Packers Offseason/Free Agency/ Non-Draft Thread

[Joemailman]

Key Dates:

Feb 1 to March 4 - Period that teams can designate franchise or transition players

March 10-12 - Teams can enter into negotiations with prospective UFA's from 12:00 PM ET time on the 10th until 4:00 PM ET on the 12th.

March 12 - Beginning of new league year at 4:00 PM ET. Teams can sign free agents and make trades.

March 30-April 2 - Annual League Meeting

April 21 - Offseason Workout Program begins

[Joemailman]

Packers prospective free agents:

Eric Stokes - UFA
AJ Dillon - UFA
Corey Ballentine - UFA
Josh Myers - UFA
Eric Wilson - UFA
Brandon McManus - UFA
Andre Dillard - UFA
Tyler Davis - UFA
Robert Rochell - UFA
Tedarrell Slaton - UFA
Isaiah McDuffie - UFA
John Fitzpatrick - RFA
Zayne Anderson - ERFA
Arron Mosby - ERFA
Daniel Whelan - ERFA
Emanuel Wilson - ERFA
Bo Melton - ERFA
Kadeem Telfort - ERFA
Ellis Merriweather - SFA

[sharpe1027]

Packers with an estimated $51M in cap space.

[Deputy Nutz]

Hard to want to keep any of those guys, I would say Melton, Slayton, Ballentine, and Eric Wilson

[Joemailman]

Hard to want to keep any of those guys, I would say Melton, Slayton, Ballentine, and Eric Wilson

They will keep Emanuel Wilson, Whelan and McManus. Not so sure about Slaton. Depends on market value.

[Joemailman]

Packers with an estimated $51M in cap space.

Spotrac has them with 63M. Can't figure out where they differ. Add 7/18 million when they cut Jaire, the higher number if they use post June 1 designation.

[Joemailman]

I expect Sean Mannion to get the QB coach job.

At his season-ending press conference on Tuesday morning, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters quarterbacks coach Tom Clements is retiring.

Clements, 71, previously came out of retirement to rejoin the Packers in 2022 after spending 2019-2020 with the Cardinals.

“Man, it’s been a cool ride with him for the last three years,” LaFleur said. “He’s incredibly consistent. What a great man, great mind.

“Obviously, he’s had the opportunity to coach some of the best. I mean, you talk about [Brett] Favre, [Aaron] Rodgers, and then the development of Jordan Love, I mean, that’s pretty cool. I know he’s meant a lot to this organization, his contributions. He will definitely be missed. I just can’t say enough great things about him. Really appreciate him.”

Clements, 71, first joined the Packers in 2006 as QBs coach under Mike McCarthy, coaching Favre for his last two years with the franchise. He was then promoted to offensive coordinate in 2012 before serving as assistant head coach from 2015-2016.

LaFleur said there are “potentially” in-house candidates for quarterbacks coach, but “we’ll see what happens.”

[Patler]

Not surprising that Clements is retiring, ...again. The Packers convinced him to come out of retirement a few years ago and reportedly talked out of "re-retiring" last year.

[Joemailman]

Not surprising that Clements is retiring, ...again. The Packers convinced him to come out of retirement a few years ago and reportedly talked out of "re-retiring" last year.

Congrats on post #20,000. What took you so long?

[run pMc]

Tender the ERFA's (they are cheap and useful)

Sign McAnus and probably let the rest test the market. None of them are cornerstone players. They're mostly replacement level or depth players you can bring back the 3rd week of free agency.
Maybe you sign one of the LBs? McDuffie can play the run but can't cover. Neither he nor Wilson is as good as Quay, and people seem to hate him.

Gotta keep churning the roster over: find younger, healthier, more upside.

[Joemailman]

The Green Bay Packers have signed DL Deslin Alexandre, S Omar Brown, DL James Ester, CB Kamal Hadden, K Alex Hale, G Marquis Hayes, WR Julian Hicks, G/T Donovan Jennings, WR Cornelius Johnson, CB Kalen King, DL Jeremiah Martin and TE Messiah Swinson to reserve/future contracts. General Manager Brian Gutekunst announced the transactions Monday.

All 12 players finished the season on the Packers' practice squad.

[Patler]

Congrats on post #20,000. What took you so long?

Thanks! Didn't even realize it was coming up.

[Deputy Nutz]

Free agent splashes I would like to see the Packers make.
1. C: Drew Dalman - 26yo mauler in ATL. Incredible athlete. Joy to watch.
2. DE: Dayo Odeyingbo - 12 sacks in '23. 11% pressures in '24. Big EDGE.
3. NT: Benito Jones - 8% pressure at 335 pounds. 27yo.
4. 3T: Javon Kinlaw - DT15 in PRWR. 8% pressure. 27yo 1st-rounder.
5. LB: Lavonte David - 6 sacks in Bowles' blitz scheme. Zone coverage.
6. CB: D.J. Reed - 28yo feisty outside CB opposite Sauce Gardner. Consistent.
7. CB: Brandon Stephens - 27yo outside CB in Ravens all-encompassing scheme.
8. CB: Byron Murphy - Versatile 27yo under Flores. 6 INTs moving inside-out.
9. OL: Patrick Mekari - 27yo with 685+ career snaps at LT, LG, C, and RT.
10. OL: Mekhi Becton - Much better inside in run-heavy PHI system. 26yo.

I get it, the Packers won't sign all 10 guys, but there are some "deals" to be had here. There is no Tee Higgins, or unfortunately any wide receivers on this list because it's pretty shallow. Old and washed is what your money will by with this year's crop of WRs.

Also I haven't looked at any stats or anything but I thought Stokes played much better towards the end of the season for the Packers.

[Joemailman]

Also I haven't looked at any stats or anything but I thought Stokes played much better towards the end of the season for the Packers.

Stokes seemed to play a lot better later in the year when Jaire was out. Because they played more zone? He hasn't had a pass defensed since his rookie year. He might be worth a minimum veteran contract. His 2024 advanced stats: https://www.pro-football-reference.c...2024/advanced/

[run pMc]

Free agent splashes I would like to see the Packers make.
1. C: Drew Dalman - 26yo mauler in ATL. Incredible athlete. Joy to watch.
2. DE: Dayo Odeyingbo - 12 sacks in '23. 11% pressures in '24. Big EDGE.
3. NT: Benito Jones - 8% pressure at 335 pounds. 27yo.
4. 3T: Javon Kinlaw - DT15 in PRWR. 8% pressure. 27yo 1st-rounder.
5. LB: Lavonte David - 6 sacks in Bowles' blitz scheme. Zone coverage.
6. CB: D.J. Reed - 28yo feisty outside CB opposite Sauce Gardner. Consistent.
7. CB: Brandon Stephens - 27yo outside CB in Ravens all-encompassing scheme.
8. CB: Byron Murphy - Versatile 27yo under Flores. 6 INTs moving inside-out.
9. OL: Patrick Mekari - 27yo with 685+ career snaps at LT, LG, C, and RT.
10. OL: Mekhi Becton - Much better inside in run-heavy PHI system. 26yo.

I get it, the Packers won't sign all 10 guys, but there are some "deals" to be had here. There is no Tee Higgins, or unfortunately any wide receivers on this list because it's pretty shallow. Old and washed is what your money will by with this year's crop of WRs.

Also I haven't looked at any stats or anything but I thought Stokes played much better towards the end of the season for the Packers.

Good list. I like your top 3. Kinlaw is talented but I get the impression he's a knucklehead, they already have enough of those. David probably stays with TB. Don't know enough about the CBs but I could easily see them taking a Day 2 CB and signing a FA as well. I assume they are looking at outside corners, I think Nixon, Bullard and even Kalen King (if he sticks) could play the slot.

Stokes did show some improvement towards the end, but his play overall was bad. I think 2/3 of the way thru the season his opposing QB rating was 2011 Rodgers level... meaning he was so bad that he made opposing QBs look like MVPs. I think he's just ok and would let him test the market before thinking about offering him a very modest contract.
I think they can do better.