Official 2020 Free Agency Thread

[RashanGary]

Tennessee has a tough DL but a smart secondary. There is something to be said for guys who can mix coverages, mask coverages and be on the same page. NE plays that way with their secondary too and won a bunch.

But yeah, the young, dumb and full of cum method worked well for SF and KC this year.

You can skin a cat a few different ways i.giess

[Bretsky]

True. And he left a great cap situation for gute and some good players and good contracts.

To gutes credit, other than Graham, he spent the money well. And has had some decent drafts.

Thompson's health was so bad, gute has been an upgrade to the unhealthy version of Ted. And the three silos structure has been a really good way of putting each guy in position to succeed . Packers in good hands. But they were with Thompson until the end too.

The draft picks of Aaron Rodgers really carried Ted and his legacy. Having the best player carried us. I don't think he was great or bad, but he really f'cked some things up at the end. And the early version of Ted isn't nearly as aggressive the Gutinator. Guter has been good so far other than Gary. I have a hard time throwing a dart for Graham cause I agreed with the move.

But Goot does deserve criticism if we keep Graham around for the next year when we could apply that 8MIL toward a capable TE or another player

[run pMc]

Tennessee has a tough DL but a smart secondary. There is something to be said for guys who can mix coverages, mask coverages and be on the same page. NE plays that way with their secondary too and won a bunch.

But yeah, the young, dumb and full of cum method worked well for SF and KC this year.

You can skin a cat a few different ways i.giess

Don't sell KC and SF short. SF had Jimmy Ward and Richard Sherman out there, and KC had the Honey Badger. Both also were able to produce pressure with Frank Clark/Chris Jones and SF's gang of 1st round picks (Bosa, etc.)
Agree TEN has a pretty good DL, and NE was able to pressure in various ways -- plus their defense was performing at an unsustainable rate early last season.

Good pass rush will make your secondary better. It certainly helps to have talent back there, but the Smiths definitely wrecked passing games at times.

Makes me think GB needs another good DL who can provide some pass rush and help out Kenny Clark. In 2010 they had Raji and Jenkins; they need another guy up front... I think they look to the draft.
(They also need better gap discipline vs. the run, but that's another issue.)

[run pMc]

The draft picks of Aaron Rodgers really carried Ted and his legacy. Having the best player carried us. I don't think he was great or bad, but he really f'cked some things up at the end. And the early version of Ted isn't nearly as aggressive the Gutinator. Guter has been good so far other than Gary. I have a hard time throwing a dart for Graham cause I agreed with the move.

But Goot does deserve criticism if we keep Graham around for the next year when we could apply that 8MIL toward a capable TE or another player

Gute deserves some criticism. So does TT. Ted had a couple of clunker drafts, and he was less aggressive in his later years. He went after Lavar Arrington and Charles Woodson, after all. The only significant mid-to-late career FA signing I can think of is Julius Peppers.

Gute's first draft is looking iffy -- Alexander is really the only one doing much. Jackson & Burks can't get on the field, Madison hasn't been on the field in 2 years, J'Mon flamed out. MVS and ESB will make or break that draft. 2019 looks like a more promising draft class for him, so I hope the trend of better drafting continues. As for Graham, after Cook and Bennett they still had nothing behind them, so I'm not surprised they went after him. He was clearly on the downside of his career though, so your returns will be diminishing. If Gute keeps him without redoing the contract I'll be shocked.

I've become somewhat bearish on signing a FA TE to big money. I understand they can be a good mismatch but I think it's easier and probably cheaper to sign/develop a quality WR corps that can carry the slack of pedestrian TEs. I just think paying a TE $7-8M for 500 yards and 5 TDs isn't really that great unless they are ascending players. What teams pay the Jack Doyles and Nick Boyles of the world is pretty amazing.

[QBME]

OK, I'm too ignorant (lazy) to understand the salary cap thing.
I know we have a very low 1st round pick that has a slotted salary number. Other than that I do not know how much the Pack has to spend on free agents, trades under contract, etc. All I know is Aaron is chewing up a boat load of money.
So,

1. Can we afford any free agents?
2. Who on the team is dead wood - cut and burn?
3. Do we have any trade bait that will alleviate the cap pressure and get a player/pick that will help the situation?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[Bretsky]

OK, I'm too ignorant (lazy) to understand the salary cap thing.
I know we have a very low 1st round pick that has a slotted salary number. Other than that I do not know how much the Pack has to spend on free agents, trades under contract, etc. All I know is Aaron is chewing up a boat load of money.
So,

1. Can we afford any free agents?
2. Who on the team is dead wood - cut and burn?
3. Do we have any trade bait that will alleviate the cap pressure and get a player/pick that will help the situation?

Inquiring minds want to know.

1. Our two major guys we have going to FA is Blake Martinez and Brian Bulaga, and both are expected to get the eight to twelve MIL/Year Range. IF we sign both I don't think we can dip much into FA. Sign one and probably have room for one decent sized FA.

2. Jimmmy why am I still on the roster Graham would save us around 8MIL/Year. To me he's the Captain Obvious guy and you could use has savings to go to FA and find a player

3. I'm not sure we do. Every year we think we have WR's we can trade but to be honest they are all J.A.G.s. I'm not sure where we are so strong at a position we can give up depth who would play big roles elsewhere. Last year we traded Reggie Gilibert, an Edge for next to nothing. Then his production matched da Baconator so I'd rather have just kept him.

[Bretsky]

I'm not buying it yet, but lots of chatter about Tom Brady going elsewhere.

He wants a two year committment and NE wants to go one year at a time. I think NE might go with a high QB this year as well.

Hoody Genius is pretty dam stubborn. Should be interesting

[Smidgeon]

Packers purportedly planning to pursue Hooper.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/02/28/report-packers-planning-a-run-at-austin-hooper/

[run pMc]

3. I'm not sure we do. Every year we think we have WR's we can trade but to be honest they are all J.A.G.s. I'm not sure where we are so strong at a position we can give up depth who would play big roles elsewhere. Last year we traded Reggie Gilibert, an Edge for next to nothing. Then his production matched da Baconator so I'd rather have just kept him.

Only trade bait I can think of might be Lane Taylor, who is a serviceable LG but not a good fit for MLF zone running scheme. He's got starting experience and 1 year left on a reasonable contract. If you have a lot of holes in your OL or your starting LG goes on IR you could do worse. I keep hearing about him being a possible cap casualty, which might prevent any good offers, but I'd rather trade him for a R5 or R6 that just cut him. Also: he might stick on the roster just for depth, although they like Lucas Patrick.

I don't think they will really go after many in FA. They'll want to extend Kenny Clark and start thinking about Aaron Jones, both of whom are in the last year of their contracts. Chasing Austin Hooper is interesting and would guarantee they cut Graham.

[Joemailman]

https://packerswire.usatoday.com/202...r-on-new-deal/

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Martinez – an unrestricted free agent coming off three-straight 140-tackle seasons – is seeking “at least $10 million per year” on a new deal.

The Journal Sentinel reports the Packers are also interested in Cleveland Browns linebacker Joe Schobert, who may command $10 million or more per season in free agency.

Haven't really watched Cleveland. Is Schobert better than Martinez, or vice-versa, or are they basically the same guy?

[GB-Brandon]

https://packerswire.usatoday.com/202...r-on-new-deal/

Haven't really watched Cleveland. Is Schobert better than Martinez, or vice-versa, or are they basically the same guy?

I’d say “Same Guy” which is a serviceable ILB until you play a team like the Niners or Ravens.

[Bretsky]

https://packerswire.usatoday.com/202...r-on-new-deal/





Haven't really watched Cleveland. Is Schobert better than Martinez, or vice-versa, or are they basically the same guy?

I have followed Schoby when he want to the mighty Badge and in the pro's. I'm honestly surprised at how good he is.

He's the guy that maxes out his ability (like Blake).

He's a solid step up against the pass but a step down against the run. I'd say he gets less than Martinez in Free Agency

[bobblehead]

Yeah, last 3 years were bad. Gute is doing better than health deteriorating Thompson. But Thompson had a great run, and by all accounts was a truly great dude. Hard to talk too much shit about him without putting it in context the way bobble did.

You think so? I absolutely hate the Jimmy Graham signing. I hate every draft pick he has made other than the center. Alexander is solid, but staying put and taking Derwin James was a much better move. Basically all Gutes has done worth a shit, was outspent everyone for 2 OLB and a S which got us a D that got run over in the NFCC. he made the NFCC game...something TT did a shitload of times....with an inferior coach.

[bobblehead]

The last 3-4 years he did SUCK and is mainly the reason we’re in this situation now playing catch up.

His hands needed to be taken off the Steering wheel a long long time ago.

17 King AJones JWilliams
16 Clark Fackrell Matinez Lowry
15 Bad draft/coaches misused Randall and Montgomery
14 HaHa, Devonte, Lindsley

3 out of 4 drafts produced a total of 9 NFL starters. also produced a starter in the bad draft. If you can draft 10 effective starters every 4 years you aren't in too bad of shape in todays NFL.

Gutes has had 2 drafts. Alexander and a punter first draft are starters. Jenkins and Savage are starters. So far only Alexander and Jenkins have impressed me. I am not hopeful for any other players drafted. maybe MVS still as he was hurt last year. Even the punter doesn't really excite me.

[pbmax]

Bobble, you gotta talk me out of wanting to trade down for an ILB and sign a free agent (GASP!) WR.