2025 NFL Free Agency

[tynimiller]

I would be all for signing Adams and then drafting speed.

Would be crazy if it happens. Fully support

 

[Dantés]

The positions I'm looking towards in free agency are WR, OL, DT, DE, and CB.

Here are my final lists of guys I hope the Packers look into, listed in order of prefence.

WR: I'm hoping that get some help with man-beating skills and/or vertical speed

1. Davante Adams

*Big Tier Break*

2. Darius Slayton
3. Amari Cooper

*Tier Break*

4. D.J. Chark
5. Marquez Valdez-Scantling

OL: This position is hard to rank without knowing whether they plan to use an in-house option at center

1. Jedrick Wills, OT/G
2. James Daniels, C/G
3. Dillon Radunz, OT/G

*Tier Break*

4. Brady Christensen, C/G
5. Robert Hainsey, C/G

DT: Unless they trade one of the 3T's on the roster, what makes sense is the 1T types

1. Bobby Brown
2. B.J. Hill

*Tier Break*

3. T. Tart

DE: The Packers should either sign a high, high end player here or a DPR type

1. Khalil Mack
2. Josh Sweat

*Tier Break*

3. Dayo Odeyingbo
4. Baron Browning
5. Azeez Ojulari

CB: I'd like the Packers to take multiple bites at the apple here, even if they don't end up with one of the top tier guys

1. Paulson Adebo
2. Byron Murphy
3. Carlton Davis
4. Charvarius Ward

*Tier Break*

5. Kristian Fulton
6. Mike Hughes

*Tier Break*

7. Asante Samuel Jr.
8. Nate Hobbs
9. Michael Jackson
10. Brandon Stephens

 

[Heyjoe4]

I would be all for signing Adams and then drafting speed.

There's certainly nothing wrong with this scenario. I'd much rather see a WR brought on who is expected to be long-term - and Metcalf and Slayton meet that.

There are a lot of reasons they might not get Metcalf or Slayton. If Adams agrees to a reasonable pay cut and nothing else pans out in FA or a trade, by all means bring Adams in for a year or two. He showed he can still produce in his 11 games with the Jets. And GB gives him a better shot at a SB ring than following Rodgers to a team like the Giants or Raiders.

He's already been on the same team as Love. Seems like Im talking myself into the idea of bringing him on. Thanks Dantes!

 

[tynimiller]

Honestly...I ALWAYS love the concept of signing guys that don't hurt our compensatory pick calculations...

With Bosa and Chargers splitting - I see a real value in Bosa. Over 11% pressure rate per pass rush snaps still. Not quite 30 but is there...in a rotational role eh could really add some experienced pass rush pressure. I don't see him being a massive cost personally but also won't be cheap either.

Notable names elsewhere that were released/cut:

Davante Adams WR - we all know and would love to run it back...well most of us.

Christian Kirk WR - Still a very productive slight WR, but not sure Gute and MLS want to target a slot guy. Missed some of last season but when he was there and over the past two he's been very productive.

Darius Slay CB - He's old but still allowed a passer rating just below the league average....last resort to me type target.

Gardner Minshew QB - if someone offers us something we cannot say no to for Willis - Minshew makes a TON of sense but not otherwise of course.

Tyler Lockett WR - He's 32...but for a one year deal at the right price I could see this being intriguing....you're not getting a bonafide WR1 but you are getting a lot....maybe...maybe not. Likely not worth it, as someone is still going to give him IMO too much...but I'd still call.

 

[gopkrs]

The more I see all the free agent possibilities; the more I think we should be focusing on pass rush, O line blocking and CB. I'm seeing other teams (Bears?) picking up what seem to be great O line vets.

 

[tynimiller]

The more I see all the free agent possibilities; the more I think we should be focusing on pass rush, O line blocking and CB. I'm seeing other teams (Bears?) picking up what seem to be great O line vets.

Bears are NOT (edited) picking up free agents, they're trading for them - Dalman is the one guy it seems everyone thinks they will target in FA though.

I don't envision or see it personally a need here in GB to push for OL...or at least not starting. An experienced swing interior guy is a type I think we should do some calling on, plus I would like Dillard back as just that tackle back up potential. Doubt he costs more than minimum by much.

 

[tynimiller]

@gopkrs an interior veteran that could be cool to bring back would be Lucas Patrick if he isn't going to hang it up...he's been a starter ever since leaving and last year had injury we'd need to look into but could be a back up at guard or center with experience.

 

[gopkrs]

Bears are picking up free agents, they're trading for them - Dalman is the one guy it seems everyone thinks they will target in FA though.

I don't envision or see it personally a need here in GB to push for OL...or at least not starting. An experienced swing interior guy is a type I think we should do some calling on, plus I would like Dillard back as just that tackle back up potential. Doubt he costs more than minimum by much.

We never feel a need at O line. I would like to improve there and have backups too. I would love a really good center. And we could have a better run blocker at guard. And like I said...backups. Always thinking we can coach them up. I'm just not on board with that. We have lost two playoff games because of not having decent backups.

 

[gopkrs]

@gopkrs an interior veteran that could be cool to bring back would be Lucas Patrick if he isn't going to hang it up...he's been a starter ever since leaving and last year had injury we'd need to look into but could be a back up at guard or center with experience.

more mediocrity imho

 

[tynimiller]

We never feel a need at O line. I would like to improve there and have backups too. I would love a really good center. And we could have a better run blocker at guard. And like I said...backups. Always thinking we can coach them up. I'm just not on board with that. We have lost two playoff games because of not having decent backups.

This last year was because of injury sadly...no amount of preparation can predict but I feel ya for sure.

 

[tynimiller]

more mediocrity imho

What??? How? You're going out and getting a dude that has done literally nothing in the league but be a starter and most years above average starter at both guard and center? He's towards the end of his career and like you said about expecting to coach young ones up...that isn't what you have here.

Targets in FAs range from solid depth to hopefully surefire starters...gotta aim at all IMO

 

[gopkrs]

What??? How? You're going out and getting a dude that has done literally nothing in the league but be a starter and most years above average starter at both guard and center? He's towards the end of his career and like you said about expecting to coach young ones up...that isn't what you have here.

If we are looking strictly for a backup OK. I would not want him as a starter nor pay him like one. I'm wanting to improve the O line.

 

[tynimiller]

If we are looking strictly for a backup OK. I would not want him as a starter nor pay him like one. I'm wanting to improve the O line.

He would make it better - you even said yourself, a big part of our loss in the playoffs this year and last was depth at OL.

 

[Dantés]

The reports of interest in Odeyingbo ring true to me. He profiles as a guy that Gutekunst would want. It would remind me of the moves to sign Za'Darius and Preston back in 2019.

Za'Darius had 18.5 sacks through four seasons and Gute paid way more for him than anyone had anticipated (4/66).
Preston had 24.5 sacks through four seasons and he was also paid more than the projections (4/52).

Their season-high totals were 8.5 and 8.0 respectively. They both went on to be much more productive players in Green Bay.

Odeyingbo has 16.5 sacks through four seasons, but the rate is actually right between the Smith's because his rookie season was largely lost to injury. His career high is 8.0.

If/when Green Bay gives him a deal for 4/100, people's eyes are going to pop just like they did back in 2019 and I would guess he ends up being worth it. For context, when Za'Darius signed a deal for 16.5 AAV, that was 8.8% of the salary cap in 2019 (188M). 8.8% of the current cap (289M) would be 25.4 AAV.

Doubting Gute's draft picks has proved warranted as often as not. Doubting his FA selections typically proves wrong.

 

[tynimiller]

The reports of interest in Odeyingbo ring true to me. He profiles as a guy that Gutekunst would want. It would remind me of the moves to sign Za'Darius and Preston back in 2019.

Za'Darius had 18.5 sacks through four seasons and Gute paid way more for him than anyone had anticipated (4/66).
Preston had 24.5 sacks through four seasons and he was also paid more than the projections (4/52).

Their season-high totals were 8.5 and 8.0 respectively. They both went on to be much more productive players in Green Bay.

Odeyingbo has 16.5 sacks through four seasons, but the rate is actually right between the Smith's because his rookie season was largely lost to injury. His career high is 8.0.

If/when Green Bay gives him a deal for 4/100, people's eyes are going to pop just like they did back in 2019 and I would guess he ends up being worth it. For context, when Za'Darius signed a deal for 16.5 AAV, that was 8.8% of the salary cap in 2019 (188M). 8.8% of the current cap (289M) would be 25.4 AAV.

Doubting Gute's draft picks has proved warranted as often as not. Doubting his FA selections typically proves wrong.

Dayo pressure rate is 9.7% of pass rush snaps. Not quite what I'd love to see, but I think he is for sure a solid edge player. Would be insane if Gute could somehow nab him and a pass rush specialist more so in Azeez. I really think Azeez is going to be something in the right system.....but that could be me holding on to a prospect I really liked for his draft class. Azeez however doesn't fit the Packer profile physical wise.

Malcolm Koonce is a dude I really like a lot of....his 2023 season he pressured on 15.1% of his pass rush snaps....INSANE...again not a BIG edge but more so our type than Azeez

 

[Heyjoe4]

Bears are picking up free agents, they're trading for them - Dalman is the one guy it seems everyone thinks they will target in FA though.

I don't envision or see it personally a need here in GB to push for OL...or at least not starting. An experienced swing interior guy is a type I think we should do some calling on, plus I would like Dillard back as just that tackle back up potential. Doubt he costs more than minimum by much.

Yeah after 68 sacks, the Bears need a lot of OL help.

Back to FAs, I've seen Josh Sweat for Edge and DJ Moore for CB. Those look interesting. Moore has played in the shadow of Gardner.