NFL Free Agency/Offseason Thread

[Joemailman]

Seahawks release Bobby Wagner. Wagner had 170 total tackles, which was 3rd in the NFL, although TFL's were down to 3. He had 5 passes defensed, so he apparently can still cover.

[texaspackerbacker]

Free Agency thread. We lose Z, Douglas, Campbell, MVS, Crosby, and Tonyan.

We sign one guy who we all hope can start.

Lesser likely losses would be Patrick, Sullivan, and Lancaster.

Anyone else we lose its likely time to move on anyway. Even those 3 may not hurt.

Now you might look at any of those guys and think "well, we can find a replacement" but not all of them. You can't just replace that many guys effectively.

Also, the finagling to get under the cap will likely handicap us vs. the league anywhere from 20-40 million in upcoming seasons....just as last years moves will likely leave us with 15+ million in dead cap money this season.

No no no. Of the names you mentioned in the first line, Z. Smith and Crosby will be the only ones not retained. Z is an injury waiting to happen, and Crosby would be addition by subtraction. Make him an assistant coach and keep him handy in case of emergency.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Very doubtful that we can retain MVS, Campbell, Douglas, and Tonyan. I’m glad to see Campbell is the top priority. We may be able to get Tonyan back on a one year prove it deal.

[Joemailman]

Very doubtful that we can retain MVS, Campbell, Douglas, and Tonyan. I’m glad to see Campbell is the top priority. We may be able to get Tonyan back on a one year prove it deal.

Douglas looks like a luxury they can't afford. Gute should go to Rodgers and say "You can have Cobb, or you can have MVS. Not both."

[Bretsky]

Douglas looks like a luxury they can't afford. Gute should go to Rodgers and say "You can have Cobb, or you can have MVS. Not both."

Does Cobb really help anything ? Talent wise, did he add anything last year we can't find with a practice squad player like Winfree or a mid round draft pick ?

[Fritz]

Harv, I agree that Campbell should be a priority. The very few times they draft at that position, it doesn't work out too well. I think it'd be easier to draft a corner to develop for Douglas than draft someone to replace Campbell.

But where did you read that Campbell is a priority? I'd like to see that, as I would be relieved were it so.

[call_me_ishmael]

Maybe I'm wrong but I feel like they can easily add the same player as MVS this year in the draft for pennies on the dollar. Draft a DL, then a couple of receivers then go make it happen with Big Bobby Wagner and win a chip.

[SudsMcBucky]

Maybe I'm wrong but I feel like they can easily add the same player as MVS this year in the draft for pennies on the dollar. Draft a DL, then a couple of receivers then go make it happen with Big Bobby Wagner and win a chip.

The problem is that in drafting a WR this year it's a foregone conclusion that AR will be long gone from GB by the time he finally feels comfortable throwing to him.

[ThunderDan]

Harv, I agree that Campbell should be a priority. The very few times they draft at that position, it doesn't work out too well. I think it'd be easier to draft a corner to develop for Douglas than draft someone to replace Campbell.

But where did you read that Campbell is a priority? I'd like to see that, as I would be relieved were it so.

We don't have any cap space to sign Campbell. We are still working to get under the cap for this year. Then we still need to clear enough cap space to sign our draft picks. Then we will see if there are any dollars left to pay free agents. I am guessing the free agency period is going to be very quiet for the Packers.

And as an extra, if someone gets hurt in the middle of the year and we decide to go out a sign a free agent to fill the hole, we are going to have to free up additional cap space to do that if we are tight against the cap once the season starts.

[HarveyWallbangers]

We don't have any cap space to sign Campbell. We are still working to get under the cap for this year. Then we still need to clear enough cap space to sign our draft picks. Then we will see if there are any dollars left to pay free agents. I am guessing the free agency period is going to be very quiet for the Packers.

And as an extra, if someone gets hurt in the middle of the year and we decide to go out a sign a free agent to fill the hole, we are going to have to free up additional cap space to do that if we are tight against the cap once the season starts.

Plenty of room to sign Campbell, if he's the top priority. This has been rehashed a lot.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Harv, I agree that Campbell should be a priority. The very few times they draft at that position, it doesn't work out too well. I think it'd be easier to draft a corner to develop for Douglas than draft someone to replace Campbell.

But where did you read that Campbell is a priority? I'd like to see that, as I would be relieved were it so.

I don't remember if I read it somewhere or heard it on a Packers podcast, but it appears that the Packers are working to sign Jaire to a contract extension and that their top priority among their FAs is Campbell.

[Fritz]

I don't remember if I read it somewhere or heard it on a Packers podcast, but it appears that the Packers are working to sign Jaire to a contract extension and that their top priority among their FAs is Campbell.

I like both of those as priorities. I wish they'd keep Prestone, too, but that might be wishful thinking. I don't know enough about the cap to know if it's really possible or not.

I hope Gutekunst has a great draft this year; they're going to need rookies to play well from the get-go in order to replace some of the losses they'll suffer.

But maybe they can make up for some of that with better special teams play.

[Joemailman]

I like both of those as priorities. I wish they'd keep Prestone, too, but that might be wishful thinking. I don't know enough about the cap to know if it's really possible or not.

I hope Gutekunst has a great draft this year; they're going to need rookies to play well from the get-go in order to replace some of the losses they'll suffer.

But maybe they can make up for some of that with better special teams play.

I think Preston will be back if they can agree to an extension. It will have to happen soon as he is due a $3 million roster bonus on March 18. If no extension, he will be cut as his cap hit would be almost $20 million.

[Joemailman]

Adam Schefter
@AdamSchefter

Colts are trading QB Carson Wentz to Washington for a package of packs that is thought to include two third-round picks, sources tell ESPN.

[call_me_ishmael]

Why would Washington give up anything for Wentz when the Colts have all but said they're done with him? Silly.