2020 free agency thread

[RashanGary]

Bryan Bulaga
Tramon Williams
Mason Crosby
Jared Veldheer
Geronimo Allison
Marcedes Lewis
Jason Spriggs
Ryan Grant
Blake Martinez
Kyler Fackrell
B.J. Goodson
Ibraheim Campbel
Tyler Ervin

Word is, if we cut Graham and Taylor we're 44M beneith the cap. What do we do with it? Who do we keep?

[RashanGary]

I'd keep Bulaga and Crosby.
Blake and Fackrell if they're cheap.

Let's say that's 20M

So we'd have like 24M to spend. Extend Jones and Clark early. Knocks it down to maybe 12M. Don't know if the rookie cap is a part of that. We might have room for 1 higher priced FA. Maybe 2.

[call_me_ishmael]

Bulaga and Lewis are must re-signs IMO. The rest can go and won't cost much anyway.

[Joemailman]

Unrestricted Free Agents. Should they stay or should they go:

Blake Martinez - Depends on his market value. He's the best Packers have, but not worth elite money.
Bryan Bulaga - Still one of the best. Sign him.
Kyler Fackrell - Valuable role player. Might have to let him go though if some team wants to pay him starter money.
Mason Crosby - Still one of the best, and a team leader.
Will Redmond - Doesn't cost anything. Probably worth bringing him back for a look.
Dan Vitale - Another guy who shouldn't cost much. Bring him back.
Tyler Ervin - Bring him back. Stabilized the return game, and showed some promise on offense.
Ryan Grant - Who knows? Never saw the guy play.
Ibraheim Campbell - Decent role player. Bring him back.
Jason Spriggs - A failed high pick. Let him go.
Marcedes Lewis - Best blocking Tight End and a team leader. Bring him back.
Geronimo Allison - Need more speed at WR and he regressed this year. Let him go.
Jared Veldheer - Nice backup option. Bring him back.
BJ Goodson. Let him go. Need an upgrade here.
Tramon Williams - Let him go unless he wants to play for significantly less money.

Exclusive Rights Free Agents:

Allen Lazard - A real find. Sign him.
Tyler Lancaster - Probably need an upgrade here. Maybe sign him for minimum.
Robert Tonyan - Worth another look. Sign him.
Chandon Sullivan - Same as Tonyan
Jake Kumerow - Better than Allison. Bring him back.

Some guys who are not Free Agents:

Jimmy Graham - Not worth the money. Save 8 million by cutting him.
Lane Taylor - Let him go. Save 4.5 million by cutting him.
Aaron Jones - Offense revolves around him. Sign him to extension.
Kenny Clark - Best defensive lineman. Sign him to extension.

[mraynrand]

^^^ So what you're really saying here is that you didn't drink much whiskey last night.

[Patler]

I doubt they will cut Taylor early in the off season. Carrying him through the off season isn't expensive, just a $250K workout bonus.
On the other hand, Turner has a roster bonus of $3M and a workout bonus of $350K during the off season.

When healthy, I think Taylor is a slightly better player, although that now goes back two years. I would rather stop the cash and cap hemorrhaging at the $11M already spent for Turner, rather than paying the additional almost $5.5M for another year of a mediocre guard. Taylor's cash cost for '20 is only $4.5, and his contract is up.

Keep Taylor and cut Turner, unless the plan is to move Turner to RT and not re-sign Bulaga.

[ThunderDan]

I doubt they will cut Taylor early in the off season. Carrying him through the off season isn't expensive, just a $250K workout bonus.
On the other hand, Turner has a roster bonus of $3M and a workout bonus of $350K during the off season.

When healthy, I think Taylor is a slightly better player, although that now goes back two years. I would rather stop the cash and cap hemorrhaging at the $11M already spent for Turner, rather than paying the additional almost $5.5M for another year of a mediocre guard. Taylor's cash cost for '20 is only $4.5, and his contract is up.

Keep Taylor and cut Turner, unless the plan is to move Turner to RT and not re-sign Bulaga.

Cutting Turner, while saving the Packers cash, doesn't even clear $1,000,000 in cap space for 2020.

[Joemailman]

I think it's doubtful that Taylor in a zone blocking scheme is a better player than Turner. He was losing snaps to Jenkins even before he got hurt. Plus, Turner's ability to play Tackle gives him more value than Taylor.

[run pMc]

Unrestricted Free Agents. Should they stay or should they go:

Blake Martinez - Depends on his market value. He's the best Packers have, but not worth elite money.
Bryan Bulaga - Still one of the best. Sign him.
Kyler Fackrell - Valuable role player. Might have to let him go though if some team wants to pay him starter money.
Mason Crosby - Still one of the best, and a team leader.
Will Redmond - Doesn't cost anything. Probably worth bringing him back for a look.
Dan Vitale - Another guy who shouldn't cost much. Bring him back.
Tyler Ervin - Bring him back. Stabilized the return game, and showed some promise on offense.
Ryan Grant - Who knows? Never saw the guy play.
Ibraheim Campbell - Decent role player. Bring him back.
Jason Spriggs - A failed high pick. Let him go.
Marcedes Lewis - Best blocking Tight End and a team leader. Bring him back.
Geronimo Allison - Need more speed at WR and he regressed this year. Let him go.
Jared Veldheer - Nice backup option. Bring him back.
BJ Goodson. Let him go. Need an upgrade here.
Tramon Williams - Let him go unless he wants to play for significantly less money.

Exclusive Rights Free Agents:

Allen Lazard - A real find. Sign him.
Tyler Lancaster - Probably need an upgrade here. Maybe sign him for minimum.
Robert Tonyan - Worth another look. Sign him.
Chandon Sullivan - Same as Tonyan
Jake Kumerow - Better than Allison. Bring him back.

Some guys who are not Free Agents:

Jimmy Graham - Not worth the money. Save 8 million by cutting him.
Lane Taylor - Let him go. Save 4.5 million by cutting him.
Aaron Jones - Offense revolves around him. Sign him to extension.
Kenny Clark - Best defensive lineman. Sign him to extension.

Clark, Jones, Lazard, Crosby, and Bulaga if the money/contract is ok. Sullivan, Redmond, and Ervin can be brought back cheap. They probably want Campbell and Veldheer back too.
The rest are replaceable except for Martinez and Fackrell. I could see some team like DET throwing some money at Fackrell (Patricia thinking he can Kyle Van Noy him or get 10.5 sacks from him), and Martinez taking over for Kuechley in CHA for $6M+.
Martinez was pretty emotional after the game, I think he knows there's a good chance he's gone.

Graham is a likely cap casualty, and I'd see what I could get for Taylor in a trade to an AFC team with a bad OL.
I think this year they won't wade very deep into the FA waters. The Smiths + Amos cost them a chunk of change, and extending Clark will be a priority.

[Joemailman]

They restructured Rodgers' contract to give them 11M more salary cap space this year. They didn't need to do that unless they were going to be active in FA. It won't be like last year when they went out and signed 4 starters, but they will be active.

[Patler]

Cutting Turner, while saving the Packers cash, doesn't even clear $1,000,000 in cap space for 2020.

Maybe. I think teams can still designate a couple terminated contracts to be split over two season's caps, like the old pre-/post June release date did if they wanted it to. If that is still the case, Turner's dead money cap hit could be split over '20 and '21 if they want to free up money for 2020.

Long and short of it is that money already paid to the players and that paid in 2020 will hit the caps the next one, two or three seasons one way or another. Going forward with just one of them for just one more season costs less if they keep Taylor and cut Turner than if they keep Turner and cut Taylor. They will have some control over how and when it hits the caps.

[Patler]

There is a lot they can do to free up more cap space in 2020 if they need it, albeit at the expense of cap space in future years. Smth I, Smith II and Amos have nearly $20M in roster bonuses due this year. Guaranteeing some portion of that will allow it to be split over the remaining contract years.

Cap space shouldn't be an issue.

(Cutting Rodgers won't generate immediate cap space this year, but next year it will! )

[Deputy Nutz]

I don't cut either Taylor or Turner until they figure out who the right tackle is going to be. Bulaga did a nice job gimping his way through the season without any horrific injury. If I was him I would retire, his body is significantly damaged. As fans we aren't supposed to feel this way about players, but I sincerely hope he thinks long and hard about hanging it up. Either way the Packers have squeezed just about all the juice out of Bulaga as possible, and need to move on. He isn't worth a long term deal or the headaches of counting on him as the starting right tackle.

Lewis shouldn't be too expensive, and would piece well with Tonyan and Sternberger.

Allison should not be resigned for more than the expectation that he is fighting for a roster spot in fall camp. There are better and more dynamic players already on the Packers roster.

When I clicked on this thread I thought it was going to be who the Packers should go after in free agency, not who they should resign.

Packer Needs
2020 Free Agency

WR: Adams is as legit of a #1 guy than any other receiver in the league, but the Packers at this point lack a true number 2 receiver. I like what they have in Lazard and he has the ability to push to be a number 2, but he in all reality is a number 3 guy. Packers have to look hard at finding a veteran or attack the draft looking to find talent that can push for starters reps.
Break the Bank Option:
1. Amari Cooper WR Dallas: Not sure about the fit in Green Bay, I honestly think he is a bit of an under achiever, but he is young and as the top free agent on the market he will command a big contract
2. Robby Anderson WR NYJ - Not entirely a Break the Bank option but teams might pursue him for more than he is worth due to his age, and early production.
One and Done options
1. AJ Green WR Cincinnati - Probably a one or two year deal, front loaded
2. Emmanuel Sanders WR San Fran - Packers probably should have pursued him a little bit harder last year
3. Demeryius Thomas WR NYJ - Not a legitimate #2 receiver in this league. I don't know why the Packers would pursue him
Possible Gambles
1. Breshad Perriman WR Tampa Bay - He had a pretty darn good December catching 25 balls for around 500 yards. He is a younger guy that has under performed for a first round draft pick. 2019 was a his best season.

DL
The Packers were exposed this season in the run game ranking in the bottom half of the league. Obviously the Packers decided to build a team around stopping the pass with adding pass rushers and attacking the secondary in the draft. The 49ers utterly exposed them in the NFC Championship. The Packer have a great player in Kenny Clark but need two more run stuffers to complete their 3-4 front. The Packers cut Daniels is in the off season and didn't exactly replace him with a proven player. They can't count on Adams to take the next step and Keke doesn't have the resume to demonstrate that he was a hidden gem of the 2019 draft. Lancaster and Lowry are just bodies.
Break the Bank
1. Chris Jones DE KC - Packers probably can't afford him, he would be a franchise cornerstone, but they have so much already invested in their front seven.
2. Leonard Williams DE NYG - His numbers are not eye popping, but his overall size and athleticism would make an intriguing signing for the Packers.
3. DJ Reader DE/NT Houston - That boy is THICK. He could be the block eater that the Packers need
4. Javon Hargrave NT Pittsburgh - Active on the Defensive line, more of a gap shooter than a block eater, could pair well in the Packers Nickel scheme with Kenny Clark.
Mid Tier Value
1. Shelby Harris DE Denver - Milwaukee kid that made it in the league as a 7th round pick. He had 6 sacks in 2019 but 5 of them came in two games.
2. Gerald McCoy DT Carolina - At 31 the guy is still active and talented. He would be a guy that would fit well in the Nickel scheme. He might not be the best fit as a run stuffer, but a very quality player and teammate.
3. Micheal Brockers DE Rams - Big framed defensive end that has played next to the best defensive player over the last 5 years. Sort of a down year for him in 2019.
4. Derek Wolfe DE Denver - Gritty defensive end that has more sacks than anyone on the list.
5. Micheal Pierce DT Baltimore - Squatty nose tackle
6. Andrew Billings DT Cincinnati - Very young, just finished his 3rd season and will be 24 in 2020. Because of age he might have the most potential.
7. Quinton Jefferson DE Seattle - 3 tech DT in Seattle but would be playing End in the Packers base 3-4.

ILB
Packers have their own free agent in Blake Martinez. Martinez is a viable candidate to come back to the Packers for the right price. He is a student of the game, but his overall athleticism gets exposed at times, especially when he needs to cover backs. He was also exposed in the heavy run scheme of the 49ers. If he does come back he needs a running mate.
Free Agency Options
1. Cory Littleton LB Rams - signed as a rookie free agent 4 seasons ago. smaller framed guy that has to be protected by the guys up front. We was restricted free agent last year that the Rams protected with a second round tag, and signed him for 3 million dollars to a one year deal.
2. Joe Schobert LB Browns - Wisconsin kid that has a similar game to Blake Martinez, although Shobert has more athleticism to offer the position.
3. Danny Trevathan LB Chicago - Packers should have signed him 4 years ago. No he might be past his prime.

OT
Packers should move on from Bulaga as previous stated. Currently the Packers have no viable options to replace him. This a very short list as there isn't many options considering age.
Expensive
1. Jack Conklin OT Tennessee- He probably fits in well with the base principles of Lafluer's offense as he was the offensive coach in 2018 for Tennessee.
2. Anthony Castanzo OT Indianapolis- he is 32 and has missed parts of seasons due to leg injuries. He could be seen as a hold over until a younger player could make progress. Castanzo has played mostly left tackle in his career so he might be the right fit.

[Tony Oday]

Need two ILBs, 2 run stuffing D Linemen, #2 and #3 WR, not really a huge list.

Imagine this offense but add AJ Green!

[bobblehead]

Bryan Bulaga
Tramon Williams
Mason Crosby
Jared Veldheer
Geronimo Allison
Marcedes Lewis
Jason Spriggs
Ryan Grant
Blake Martinez
Kyler Fackrell
B.J. Goodson
Ibraheim Campbel
Tyler Ervin

Word is, if we cut Graham and Taylor we're 44M beneith the cap. What do we do with it? Who do we keep?

You have to keep Bulaga. I'd keep Fackrell if its reasonable. Doesn't have to be dirt cheap, just reasonable. Someone will overpay Blake. No one else on that list is important. You use the money to pay for Hunter Henry or Austin Hooper. Maybe Emanual Sanders to be the slot. I would beef up the DL if anyone is available. I think the defense is a large man away from being good. After this season I am where I was with Favre in 2008. I don't think ARod is worth his salary and headache anymore. I would move on for draft capital if possible. Many teams have won with game managers, but none win with game managers making 30 million. Bring in guys who have won with talented rosters. Blake Bortles, Tannehill now. I'm sure andy dalton will be available. Won't happen, but should.