Free Agency: Packers Should Green Bay Pursue?

[HardRightEdge]

At 33, I think it would be a mistake to think that his 98 snaps late last year is what he would be for a full season.

That is a risk. I'm not in position to assess that risk in its entirely. Plan B is the Day 1 or Day 2 pick, something which would not be a bad idea regardless of who mans the RT spot this year. As it stands at the moment, there's one player on this roster you would be confident playing either OT position and that guy is in his contract year. Add one and you still lack a backup.

 

[HardRightEdge]

I think it's easier to win a game with a terrible running back or wide receiver than tackle.

Assuming Veldheer would be "terrible" is a stretch. I would classify what we saw from Alex Light as "terrible".

 

[Pkrjones]

RT Daryl Williams from Carolina is coming off of a down year...would a change of scenery and coaching get us a 28 yr old RT for reasonable $$?

Very good '17, injured in '18, and down year in '19.

 

[Dantés]

Assuming Veldheer would be "terrible" is a stretch. I would classify what we saw from Alex Light as "terrible".

Veldheer's play was dropping off in 2017 in his last year with Arizona, before he got hurt. They traded him to Denver for a 6th round pick.

He was pretty lousy in Denver when he played, he missed four games, and they let him walk.

He then decided to retire a week after signing with New England.

You have to go back to 2016 to find him playing well and staying healthy.

So I would argue that he's pretty likely to be somewhere from bad to terrible as a full time starter.

 

[HardRightEdge]

Veldheer's play was dropping off in 2017 in his last year with Arizona, before he got hurt. They traded him to Denver for a 6th round pick.

He was pretty lousy in Denver when he played, he missed four games, and they let him walk.

He then decided to retire a week after signing with New England.

You have to go back to 2016 to find him playing well and staying healthy.

So I would argue that he's pretty likely to be somewhere from bad to terrible as a full time starter.

Yeah, but he played well for the Packers. Retiring a week after signing with New England is the bigger issue in my mind, but I only play a psychiatrist on TV and have not interviewed the patient.

 

[Dantés]

Yeah, but he played well for the Packers. Retiring a week after signing with New England is the bigger issue in my mind, but I only play a psychiatrist on TV and have not interviewed the patient.

For a mere 98 snaps. For a player that old, there's a huge difference between asking him to fill in on such a part time basis and asking him to be the full time starter. I am fine with the former idea, but not the latter.

I prefer the Dennis Kelly idea, as he's a bit younger and has performed well enough over much larger samples sizes the past two seasons.

 

[RRyder]

Predictions for the first 24 hrs of free agency?


We sign 3 guys:

TE Austin Hooper 5yrs/$60M
ILB Nick Kwiatkoski 4yrs/$38M
DL Andrew Billings 2/$6M



Tough to guess. I thought Amos was a possible target, and ZSmith was a long shot. I didnt see the other 2 as even possible targets.

I'll legitimately be sad if those are the signings and cost. Might as just chop of the top two and give Littleton 98 million over 5 years

 

[AmishMafia]

I'll legitimately be sad if those are the signings and cost. Might as just chop of the top two and give Littleton 98 million over 5 years

I think Kwiatkoski will be better than Littleton. He is just getting going, whereas Littleton has maxed out.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I think Kwiatkoski will be better than Littleton. He is just getting going, whereas Littleton has maxed out.

Something that gives me a bit of pause with both of them, are the guys that played around them. Both the Rams and the Bears have had pretty legit DL's that those 2 played behind, as well as decent surrounding players. While you can't really evaluate them in a bubble and know exactly what you are getting, sometimes better players around you make you look better than you really are, unless your name is Blake Martinez of course.

 

[Favre>Rodgers259]

I really have no expectations for this FA. I'd prefer if we signed a bunch of 2nd tier players because the back end of the roster is what really determines your Playoff run in my opinion. And now that we'll have one more extra game in the Playoffs, we're going to need said players.

 

[Dantés]

I think Kwiatkoski will be better than Littleton. He is just getting going, whereas Littleton has maxed out.

The best version of Kwiatkoski almost certainly won't be able to do the things that Littleton can do in coverage. They're in different lanes.

 

[GleefulGary]

I don't know the figures, but I'm with Amish.

I think we take home Hooper and Kwiatkoski, and some filler.

 

[AmishMafia]

The best version of Kwiatkoski almost certainly won't be able to do the things that Littleton can do in coverage. They're in different lanes.

Kwiat is better in coverage than Littleton is in run support and pass rush. And I think Kwiat can get better in coverage whereas Littleton has plateaued and will never be any better at the LOS.

 

[Dantés]

Kwiat is better in coverage than Littleton is in run support and pass rush. And I think Kwiat can get better in coverage whereas Littleton has plateaued and will never be any better at the LOS.

I have no idea how you would attempt to quantify that. It's also silly to say that the 26 year old Littleton has plateaued, but the 26 year old Kwiatkoski can get better. Based on what?

Kwiatkoski is never going to be the matchup neutralizer in man coverage that Littleton is. That's why Littleton is going to do so well in FA.

Littleton is also a really reliable tackler and effective blitzer. He isn't going to play blocks as well as Kwiatkoski, but he was also at a disadvantage as the Rams rarely ever played a linebacker next to him. They led the league in dime.

 

[AmishMafia]

I have no idea how you would attempt to quantify that. It's also silly to say that the 26 year old Littleton has plateaued, but the 26 year old Kwiatkoski can get better. Based on what?

Kwiatkoski is never going to be the matchup neutralizer in man coverage that Littleton is. That's why Littleton is going to do so well in FA.

Littleton is also a really reliable tackler and effective blitzer. He isn't going to play blocks as well as Kwiatkoski, but he was also at a disadvantage as the Rams rarely ever played a linebacker next to him. They led the league in dime.

Based on my opinion. Of course it cant be quantified. You have to actually watch them play and use judgement.

 

[Dantés]

Based on my opinion. Of course it cant be quantified. You have to actually watch them play and use judgement.

You're comparing apples and oranges, in my opinion.

The upside outcome of Kwiatkoski is that he's a better version of Martinez.

The upside outcome of Littleton is that he's a really good version of what Burks was drafted to be.

 

[AmishMafia]

You're comparing apples and oranges, in my opinion.

The upside outcome of Kwiatkoski is that he's a better version of Martinez.

The upside outcome of Littleton is that he's a really good version of what Burks was drafted to be.

They both play ILB and both have different talents. We need an aggressive run stopper in this defense. I would not say his game is like martinez.

 

[Dantés]

They both play ILB and both have different talents. We need an aggressive run stopper in this defense. I would not say his game is like martinez.

He would play the same role, even if he were to play it more effectively.

The two off-ball roles are not the same.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

My feeling is that someone is going to way overpay for Littleton and as much as I want to improve at ILB, I hope that isn't the Packers. While Kwiatkoski might get slightly overpaid in Free Agency, I don't think it will be nearly as much. NK's instincts against the run look well-refined, he loves to hit and plays through injuries. Unlike Martinez, he is rarely leaning the wrong way or caught out of position. You can tell he studies formations and tendencies. I think he is an upgrade over Martinez and will still leave the Packers with some cap space to do other things.

Schobert is another dark horse that could land in GB. Wisconsin ties and I think possibly equal to Kwiatkoski in talent.

 

[HardRightEdge]

For a mere 98 snaps. For a player that old, there's a huge difference between asking him to fill in on such a part time basis and asking him to be the full time starter. I am fine with the former idea, but not the latter.

I prefer the Dennis Kelly idea, as he's a bit younger and has performed well enough over much larger samples sizes the past two seasons.

If you say so. I know nothing about him. Add him to the long, long list of possibilities.

 

[Sky King]

A poster had suggested some outside the box thinking a while back: Jenkins to RT and a Taylor return to LG.

Veldheer could remain as one of the swing tackles and Lucas Patrick is the proven back up at multiple inside positions. The cap money saved from a Bulaga non-signing could then be directed towards other pressing needs.

The lights did not at all appear to be too bright for Jenkins playing at G. Maybe he translates his talents to RT just as successfully or at least acceptably close enough. The kid acquitted himself quite well as a starting G. After last season's performance by Jenkins the proposal does have some intrigue. Personally, I would have more confidence in a Jenkins option at RT when compared to any of the other possibilities on the current roster not named Bulaga.

 

[HardRightEdge]

A poster had suggested some outside the box thinking a while back: Jenkins to RT and a Taylor return to LG.

I raised that a possibility some months back. There was a recent report that the Packers are not considering moving Jenkins.

 

[Sky King]

I raised that a possibility some months back. There was a recent report that the Packers are not considering moving Jenkins.

If they have a better option than Jenkins I can't wait to see it.

 

[HardRightEdge]

If they have a better option than Jenkins I can't wait to see it.

Well, I expect they'll have a guy not currently on the roster filling that spot. Depending on what they do in free agency it could be the #30 pick.

 

[RRyder]

He would play the same role, even if he were to play it more effectively.

The two off-ball roles are not the same.

For me it's pretty simple. I'll take the coverage LB over the thumper every time. That said I am starting to think Schobert will/would be better value then either.

Then again it doesnt matter what I think with the reports that the Packers and Raiders are rumored that they're going to be all over Littleton come tomorrow afternoon