Official Packers Offseason/Free Agency Thread

[Joemailman]

On a different topic, I saw the dumbest article in the world on ACME today. The headline was "ESPN Reporter: Trade Price for Seahawks WR DK Metcalf Is at Least Two First-round Picks." Hmmm. Sounds like the Seahawks front office is letting it be known that it's going to cost an awful lot. But as it turns out, the article was just a bunch of reporters speculating. ESPN called up reporters from about six teams, called up a reporter covering the Seahawks, and asked the reporters to come up with trade packages. The Jets' reporter came up with the best package, an equivalent to two first-round picks, and the Seahawks reporter said he didn't think even that would be enough so he wouldn't take it. So no, the Seahawks are not asking for two first rounders - a bunch of reporters sat around in a group jerk and came to that conclusion themselves, then reported it with a misleading headline.

This need to have new content 24/7 has really caused any journalistic standards to go right down the crapper.

The guy who wrote that article, Justis Mosqueda, is mainly known for making smart-ass comments on Twitter. He is best left ignored. Aaron Nagler and Andy Herman on Cheesehead TV are much better.

[run pMc]

The guy who wrote that article, Justis Mosqueda, is mainly known for making smart-ass comments on Twitter. He is best left ignored. Aaron Nagler and Andy Herman on Cheesehead TV are much better.

It was an ESPN story.
Some of the beat reporters are pretty good, some are shockingly awful. I think Silverstein is decent for the JSO.

I don't want to trade for Metcalf. He's in a contract year - they'd be trading away what they got for Adams to sign him to what Adams did, and Adams is a better receiver.
Metcalf is a good player, but he's maybe a Top 10 receiver with a good QB throwing to him. Adams was a Top 2 (and possibly the top) WR... that's a losing proposition.

They're better off keeping their cap from completely shattering and keeping the draft picks. Young talent that's under long, cheap contracts is incredibly valuable when you have a $50M QB on the payroll.

[HarveyWallbangers]

It was an ESPN story.
Some of the beat reporters are pretty good, some are shockingly awful. I think Silverstein is decent for the JSO.

I don't want to trade for Metcalf. He's in a contract year - they'd be trading away what they got for Adams to sign him to what Adams did, and Adams is a better receiver.
Metcalf is a good player, but he's maybe a Top 10 receiver with a good QB throwing to him. Adams was a Top 2 (and possibly the top) WR... that's a losing proposition.

They're better off keeping their cap from completely shattering and keeping the draft picks. Young talent that's under long, cheap contracts is incredibly valuable when you have a $50M QB on the payroll.

I agree with everything here.

[texaspackerbacker]

You get Metcalf or some other established WR, and you pretty much get a known quantity. You draft somebody, and you get an unknown. It seems to me that WRs are more likely than a lot of positions to be feast or famine, kinda unpredictable because the college game doesn't necessarily translate to the pro game. Maybe it does a little more with all the talent in the SEC - a point in favor of Burks, maybe.

I doubt we can snag Metcalf, but I'd be very much in favor of giving up the two picks we got for Davante to get him, maybe even two #1s. Of course, if you do that, you need to have a long term deal in place with him before committing to the trade. I also would give as much as a second rounder to get Claypool, although I think we maybe could get him for less. It's known what he can do, which you can't say for most draft picks.

A draft day deal wouldn't surprise me, but it's looking more and more like the Packers aren't gonna do a trade or go after one of the remaining FAs until after they try their luck in the draft. If that's the case, my choice (apparently along with a lot of others in here) would be Burks. To me, he is the most like Davante Adams of the bunch. I never liked Anquan Bolden, and it scares me when he's compared to him. Deebo might be a better comparison. Then, I'd like to see the Packers grab Kevin Austin, who would likely be an upgrade from MVS. Fourth round for him would be great, third round would be tolerable.

[red]

You get Metcalf or some other established WR, and you pretty much get a known quantity. You draft somebody, and you get an unknown. It seems to me that WRs are more likely than a lot of positions to be feast or famine, kinda unpredictable because the college game doesn't necessarily translate to the pro game. Maybe it does a little more with all the talent in the SEC - a point in favor of Burks, maybe.

I doubt we can snag Metcalf, but I'd be very much in favor of giving up the two picks we got for Davante to get him, maybe even two #1s. Of course, if you do that, you need to have a long term deal in place with him before committing to the trade. I also would give as much as a second rounder to get Claypool, although I think we maybe could get him for less. It's known what he can do, which you can't say for most draft picks.

A draft day deal wouldn't surprise me, but it's looking more and more like the Packers aren't gonna do a trade or go after one of the remaining FAs until after they try their luck in the draft. If that's the case, my choice (apparently along with a lot of others in here) would be Burks. To me, he is the most like Davante Adams of the bunch. I never liked Anquan Bolden, and it scares me when he's compared to him. Deebo might be a better comparison. Then, I'd like to see the Packers grab Kevin Austin, who would likely be an upgrade from MVS. Fourth round for him would be great, third round would be tolerable.

we can't get metcalf now, we don't have any money to give him a new deal, and no way is he gonna allow to be traded anywhere without a new deal

we have the picks to pull off the trade, but we no longer have the cap to do it

[Bretsky]

You get Metcalf or some other established WR, and you pretty much get a known quantity. You draft somebody, and you get an unknown. It seems to me that WRs are more likely than a lot of positions to be feast or famine, kinda unpredictable because the college game doesn't necessarily translate to the pro game. Maybe it does a little more with all the talent in the SEC - a point in favor of Burks, maybe.

I doubt we can snag Metcalf, but I'd be very much in favor of giving up the two picks we got for Davante to get him, maybe even two #1s. Of course, if you do that, you need to have a long term deal in place with him before committing to the trade. I also would give as much as a second rounder to get Claypool, although I think we maybe could get him for less. It's known what he can do, which you can't say for most draft picks.

.

NO NO and NO to Metcalf and your idea. We just traded the 2nd best WR and an incredibly huge financial commitment for 1st and 2nd round draft pick. So why would we turn around and trade that, or a bit more, for a top 10ish WR who we'll most likely have to pay 25-30MILish per year. By that logic, either we got screwed in the Adams deal, or we're getting screwed on this one value wise.

I would embrace getting Claypool for a 3rd round draft pick. Hell in round 3 at this point I'll take anything that can play ) I'd love to trade for the Texan WR as well. But if I'm trading for a WR,it's not for a guy with an expiring contract.

And I'd still embrace Jarvis Landry, Will Fuller, or Julio Jones (not in that order). BUT those guys are not signed for a reason. IMO they want too much money and certainly well more than any GM wants to pay. The $$$ for WR's has been blowing up lately and not in a good way. I say, Stop the Insanity !!!!!!!!!!!

We have to sign Alexander and Jenkins among others next year. Can't break the bank on a WR unless we are at peace with losing others

[Bretsky]

We have possibly the GOAT and the best QB in the NFL; we need to draft two high WR's and let AROD work with them, develop a chemistry, and be great together.
Still need to sign one vet most likely because the talent we have is pretty shitty but youth on 5yr deals w/o busting the cap is the solution here

[texaspackerbacker]

Metcalf is as good or damn close to as good as Adams and a lot younger. And this shit about not enough money with the cap situation just doesn't fly. A new contract with him would have a nice low cap number. We have $15 million on the cap now, $7 or 8 million even counting what will go for draft picks, and we still will be extending Jaire giving us a lot more cap space along with various other things that can be done if needed.

We'll have a winning team with Rodgers any of the many ways we could go, but I still think getting Metcalf or some other top level guy like A.J. Brown or Deebo or Claypool would be better than just leaving it all up to the draft.

[Bretsky]

Metcalf is as good or damn close to as good as Adams and a lot younger. And this shit about not enough money with the cap situation just doesn't fly. A new contract with him would have a nice low cap number. We have $15 million on the cap now, $7 or 8 million even counting what will go for draft picks, and we still will be extending Jaire giving us a lot more cap space along with various other things that can be done if needed.

We'll have a winning team with Rodgers any of the many ways we could go, but I still think getting Metcalf or some other top level guy like A.J. Brown or Deebo or Claypool would be better than just leaving it all up to the draft.

Devante is way way better than Metcalf. Metcalf has the measurables and is faster but that's it. I'd also question his ability to be a good teammate when things are not going well (if that matters). Devante is an elite route runner; Metcalf doesn't have that type of ability. He's a nice home run hitter and he's young and tall and fast. And I'd take him for twenty MIL a year but not much more cause I have character concerns and we've did pretty well avoiding dreama queen WR's lately.. I just don't think he's close to Devante Adams

[run pMc]

I agree with Bretsky. It's foolish to trade high picks for a player that is due for a big extension -- you're giving away picks AND chewing up your cap.
If they DO go that route, I would prefer Terry McLaurin to Metcalf anyway. I think he'd fit the GB offense better and probably fit the locker room better... while likely costing (somewhat) less. It would still be a bad idea.

Their cap situation has made it very difficult to acquire or sign a WR to an expensive contract. Not impossible, but pretty dang difficult if you want to sign your draft picks and keep some space for mid-season emergencies.

Also, Davante > Metcalf even if you consider the age. The idea of trading for and giving Metcalf $25M a year isn't a comforting one: I'm not convinced he's a top 5 WR for one thing, and I'd be worried about how he'd handle himself after getting paid.

They are going to have to get some cheap talent (draft picks) who are signed past next season (Lazard and Cobb are on 1-years) AND who can play some ST. Cap space, succession planning, roster construction, and Coach Bisaccia are going to be considerations too.

[texaspackerbacker]

That's probably the way it will work out - just hoping to get lucky with draft picks. I'd prefer to go with somebody proven in the league (yeah, McLaurin fits that description too), but I doubt it happens. I do think Metcalf at age 24 will be better over the next few years than Adams not playing with Rodgers, though. Bottom line is, Rodgers will make whoever we have at WR better, and the team will be a winner even if we had to just go with what we have now, which of course won't happen.

[SudsMcBucky]

WR's that get paid QB level money is a bad recipe for ANY team. I'm glad we didn't pay Devante what he got and I certainly don't want to pay any other WR that much money. It can be better utilized elsewhere.

[Upnorth]

If we pick up a couple ok looking wr in the draft I thunk a good fa adfition would be tyrann Mathieu. I think he will be cheap after draft and has a few goid years left. Get a 4 yr contract and upgrade our secondary. I remember him as an asset in the run game and a sure tackling saftey.

Thoughts?

[Bretsky]

If we pick up a couple ok looking wr in the draft I thunk a good fa adfition would be tyrann Mathieu. I think he will be cheap after draft and has a few goid years left. Get a 4 yr contract and upgrade our secondary. I remember him as an asset in the run game and a sure tackling saftey.

Thoughts?

LOVE THE THOUGHT; and I think he's a well respected leader as well. Just not sure how cheap he'd be. What do you think he goes for ? 5 to 7 mil/year or less ?

But he'd bring some things we don't have

[Upnorth]

I think a 4 yr 36 mil contract would work. He is good for at least 2 more solid years.
Or if he baulks at that 3 yr 30 mil.
In the 4 yr try to have a 1st yr cap hit of 5 mil
In the 3 yr have 1st year of 7.