

[Deputy Nutz]

Ty Detmer was the best at holding a clip board. Although I will state that Steve Bono had some the best career defining moments as a clip board manager. Bono should have his own section in the Hall of Fame.

[pbmax]

Sign Cobb?

https://www.espn.com/blog/green-bay-packers/post/_/id/48678/a-randall-cobb-reunion-packers-need-a-slot-receiver-and-he-might-be-free

[texaspackerbacker]

I wouldn't be opposed to it if we also got the speed burner we need in the draft. Any slot guy we drafted in the mid rounds would be less of a sure thing than Cobb, and Cobb's effectiveness would be enhanced with more speed outside to open things up.

[pbmax]

Barnwell: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...ee-agency-cuts

Green Bay Packers

Projected 2020 cap space: $22 million

1. Cut Jimmy Graham. General manager Brian Gutekunst's forays into free agency have been successful on defense, as Adrian Amos, Preston Smith, and Za'Darius Smith all delivered during the 2019 season. On offense? Not so much. Billy Turner was a below-average guard last season, while Graham has averaged just 33.8 receiving yards per game and caught five touchdowns in 32 contests with the Packers.

The Packers were dreaming about a telepathic red zone connection between Graham and Aaron Rodgers when they signed the former Seahawks tight end to a three-year, $30 million deal in 2018, but Graham's 10-touchdown run in 2017 was an outlier. He's also one of the league's worst blocking tight ends. Graham will still have a job somewhere, but the Packers should move on and free up $8 million in cap space by cutting him.

2. Re-sign Bryan Bulaga. While health has been an issue for the 31-year-old right tackle, the 2010 first-round pick was able to start all 16 games in 2019. He did miss most of two contests, and one of them was quite memorable, as it was the 49ers game where Rodgers spent most of his time running for his life. The numbers with and without Bulaga aren't quite as significant as that one game would seem; over the last three season, Rodgers has posted a passer rating of 99.9 with Bulaga on the field and 88.6 without him, although his QBR is actually six points better without Bulaga over that time frame.

The Packers could let Bulaga leave and replace him from within; both Turner and Elgton Jenkins have played tackle in the past, and with Lane Taylor returning from a torn biceps, the Packers could push one of their starting guards to tackle. The best scenario? Start Jenkins and Taylor at guard with Bulaga at right tackle and Turner as the first man off the bench.


Turner wasn't that impressive to me either. For that money, I wonder if the actually plan for him to play Tackle?

[texaspackerbacker]

Your link in post #64 above says this: "With Graham and Taylor on the books, the Packers rank in the bottom third (No. 23) of available cap space for 2020 with $28,851,008, according to ESPN Stats & Information." The difference between that and $22 million could get us a pretty decent FA.

Taylor wasn't too bad before getting hurt. He did seem better than Turner. If we draft an O Lineman in the 3rd to 6th round, there's a good chance the guy would need a year or so to be ready to start. Whether we re-sign Bulaga IMO depends a lot on how expensive he gets. As decent a season as he had last year, I wouldn't want to bet the farm on his staying healthy and good for very long. The disparity in QBR probably says more about lame back ups in the past. I like your "best scenario". We'll see if the team does.

Graham, according to your other link, is the highest paid TE in the NFL. You're right about him playing somewhere - he's still borderline decent and the best we have. I wish the Packers could restructure him for about half as much cap hit, but I doubt that could happen.

[Deputy Nutz]

Sure the Packers have 28 million or whatever this year, I am not a cap guy but I think there is some checks for the Smiths and Rodgers that hit the books in 2021. I don't know how that all works, so forgive me for not making complete sense of all it.

[Bretsky]

Barnwell: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...ee-agency-cuts

Green Bay Packers

Projected 2020 cap space: $22 million

1. Cut Jimmy Graham. General manager Brian Gutekunst's forays into free agency have been successful on defense, as Adrian Amos, Preston Smith, and Za'Darius Smith all delivered during the 2019 season. On offense? Not so much. Billy Turner was a below-average guard last season, while Graham has averaged just 33.8 receiving yards per game and caught five touchdowns in 32 contests with the Packers.

The Packers were dreaming about a telepathic red zone connection between Graham and Aaron Rodgers when they signed the former Seahawks tight end to a three-year, $30 million deal in 2018, but Graham's 10-touchdown run in 2017 was an outlier. He's also one of the league's worst blocking tight ends. Graham will still have a job somewhere, but the Packers should move on and free up $8 million in cap space by cutting him.

2. Re-sign Bryan Bulaga. While health has been an issue for the 31-year-old right tackle, the 2010 first-round pick was able to start all 16 games in 2019. He did miss most of two contests, and one of them was quite memorable, as it was the 49ers game where Rodgers spent most of his time running for his life. The numbers with and without Bulaga aren't quite as significant as that one game would seem; over the last three season, Rodgers has posted a passer rating of 99.9 with Bulaga on the field and 88.6 without him, although his QBR is actually six points better without Bulaga over that time frame.

The Packers could let Bulaga leave and replace him from within; both Turner and Elgton Jenkins have played tackle in the past, and with Lane Taylor returning from a torn biceps, the Packers could push one of their starting guards to tackle. The best scenario? Start Jenkins and Taylor at guard with Bulaga at right tackle and Turner as the first man off the bench.


Turner wasn't that impressive to me either. For that money, I wonder if the actually plan for him to play Tackle?

ROLL THAT JIMMY G MONEY AND A BIT MORE TO AJ GREEN IF IT WORKS

[Bretsky]

Sign Cobb?

https://www.espn.com/blog/green-bay-...-might-be-free

Pass; I'll take my Badger ))

[jklowan]

THAT 22 MIL FIGURE DOES NOT INCLUDE THE 10 MIL FROM THIS YEAR THAT WILL ROLL OVER, SO 32 MIL before any cuts

[jklowan]

gonna be hard to sign any free agents if they want either bulaga or Martinez back

[RashanGary]

Im curious to see what Fackrell makes on the open market. Martinez too. Neither looks anywhere close to Z or P. If they get anything close in money, Gute did a great job choosing other guys over our own

[RashanGary]

Another thing, it was easy to MLF in year 1 to sell his brotherhood, we love each other mantra. Let's see how warm everyone feels in year two after a couple ice cold axes from mabagement fall on their brothers.

[RashanGary]

Blake really would be a nice keep if the price stays down. That whole back 5 with king, Alexander, Amos, Savage and blake are just learning how to play along side each other. They were able to play man AND zone fairly well by seasons end. But the experience and continuity will open the door for some tricky presnap disguises like you see in Tennessee and Minnesota and Chicago and other veteran back ends. Blake would keep the band together so they can build off what they've already got down and enter into more top level NFL secondary mixes