Official Training Camp Thread

[bobblehead]

I have always read/been told that the biggest challenge for a college TE is learning all the nuances of the position in the NFL. I believe having a father that lettered 2 years at QB in college and an uncle who played QB in the NFL has helped him immensely.

I agree on that. He has a head start on most guys coming out.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

I agree on that. He has a head start on most guys coming out.

Poor man’s Jimmy Graham.

[Joemailman]

Poor man’s Jimmy Graham.

Nah. Looks like Musgrave is at least willing to try to block.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Nah. Looks like Musgrave is at least willing to try to block.

Jimmy tried to block, too. He wasn’t too good at it, but he did try.

Packers would be better off with Musgraves being a poor man’s Jimmy Graham than a rich man’s Mercedes Lewis.

[call_me_ishmael]

I read somewhere "he could have went in the 5th...." That was ridiculous. If not for his problems he was a lock to go in the 2nd. Top 20 guy, successful in the SEC in 2 programs when on the field. Yea, thats a 5th rounder. Thats why I don't read much "pundit" crap regarding the draft. I am tempering my excitement over cox after the Kylin Hill experience. That guy was/is so talented, but a major head case.

Maybe, but it is also to remember that he doesn't have the measurable that NFL teams crave since the NFL is different from college. Although I would agree that success in the SEC trumps that for me personally and shows you're explosive, fast, etc even if it doesn't show up at the combine.

The Packers had that TE from Oregon many moons ago that was in a similar spot. Elite talent but a bum off the field. He washed out and didn't make the team 'cause bums gonna bum.

[MadScientist]

Maybe, but it is also to remember that he doesn't have the measurable that NFL teams crave since the NFL is different from college. Although I would agree that success in the SEC trumps that for me personally and shows you're explosive, fast, etc even if it doesn't show up at the combine.

The Packers had that TE from Oregon many moons ago that was in a similar spot. Elite talent but a bum off the field. He washed out and didn't make the team 'cause bums gonna bum.

Jamal Reynolds had success in the SEC.

[call_me_ishmael]

Jamal Reynolds had success in the SEC.

ACC

[call_me_ishmael]

If the Packers do end up trading Bak, I think that'd be a short sighted move, but if they traded him a #1 in say the 26 or 27 draft, I'd be good with it.

[bobblehead]

If the Packers do end up trading Bak, I think that'd be a short sighted move, but if they traded him a #1 in say the 26 or 27 draft, I'd be good with it.

I disagree. Its the long game move unless you are talking about Love. Its possible that keeping him helps Love succeed and would be good for his psyche long term, but moving him for a pick and clearing his salary from the books after next season is the better long play for the franchise. If Bak were 100% right now I would say he is good enough to have 5 good years left. Given they way he manages his knee and who he is, I see him playing out next year because $20 million, but I don't think he plays a snap beyond 2024. He won't say it out loud, but I think mentally he is done with football and just collecting the last of his money. If we can land a 2nd I'd be thrilled.

Gutes went all in, and now we have to retool. He turned Adams and Rodgers into some very nice picks (young players). Bak is at the end of the line and if we can turn him into another pick, its the right time to do it.

[run pMc]

Agree you want to keep Bakhtiari to protect the new QB as he learns. This is a development year for a young team, and a solid OL will help. No point in having a bunch of good young receiving talent if you don't have time to throw to them.
I think trading him before the end of the season would be shortsighted for that reason UNLESS they are clearly out of the playoff hunt AND they know what they have with Jordan Love AND they have someone who can step right in at LT. Moving him in the offseason seems more likely given the cap relief they'd get... they reworked his contract this year already so they probably keep him for this season at least. I could see a world where they keep him and let the contract play out and let him explore FA after that.

What happens behind him is far more interesting to me at the moment. I think Njiman is likely the backup swing tackle and will play if/when Bakh's knee flares up or he needs a break from a turf field. His contract is up and I think they let him walk. He's on a relatively cheap deal ($4.3M) but will get money somewhere and I think they like the guys developing behind him (Caleb Jones, Luke Tenuta, Rasheed Walker). Another offseason of development and they could slide one of them in and they'd have a cheaper player and more control over the contract. The constant here is Tom - I think he could play C just fine but I think he's more valuable at OT. Next year's draft class will probably include 2-3 OL. GB is unusual because it looks like they have better depth at T than at G.

I'm pretty confident Gute and Co. have worked out a few scenarios on how to let this play out. How it actually does remains to be seen.

[Joemailman]

Sounds like the Patriots definitely had the better of the play today, after the Packers had the edge yesterday. Should make for some interesting moments Saturday night.

[Fritz]

Agree you want to keep Bakhtiari to protect the new QB as he learns. This is a development year for a young team, and a solid OL will help. No point in having a bunch of good young receiving talent if you don't have time to throw to them.
I think trading him before the end of the season would be shortsighted for that reason UNLESS they are clearly out of the playoff hunt AND they know what they have with Jordan Love AND they have someone who can step right in at LT. Moving him in the offseason seems more likely given the cap relief they'd get... they reworked his contract this year already so they probably keep him for this season at least. I could see a world where they keep him and let the contract play out and let him explore FA after that.

What happens behind him is far more interesting to me at the moment. I think Njiman is likely the backup swing tackle and will play if/when Bakh's knee flares up or he needs a break from a turf field. His contract is up and I think they let him walk. He's on a relatively cheap deal ($4.3M) but will get money somewhere and I think they like the guys developing behind him (Caleb Jones, Luke Tenuta, Rasheed Walker). Another offseason of development and they could slide one of them in and they'd have a cheaper player and more control over the contract. The constant here is Tom - I think he could play C just fine but I think he's more valuable at OT. Next year's draft class will probably include 2-3 OL. GB is unusual because it looks like they have better depth at T than at G.

I'm pretty confident Gute and Co. have worked out a few scenarios on how to let this play out. How it actually does remains to be seen.

I generally agree with this post, except that I think at this point they know who they have at tackle, so they really ought to be able to trade Bakh at the trade deadline this year. Nijman has motivation to play welll in his place, though it seems clear by the way the team is playing Nijman that they don't really think he's a number one tackle and will likely let him walk at the end of the year. And that's fine. You either draft on
OT early in the next draft, or if you thin Walker or one of the others is capable as a starter, you draft an OT developmentally. But I think it's clear neither Balk nor Nijman will be in GB next year. And that's okay.

[call_me_ishmael]

I disagree. Its the long game move unless you are talking about Love. Its possible that keeping him helps Love succeed and would be good for his psyche long term, but moving him for a pick and clearing his salary from the books after next season is the better long play for the franchise. If Bak were 100% right now I would say he is good enough to have 5 good years left. Given they way he manages his knee and who he is, I see him playing out next year because $20 million, but I don't think he plays a snap beyond 2024. He won't say it out loud, but I think mentally he is done with football and just collecting the last of his money. If we can land a 2nd I'd be thrilled.

Gutes went all in, and now we have to retool. He turned Adams and Rodgers into some very nice picks (young players). Bak is at the end of the line and if we can turn him into another pick, its the right time to do it.

I don't think he's done in two years. Someone will pay him. We shall see - he's made a lot of money and maybe he wants to talk away. I suspect he is going to start at least 14 games this year and do quite well. I'd rather have a #1 in a few years when the Jets are rebuilding than a 2 right now.

If keeping Bak is the difference between Love being Derek Carr and David Carr, I think I'd rather keep him though.

[Upnorth]

We are 1 injury away from being desperate at tackle if we trade bak. Unless the staff don't think he can make it through the season you do not trade bak. Uou can bank on losing at least 1 oline starter for a few games every year. Keeping bak means less risk in loves first year. He processes through his reads, let's not risk that for picks in a lottery.

[smuggler]

Jamal Reynolds had success in the SEC.

Exceptions and rules, I mean.