Free Agent Targets

[Pokerbrat2000]

49'ers make Trent Williams the high paid OT in the NFL...surpassing Bahk by....$10k/season.

Williams: $23,010,000 per year
Bakhtiari: $23,000,000 per year

Too close too not be intentional. I think Bahk got a kick out of it.

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David Bakhtiari
@DavidBakhtiari
@TrentW71

you petty AF.

Congrats on the deal and history Silverback. Very deserving. Excited to see you continue to do things.
8:29 AM · Mar 17, 2021

 

[bigbubbatd]

Samuel and Peterson were not guys I was interested in. Samuel was is an ok wr but not worth 10 million a year. Peterson was terrible the last two years. Way too many penalties and a passing rating against of 100 last year. He is could bounce back but not a lot of reason to believe he will

 

[Dantés]

At that price, Samuel was a luxury that the Packers could not afford.

CB, DL, OL, LB, and probably S should all be higher priorities.

 

[bigbubbatd]

At that price, Samuel was a luxury that the Packers could not afford.

CB, DL, OL, LB, and probably S should all be higher priorities.

Why S? We feel pretty set there to me. What am I missing

 

[Dantés]

Why S? We feel pretty set there to me. What am I missing

Two things—

Last year, when Taylor Rapp was healthy, the Rams used three safeties for entire games (100% of snaps) four separate times. So it’s possible that Barry would like to do the same.

Savage has done a lot of his best work as rover/slot. Freeing him up could help the defense overall.

 

[Poppa San]

As a cut, he would not impact the comp formula.

This always throws me. As if Gute would think of signing someone he is interested in but would then back off because of the comp pick implications.

 

[Favre>Rodgers259]

Two things—

Last year, when Taylor Rapp was healthy, the Rams used three safeties for entire games (100% of snaps) four separate times. So it’s possible that Barry would like to do the same.

Savage has done a lot of his best work as rover/slot. Freeing him up could help the defense overall.

I do find that personnel group intriguing but we also have to take into account the fact that Barry may want to do something different that neither Staley or Fangio currently do; and by different, I mean he might have different personnel groupings he'd like to use for certain situations, etc. For instance, being a LB Coach at heart, and given the personnel we CURRENTLY have on the roster, he might want to do a "base" package of a 2-4-5, with Clark and maybe a highly drafted rookie playing 2iT or 3T. Or maybe Clark and Z with Gary at the OLB spot opposite Preston. Who knows what his version of that system will look like.

I imagine just like with MLF after he got hired, he'll modify it to fit the personnel he has right now; keep some of the old system, and then evolve it as he gets the players he needs to make the system function correctly.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

That Sullivan is, but based on who we have RIGHT NOW, he looks to be the #2 CB on the team, unless Savage comes down and God forbid we have Redmond back there at FS.

It's true that Sullivan is currently the second best cornerback on the roster but the Packers definitely need to improve the talent level at the position by adding an outside CB before the start of the season.

What I'm saying is for all intents and purposes, he's a Free Agent. As a reference, look at the trade between Tampa and New England for Gronk....a 7th Round Pick. The Patriots knew he was never going to play for them again and I suspect the Eagles know the same thing with Ertz. I'd say his value is somewhere between a 5th and 6th because he actually played last year vs Gronk was retired. Had he gotten out on the open market, it wouldn't have surprised me for him to get $9-11M per season, so in essence, I think the Packers have to thimk that's good value given how weak this TE Class is and Jace underperforming. The only thing is what if another team is willing to "overpay" and maybe offer a 4th Rounder.

My point is that you have to give something up some compensation to acquire Ertz and inherit his current contract as well. It doesn't matter as the Packers shouldn't think about adding a tight end making that much money this offseason anyway.

I would say we could wait til the '22 Draft for another RB seeing as we have both Jones and Dillon til '23.

It seems Jones would count $19.25 million towards the cap in 2023. There's no way the Packers keep him at that price.

I'd look for us to take a HB at some point on day 3. If anything happens to Jones or Dillon, we'd be ******. We don't currently have a 3rd option. Who knows maybe said day 3 pick could develop into a star like Jones did, and we'd have a 3 headed monster.

The Packers currently have more pressing needs than to be worried about the third running back on the depth chart.

 

[Mondio]

Ertz would be what? 8-10 million against our cap and cost a draft pick? that's not a FA. Just because he wants to play somewhere else and the Eagles want to dump his contract doesn't make him one.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

Ertz would be what? 8-10 million against our cap and cost a draft pick? that's not a FA. Just because he wants to play somewhere else and the Eagles want to dump his contract doesn't make him one.

Ertz is scheduled to make $8.5 million in base salary this season.

 

[Dantés]

This always throws me. As if Gute would think of signing someone he is interested in but would then back off because of the comp pick implications.

Smart teams absolutely consider their compensatory picks when making FA moves.

If you had the option of signing two roughly comparable players— one a FA and one a cut, wouldn’t you take the cut plus a 4th round pick?

 

[Deleted member 6794]

If you had the option of signing two roughly comparable players— one a FA and one a cut, wouldn’t you take the cut plus a 4th round pick?

Of course, but teams shouldn't be as hesitant to sign free agents because of the compensatory picks formula as the Packers were under Thompson though.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Unless they lose Tonyan, TE is not a position that the Packers should be investing much in.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Of course, but teams shouldn't be as hesitant to sign free agents because of the compensatory picks formula as the Packers were under Thompson though.

While TT faired pretty well with picking up and using comp picks, I don't think they were his #1 motivation for not signing Free Agents.

But yeah, if signing a high end FA player, to fill a high end need came along and it meant canceling out the comp pick for losing Aaron Jones, you definitely consider it. Of course, if the same player was made available via a trade for say a 5th round or later, I make the trade.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

While TT faired pretty well with picking up and using comp picks, I don't think they were his #1 motivation for not signing Free Agents.

Most likely not #1 but definitely a big part of it.

 

[PikeBadger]

Of course, but teams shouldn't be as hesitant to sign free agents because of the compensatory picks formula as the Packers were under Thompson though.

Teams should be hesitant to sign free agents because there is a reason their previous team didn’t extend or re-sign them. The free agent market will become a much more saner and safer place next week. This week it’s more of a playground for knuckleheads.
We’ve got the core players of our team in place. A lot of these teams are searching for their core.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Most likely not #1 but definitely a big part of it.

I think in a frugal smart way. While the end of TT's career wasn't very impressive draft wise, he was pretty good at it early on. His best comp picks:

• Mike Daniels
• Josh Sitton
• Blake Martinez
• Dean Lowry
• Devon House

 

[Deleted member 6794]

Teams should be hesitant to sign free agents because there is a reason their previous team didn’t extend or re-sign them. The free agent market will become a much more saner and safer place next week. This week it’s more of a playground for knuckleheads.

I didn't mention anything about that the Packers should have been active in free agency over the past few days.

 

[Mondio]

extra picks were nice but probably just a by product of not liking the proposition of gambling on high pricedoutside FA's but rather reward the guys who have already worked hard for you instead and replace when you had to with cheaper in the draft.

as always, more FA's may have helped, or they may have just sped up the process for downfall when some of our investments got old, got chronically injured, or had early exits to careers because of injury.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

I think in a frugal smart way. While the end of TT's career wasn't very impressive draft wise, he was pretty good at it early on. His best comp picks:

• Mike Daniels
• Josh Sitton
• Blake Martinez
• Dean Lowry
• Devon House

Once again, I think it's smart to consider compensatory picks when making a decision on a free agent. But it shouldn't prevent a team from making a move for a veteran possibly addressing a position of need.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Teams should be hesitant to sign free agents because there is a reason their previous team didn’t extend or re-sign them. The free agent market will become a much more saner and safer place next week. This week it’s more of a playground for knuckleheads.

Agreed. It's playing out much like I thought it would. The teams with a ton of cap space couldn't help themselves and splattered their wads all over the market.

Sit back, wait for more cap casualties, resurrect our inner TT and find some 1 year "ok, guess this is the best I can get this odd year" bargains.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Once again, I think it's smart to consider compensatory picks when making a decision on a free agent. But it shouldn't prevent a team from making a move for a veteran possibly addressing a position of need.

Believe it or not, both of our theories are probably correct.

 

[Dantés]

Of course, but teams shouldn't be as hesitant to sign free agents because of the compensatory picks formula as the Packers were under Thompson though.

It’s a balance.

If a team has a need and/or has circled a FA who could significantly help their chances, then they shouldn’t necessarily forego that player for a comp pick. Especially if they are inside a window.

But if they can add help without sacrificing comp picks, or if the players they would add in FA would not be all that important, then that’s a consideration as well.

 

[Pkrjones]

Marqise Lee was cut by NE after opting out in 2020. His Patriot contract was a 1yr/$1.047Mil deal after a couple years of injury & minimal games played. Not sure if he's an upgrade over our #3-#4 WR's but he's a very good blocker and a short/medium route threat. Any thoughts?

 

[David Ciembronowicz]

We all know that the Packers are fairly cap strapped right now. Even if the cap ceiling is higher than anticipated, they are going to be towards the bottom of the league. What they're willing to do to create space in 2021, and how much space that ends up being, I don't rightly know. But given the stage of Rodgers' career and the overall quality of the team at the moment, I would not be surprised to see them get very creative in order to add some help.

Avoiding the really high end, expensive options, here are a few guys at various positions that I think could be good additions.

RB: Given the nature of the offense, players with dual skill sets are definitely preferred. The draft will certainly be used here, but they might look to add a cheaper veteran.

• Jamaal Williams, GB: Given his experience in the offense and ability in pass pro, he would be my first choice.
• Brian Hill, ATL: The better runner in Atlanta last year, played behind Gurley because of $$; not a game breaker, but a solid runner with reliable hands.
• Tevin Coleman, SF: Injury has his value at a low point, but had big play ability when healthy. Has experience in the offense.

WR: The biggest need here is for a YAC/motion weapon who can create with the ball in his hands. The draft seems flush with likely players, so I'm not sure what they might try to do in FA.

• Isaiah McKenzie, BUF: Could be a modest upgrade on Ervin/Austin in that role-- would not be a final solution.
• Taywan Taylor, TEN: Seemed to be an emerging role player under Petals and then dropped off in 2019.

OL: So much depends here on what they do with the other moving parts. Linsley could walk or could be back. Wagner will likely be released, but what about Turner? Where do you they see Turner, and how does Runyan fit in?

• Alex Mack, ATL: If they decide they need to patch the center position, Mack can still play despite his age and knows this offense.
• Chargers iOL: Forrest Lamp and Dan Feeney, both 26, are really gifted players who have struggled mightily on a team that sucks at developing OL; interesting reclamation projects.

DL: If they indeed intend to run the same offense that we saw in LA last year, then it's notable that big, long powerful defensive linemen accounted for about 1500 defensive snaps last year for the Rams (Brockers, Joseph-Day, Fox). The following are all just guys who fit that particular mold. This is a spot where I think the Packers should absolutely acquire a guy, because all reports indicate that the draft class sucks at this position.

• DaQuan Jones, TEN: 6'4" 320, 29 yo, 706 snaps in 2020
• Lawrence Guy, NE: 6'4" 315, 31 yo, 503 snaps
• Derek Wolfe, BAL: 6'5" 285, 31 yo, 624 snaps
• Brent Urban, CHI: 6'7" 300, 30 yo, 370 snaps

Edge: This defense has typically used a lighter, stand-up edge rusher who can also drop in coverage (Leonard Floyd, Malik Reed most recently). That's the style of edge that the Packers don't currently have.

• Tyus Bowser, BAL: Could be the perfect role to unlock his considerable talent.
• Haason Red****, ARI: Off-ball has been a disaster-- needs to be an edge.
• Leonard Floyd, LA: Tons of experience in the role, but you'd be buying high.
• Vic Beasley, LV: Value at an all time low; could be a role that really suits him.

CB: This is the biggest need on the defense, with a boundary player, a slot, and depth all being needs.

• A.J. Bouye, DEN
• Troy Hill, LA
• Cam Sutton, PIT
• Brian Poole, NYJ

I can see needs for a veteran presence at LB, safety depth, and also a Y TE if Lewis walks. But I don't see options that interest me so I'm leaving those positions alone.

A good job of listing options, unfortunately, the Packers management has done a poor job of putting themselves in a position to get any of these guys at this time. They have major issues on Def. (CB, LB, DL) that have not been addressed; they have offense issues at Center that is CRITICAL to fill with someone who has experience, they definitely need another OL, a WR (EQ should go) and hopefully Tonyan stays; otherwise they need a TE who can get free for FD and is a target in the EZ. Where do they find the money for any of these FA, they just don't have it this year. This team got to the NFC Championship only to lose again due to poor coaching, a Def. that was a sieve and offense that struggled with a huge pass rush like they did all year long. Don't see any "fixes" so far and if anyone thinks the solution is in the draft that is a mistake.