Free Agency: Packers Should Green Bay Pursue?

[Pokerbrat2000]

From what I am reading, essentially the Packers signed both Christian Kirksey and Ricky Wagner to low-risk, one-year deals with team options for a second year. If both bust, they can get out in 2021 with big savings and relatively small dead cap hits. Nice moves on the part of Gute. Neither count against the Compensatory picks, definitely addressing positions of need AND still leaving enough cap money to do some more things in Free Agency.

We used to see these moves by Ted Thompson AFTER the Free Agency period and sometimes after the draft. I like Gute's way of doing things much better. Get things lined up before the draft and know what you need now and in the future as you head into the draft.

 

[tynimiller]

Actually, the amount of his salary is less than what you are thinking. Whatever team would trade for him would only be on the hook for:

• 2020: $12.5M
• 2021: $13.5M
• 2022: $13.915M

When a player is traded away or cut, their old team is on the hook for the dead cap money.

While I think that is a great deal for a team, it is also probably going to cost the Packers at minimum, a first round and maybe more because of that great contract.

While I would love to have Hopkins, not so sure I would want to invest that much in salary and draft assets into him.

IF all it would take is this year's 1st fine do it IMO. Obviously I think I'd lean towards trying to use a 2nd or maybe this year's 2nd and next years or similar. Thanks for the dead cap reminder, completely forgot.

 

[FaninColorado]

Hooper going to PAID by the Browns to the tune of highest paid tight end in the league... that is crazy. Kittle and Kelce must be licking their chops at the thought of close to 20M/yr for each of them. We should definitely stay away from that free agent now... Bring back Lewis and lets see what Tonyan, Sternberger, Lewis, and a draft pick can do for us.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

IF all it would take is this year's 1st fine do it IMO. Obviously I think I'd lean towards trying to use a 2nd or maybe this year's 2nd and next years or similar. Thanks for the dead cap reminder, completely forgot.

You probably have noticed that ever since the Hopkins potential trade news hit, many teams are being included in on the conversation. So there would definitely be competition for him. More importantly is the reason the Texans are even considering trading him. It isn't his contract or lack of performance, they have a lot of roster needs and no first round pick, so they would be hoping to get some immediate draft capital. Packers having picks late in each round won't help either, most of the other teams same round pick will be considered more valuable to the Texans.

 

[bigbubbatd]

You probably have noticed that ever since the Hopkins potential trade news hit, many teams are being included in on the conversation. So there would definitely be competition for him. More importantly is the reason the Texans are even considering trading him. It isn't his contract or lack of performance, they have a lot of roster needs and no first round pick, so they would be hoping to get some immediate draft capital. Packers having picks late in each round won't help either, most of the other teams same round pick will be considered more valuable to the Texans.

Hopkins to the Cardinals. Lots of pieces moving but Texans getting a 2nd and David Johnson. Hopkins supposedly getting a new deal in Arizona

 

[tynimiller]

From what I am reading, essentially the Packers signed both Christian Kirksey and Ricky Wagner to low-risk, one-year deals with team options for a second year. If both bust, they can get out in 2021 with big savings and relatively small dead cap hits. Nice moves on the part of Gute. Neither count against the Compensatory picks, definitely addressing positions of need AND still leaving enough cap money to do some more things in Free Agency.

We used to see these moves by Ted Thompson AFTER the Free Agency period and sometimes after the draft. I like Gute's way of doing things much better. Get things lined up before the draft and know what you need now and in the future as you head into the draft.

I get the feeling Gute is not one comfortable with unknowns. While not your possible long term solutions or studs, he wants to know worse case I got someone here, here and here and not put himself in a corner for anything.

 

[Pugger]

The Falcons moves could make Hooper going back to them more likely

Evidently Hooper signed with Cleveland for a big chunk of money. I'm glad we didn't go that route...

 

[bigbubbatd]

Evidently Hooper signed with Cleveland for a big chunk of money. I'm glad we didn't go that route...

Yeah I just saw that a little bit ago. I wanted Henry but he got tagged. Hooper would have been nice but not at that price. Hopefully we can add a pass catcher before the draft

 

[Do7]

Evidently Hooper signed with Cleveland for a big chunk of money. I'm glad we didn't go that route...

Cleveland is gonna have to start letting go of these players, no way they can afford to keep everyone there.

 

[tynimiller]

Cleveland is gonna have to start letting go of these players, no way they can afford to keep everyone there.

To be fair letting Schobert walk and cutting Kirksey and Burnett are the players costing them in order to shift to Offensive weapons like they have.

 

[Dantés]

The deal for Hooper is reportedly 4/44/23. I would have been happy for the Packers to match that. Maybe they still can.

 

[tynimiller]

The deal for Hooper is reportedly 4/44/23. I would have been happy for the Packers to match that. Maybe they still can.

That seems much cheaper than everyone expected...mildly shocked really.

 

[RRyder]

The deal for Hooper is reportedly 4/44/23. I would have been happy for the Packers to match that. Maybe they still can.

Disagree. I'll give you that's around what we expected when it started looking like he'll be made the highest paid TE in the league but that's still a bad deal

 

[RRyder]

That seems much cheaper than everyone expected...mildly shocked really.

How is it cheaper? Hes still going to be the highest paid TE in the league

 

[Dantés]

Disagree. I'll give you that's around what we expected when it started looking like he'll be made the highest paid TE in the league but that's still a bad deal

When Blake Jarwin is getting 8M, 11M is totally reasonable for Hooper. TE's who can block for you in-line and be that productive in the passing game are rare.

 

[Dantés]

How is it cheaper? Hes still going to be the highest paid TE in the league

There were estimates topping out around 14M.

 

[tynimiller]

How is it cheaper? Hes still going to be the highest paid TE in the league

Most were saying $11M minimum and rumored up to as high as $14M. I honestly assumed it was gonna take $12M honestly.

 

[PackAttack12]

Yeah, I wouldn't have been upset for the Packers to offer/match a similar deal for Hooper. Not ideal to pay that type of money, but it's a better alternative than not having a player of his skillset.

 

[Pkrjones]

Would TE Luke Stocker, much better blocker than receiver, be an upgrade over Marcedes Lewis? Not sure if he'd be cheaper? MLF was Tennessee's OC in '18 while Stocker was there so there's a slight connection. Might be a younger vet option...

 

[tynimiller]

Stocker is unproven more than Lewis...only upside he has over Lewis is youth and faster...otherwise I'd argue vastly more unknowns and inferior. He was a guy I brought up when breaking down TEs as an option, but it was only due to his MLF connection and nothing more.

 

[tynimiller]

Would TE Luke Stocker, much better blocker than receiver, be an upgrade over Marcedes Lewis? Not sure if he'd be cheaper? MLF was Tennessee's OC in '18 while Stocker was there so there's a slight connection. Might be a younger vet option...

I brought him up last season in February of 2019:

-Luke Stocker at TE. This dude is a special teams and blocking stud. He is a LaFleur experienced guy and one that won't garner a ton of attention in FAs I suspect as he isn't a receiving threat most teams look for first...but that isn't the role we'd desire him to do....if we grab him, can you imagine a big double TE option for running games out with him and Marcedes both in should we choose to sign both?

 

[AmishMafia]

How is it cheaper? Hes still going to be the highest paid TE in the league

Not for long.

 

[tynimiller]

Not for long.

kittle is smiling....

 

[tynimiller]

Had to update my TE list:

-Marcedes Lewis - sign him.


Jacob Hollister - RFA The ex-Patriot traded over to the Seahawks filled in when injury struck and did quite admirably. 41 receptions, 350 yards and 3 TDs. Many seem incredibly undecided on him...but at 26 years old, with enough tape study a team may like what they see.

Eric Ebron - UFA I keep forgetting he is only 26 years old...and his raw chops cannot be questioned...however he reminds me of a young James Jones hands wise, but has struggled for years there. He is a serious red zone threat for sure, and if he ever figures the hands thing he seriously would be a top 5 arguably, top 10 TE without a doubt. He made $5Million last year, had a slightly down year and I fear he is going to enjoy the limited TE pool pay wise, but still could be worth a study and discussion. I expect he'll be in that $7M area honestly like Olsen if on a single year deal.

*Blake Jarwin - COWBOYS PAID HIM

**Tyler Eifert UFA - This is my runner up darkhorse. Plagued by injuries (red flag...but also discount possibly) he finally had a healthy season in 2019 and put up respectable numbers and finally was able to show what many have always said was there; a highly skilled TE capable of starting nearly anywhere. His injuries worry me, but at 6'6' and 250 his athleticism is awesome on that frame...and if you look at the years he played at least 10 games he is a 40, 400 type TE (receptions, yards) and 3.5-4.5 TDs as well in those years.

Darren Fells - RESIGNED

Ricky Seals-Jones - RFA Yet another younger, not quite proven guy, that I'm not 100% sold on, but as we know the pool is very limited. RSJ saw the field in 2019 about as much as Tonyan, but in 2018 saw over 500 snaps, put forth 34 receptions and 340 yards. 6'5' 243lb, I like his frame and being just 24 years old again there is promise of growth which he has exhibited. He is like Jarwin, but IMO is even more of a roll of the dice future wise. Upside is high, unknowns are arguably as well...

With Hooper signing and CLE still have stud (IMO) Njoku on their roster set to return....RSJ is more than likely going to be out there for the taking.

 

[yooperpackfan]

Had to update my TE list:

-Marcedes Lewis - sign him.


Jacob Hollister - RFA The ex-Patriot traded over to the Seahawks filled in when injury struck and did quite admirably. 41 receptions, 350 yards and 3 TDs. Many seem incredibly undecided on him...but at 26 years old, with enough tape study a team may like what they see.

Eric Ebron - UFA I keep forgetting he is only 26 years old...and his raw chops cannot be questioned...however he reminds me of a young James Jones hands wise, but has struggled for years there. He is a serious red zone threat for sure, and if he ever figures the hands thing he seriously would be a top 5 arguably, top 10 TE without a doubt. He made $5Million last year, had a slightly down year and I fear he is going to enjoy the limited TE pool pay wise, but still could be worth a study and discussion. I expect he'll be in that $7M area honestly like Olsen if on a single year deal.

*Blake Jarwin - COWBOYS PAID HIM

**Tyler Eifert UFA - This is my runner up darkhorse. Plagued by injuries (red flag...but also discount possibly) he finally had a healthy season in 2019 and put up respectable numbers and finally was able to show what many have always said was there; a highly skilled TE capable of starting nearly anywhere. His injuries worry me, but at 6'6' and 250 his athleticism is awesome on that frame...and if you look at the years he played at least 10 games he is a 40, 400 type TE (receptions, yards) and 3.5-4.5 TDs as well in those years.

Darren Fells - RESIGNED

Ricky Seals-Jones - RFA Yet another younger, not quite proven guy, that I'm not 100% sold on, but as we know the pool is very limited. RSJ saw the field in 2019 about as much as Tonyan, but in 2018 saw over 500 snaps, put forth 34 receptions and 340 yards. 6'5' 243lb, I like his frame and being just 24 years old again there is promise of growth which he has exhibited. He is like Jarwin, but IMO is even more of a roll of the dice future wise. Upside is high, unknowns are arguably as well...

With Hooper signing and CLE still have stud (IMO) Njoku on their roster set to return....RSJ is more than likely going to be out there for the taking.

tyni, I think you've got the fever!
Get well soon!