NFL Free Agency/Offseason Thread

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Tank, you don't know what you are talking about, how are we supposed to know what you are babbling.

We lost guys bc they didn't fit our cap situation. The idea that you can somehow "cook" the cap to retain players is bullshit.

The cap is the cap.

P-Smith and Campbell signed their new contracts while Adams’ $20M tag was still in the books. For a team that was supposedly in a “cap hell,” how was that possible?

The cap is just an accounting item, and all accounting items can be cooked.

[texaspackerbacker]

Rodgers did a very Rodgers friendly deal that could really screw us in the end. Not everybody cooks the cap. Teams with 40 to 60 mil of dead money are going to pay down the road

No and No. True, Rodgers got big money - as he should. But it was a very cap-friendly deal. As for that and other contracts biting the Packers in future years, no they won't unless there are injuries to the players or whatever. As I said, the large increases that should keep happening in the cap as well as possibility of future restructuring will easily take care of any cap problems with the dead money.

I saw that there is a possibility that Metcalf will be traded by Seattle. This is a temptation, as I agree, he's at least as good as Adams and a lot younger. He would only be under Packer control, though, for one year unless we extended him for huge money. Would they trade away the two draft picks they got for Davante to get Metcalf? Maybe they could get him a little cheaper, but I doubt it.

[call_me_ishmael]

I mean the Falcons are certainly limited by paying 35M on the cap to a Matt Ryan that is on the Colts. The Packers will pay handedly when they pay up 60M on the cap to an Aaron Rodgers that is retired. But who cares, that is a future problem and a good chance to suck and reload.

[run pMc]

P-Smith and Campbell signed their new contracts while Adams’ $20M tag was still in the books. For a team that was supposedly in a “cap hell,” how was that possible?

The cap is just an accounting item, and all accounting items can be cooked.

My understanding is Preston's cap number went down by signing the extension, and Campbell's contract was announced but not actually signed until Adams was traded. That's how it was possible.

Generally they "cook the cap" by taking base salary and converting it to signing bonuses, pushing money out into future years. Eventually they have to eat that dead space. I believe they've done that with everyone they can, including Amos. Only things left are cutting Lowry or extending Alexander. All their other contracts are cheapos and rookie deals basically, so there wouldn't be much savings doing further 'cooking'. Only reason the cap seems fake is because it's been growing year over year except for covid. Kevin King's void years will be eating cap space this year for example.

[Bretsky]

No and No. True, Rodgers got big money - as he should. But it was a very cap-friendly deal. As for that and other contracts biting the Packers in future years, no they won't unless there are injuries to the players or whatever. As I said, the large increases that should keep happening in the cap as well as possibility of future restructuring will easily take care of any cap problems with the dead money.

I saw that there is a possibility that Metcalf will be traded by Seattle. This is a temptation, as I agree, he's at least as good as Adams and a lot younger. He would only be under Packer control, though, for one year unless we extended him for huge money. Would they trade away the two draft picks they got for Davante to get Metcalf? Maybe they could get him a little cheaper, but I doubt it.

Arod deal is cal friendly yearnome and two but I don’t think it’s without huge risk. Win it all and it doesn’t matter. But if arod retires early we will pay for it……whether all at once or over time. And no way to metcalf. Use the draft capital and get two guys high that are also cheap for the next 4 to 5 years

[HarveyWallbangers]

Arod deal is cal friendly yearnome and two but I don’t think it’s without huge risk. Win it all and it doesn’t matter. But if arod retires early we will pay for it……whether all at once or over time. And no way to metcalf. Use the draft capital and get two guys high that are also cheap for the next 4 to 5 years

Agree

[NewsBruin]

It seems weird that there's such a difference between "We can't afford to suck in 2022 or 2023 with a cleared-out salary cap and draft picks" and "We'll be fine sucking in 2025-2026 with dead money prohibiting us from hiring anyone not making the minimums." But the big decisions have been made, so now we have to see how it plays out.

If Schneider and Carroll have a head injury or a dead body to hide, I wouldn't mind trading Love for Metcalf with a shot at extending Metcalf's contract (admitting that we'd have to cut or void-year existing players to make the cap work for Love's dead money). I'm sure going into his free-agency audition season, DK would rather have ARod throwing to him than whatever best effort Drew or Gino could put up.

[Upnorth]

It seems weird that there's such a difference between "We can't afford to suck in 2022 or 2023 with a cleared-out salary cap and draft picks" and "We'll be fine sucking in 2025-2026 with dead money prohibiting us from hiring anyone not making the minimums." But the big decisions have been made, so now we have to see how it plays out.

If Schneider and Carroll have a head injury or a dead body to hide, I wouldn't mind trading Love for Metcalf with a shot at extending Metcalf's contract (admitting that we'd have to cut or void-year existing players to make the cap work for Love's dead money). I'm sure going into his free-agency audition season, DK would rather have ARod throwing to him than whatever best effort Drew or Gino could put up.

Now that's an interest ing idea. Then trade a second and third to a shitty team for there next year 1st and maybe get a stud.
Unless love is the real deal and they know it.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

My understanding is Preston's cap number went down by signing the extension, and Campbell's contract was announced but not actually signed until Adams was traded. That's how it was possible.

Generally they "cook the cap" by taking base salary and converting it to signing bonuses, pushing money out into future years. Eventually they have to eat that dead space. I believe they've done that with everyone they can, including Amos. Only things left are cutting Lowry or extending Alexander. All their other contracts are cheapos and rookie deals basically, so there wouldn't be much savings doing further 'cooking'. Only reason the cap seems fake is because it's been growing year over year except for covid. Kevin King's void years will be eating cap space this year for example.

Last season, the Rams were hit with $22M in “dead money” (only 2M less than the Pack’s 24M this year) after they traded Goff. Did it fuck up their season?

Bezos’ gonna “make it rain” soon. Who the fuck cares if a team has $45M in dead money but $35M in cap space (due to Bezos making it rain)? Only a pig owner. The dead money merely gives the pig an excuse not to hand, say, Watson $200M. The Packers lack a pig owner. Being 35 or 80 (cap space + lack of dead money) beneath the cap, either sum is more than enough to sign Watson, who’s costing the Browns $10M against their cap this season.

So long as cash flow keeps flowing, the cap can always be cooked. And cash flow is only gonna keep flowing. You don’t need a PhD in Economics to understand that Bezos is gonna make it rain soon.

[texaspackerbacker]

Explained like a true wannabe CPA. Put it to music, and you can be a lyricist too.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Explained like a true wannabe CPA. Put it to music, and you can be a lyricist too.

Alas, the reason I ain’t a lyricist is the same reason I ain’t a CPA. No pig would hire me.

[bobblehead]

As I said, the large increases that should keep happening in the cap as well as possibility of future restructuring will easily take care of any cap problems with the dead money.

Tex, I think everyone knows this, but your post makes me wonder. Here it is. The cap goes up for EVERYONE. So if we are carrying $50 million in dead money, its not like "oh, the cap went up, no problem". We will be handicapped by that $50 million vs. the rest of the league...specifically teams that are NOT carrying it. Yea, our cap goes up, but to resign guys you need to compete with 32 other teams, and you just saw what 2 teams like Miami and LV can do to the cost of signing your own FAs when they aren't carrying $25 million dead cap money THIS year.

[texaspackerbacker]

Inflation hahahahaha. If we can do it, everybody else can do it too, and they can do it better if we have dead money ....... yeah, there's something to that, but we have Aaron Rodgers and they don't. Someday in the distant (I hope) future, we won't have him, and when that happens, the Packers are in deep shit regardless of dead money or the cap or anything else - but deal with that when the time comes, and until then, enjoy the ride.

[Upnorth]

Inflation hahahahaha. If we can do it, everybody else can do it too, and they can do it better if we have dead money ....... yeah, there's something to that, but we have Aaron Rodgers and they don't. Someday in the distant (I hope) future, we won't have him, and when that happens, the Packers are in deep shit regardless of dead money or the cap or anything else - but deal with that when the time comes, and until then, enjoy the ride.

Our d is ascending. I think we are in the best position to survive no Aaron or Favre since 2010.
At least I think this is the best d we have had since then.
We finally have an average run stopper in Reed.
We appear to have a good to very good ilb (but he might be a 1 year wonder).
Our worst piece on the secondary is savage who is above average.
Our biggest weakness is rotational edge rusher. Or backup ilb.
We have the likely hood of a top 5 d all by picking up an average run defender. I mean we were decent on d and had 2 all pros out most of the year. That's a good d.

We have an average oline unless bak can play then it is at least above average.
We have great rb. At least average te if tonyon is 75% of 2020. Below average wr.
We have a massive ? At backup qb that has upside from his 2018 season when he had good recovers but looked average with poor receivers in 2019. That is a concern. Glad we have a coach who knows the run game.

I don't think we are screwed without 12, but for the first time in a long time we might still be a playoff team without him. I cant see garappalo being much better than love and they made it.
The bears have a bad roster.
The Lions are the lions.
The Vikings seem to be getting worse.
I really think even without 12 we might make the playoffs if love can be average.

[ThunderDan]

While I might differ a bit on how strong our roster is at certain positions from UpNorth, I completely agree that we could still win the north without ARod. The Queens finished 2nd at 8-9 and split the season series with us.