Packer Draft - what would you have done?

[Dantés]

I think this is what I’d have done at the Packers’ picks:

18. H. Landry, ED, BC: Stuff emerged after the draft that there were some medical red flags here but I didn’t know anything about that until afterwards so he probably would have been my pick.

45. J. Jackson, CB, IA: I really think I would have stuck with the Packers’ pick here, especially in a world where I didn’t go CB in the first.

88. J. Noteboom, OL, TCU: Ok, I’m throwing Sweat and Hurst out of this exercise. I’m guess that if I had really been in control and would have seen all the other teams passing on him, I’d have been spooked. Noteboom was my favorite OL prospect in this class.

134. E. St. Brown, WR, ND: I definitely would not have passed on EQ at this point in the draft.

138. S. Griffin, LB, UCF: The need for a WILL probably would have driven this pick for me.

172. J. Kelly, RB, TEN: Just RB depth that I think would have been a good value.

174. P. Nickerson, CB, TUL: Slot corner that I liked a lot better then where he went.

207. R. Izzo, TE, FSU: I was pretty intent on getting a blocking TE out of this draft.

232. A. Stinnie, OL, JMU: Just an OL sleeper of mine.

239. Q. Henderson, OW, PIT: Return specialist.

248. T. Carew, LS, OR: I was on board with spending the pick to just deal with the LS issue.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

134. E. St. Brown, WR, ND: I definitely would not have passed on EQ at this point in the draft.

At least you are honest and wouldn't wait around until the 6th round

I do find it interesting that pretty much everyone is consistent with selecting Jackson and EQ. Maybe the Packers best value picks? If the Packers really liked Jackson and had drafted Landry or Davenport at 14, I have to wonder if they might not have moved up on day 2 to try and grab Jackson.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

Yes, we need a top CB, but not so sure Fuller at that price will end up being a great deal for the Bears, not to mention, one injury and there goes a big chunk of your cap.

That's true for every player signed to a lucrative contract though.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

My did that tune change when Gute made runs at Watkins, Robinson, Fuller and actually signing Graham (probably the worst contract handed out this offseason) after missing out on Watkins and Robinson

I truly hope Graham will prove you wrong over the next three seasons.

 

[Dantés]

At least you are honest and wouldn't wait around until the 6th round

I do find it interesting that pretty much everyone is consistent with selecting Jackson and EQ. Maybe the Packers best value picks? If the Packers really liked Jackson and had drafted Landry or Davenport at 14, I have to wonder if they might not have moved up on day 2 to try and grab Jackson.

If EQ’s stuff with coachability doesn’t materialize, then yeah I think it’s definitely going to be a huge value pick.

I would have considered him strongly at #88. But Noteboom was kind of my guy.

 

[Dantés]

Every single team has mentioned that after every single draft since the dawn of time.

Fixed it.

 

[RRyder]

I truly hope Graham will prove you wrong over the next three seasons.

That'd be swell. Problem is at his current price tag he'd probably have to produce to the tune of 70 catches for 1000-1100 yards and 10 TDs a year for 3 years to do it.

 

[brandon2348]

That'd be swell. Problem is at his current price tag he'd probably have to produce to the tune of 70 catches for 1000-1100 yards and 10 TDs a year for 3 years to do it.

Not necessarily. If he becomes a valuable redzone target and opens things up for other guys to do good things it will be well worth the price tag.

 

[RRyder]

Not necessarily. If he becomes a valuable redzone target and opens things up for other guys to do good things it will be well worth the price tag.

Not really. When your paying that much money to a guy you need production. Cobb working out of the slot opens up things for guys on the outside. He's still over paid though. I think most would agree Jordy was still a redzone threat. Still would of been over paid had we kept him.

This board has called players overpaid for producing more then Graham likely will this coming season at the same price tag.

I'm sure Graham will still get a pass though from many fans because he's listed as a TE. Hell if he produces at the exact same level Cobb has the last few years but with a few extra TDs added on people will try and cite the deal as great value because of it

 

[Deleted member 6794]

That'd be swell. Problem is at his current price tag he'd probably have to produce to the tune of 70 catches for 1000-1100 yards and 10 TDs a year for 3 years to do it.

Graham might be overpaid if he doesn't put up numbers like that but it wouldn't be the worst deal handed out this offseason as long as he performs at decent level.

 

[PikeBadger]

I guess I have a different definition of “overpaid” than many here. Imo, if a guy is an important contributor and productive starter in what becomes a very cohesive and formidable offense it’s hard for me to consider him overpaid. I’m just not seeing any contracts that are crazy out of line with 2018 norms.

If the offense is mediocre and inconsistent, just about everyone looks overpaid. Imo, the release of Nelson was sop for this organization which historically tends to replace pieces of the puzzle one at a time.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

I guess I have a different definition of “overpaid” than many here. Imo, if a guy is an important contributor and productive starter in what becomes a very cohesive and formidable offense it’s hard for me to consider him overpaid. I’m just not seeing any contracts that are crazy out of line with 2018 norms.

If the offense is mediocre and inconsistent, just about everyone looks overpaid. Imo, the release of Nelson was sop for this organization which historically tends to replace pieces of the puzzle one at a time.

It's possible the offense featuring players that are overpaid based on their production even if the entire unit is successful. There's definitely a point to be made that Cobb and Graham seem to make too much money entering this season.

Taking your approach everyone on defense has been overpaid over the past few years.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I guess I have a different definition of “overpaid” than many here. Imo, if a guy is an important contributor and productive starter in what becomes a very cohesive and formidable offense it’s hard for me to consider him overpaid. I’m just not seeing any contracts that are crazy out of line with 2018 norms.

If the offense is mediocre and inconsistent, just about everyone looks overpaid. Imo, the release of Nelson was sop for this organization which historically tends to replace pieces of the puzzle one at a time.

That is definitely the strategy you want to go into a season with, making sure you aren't "overpaying" guys based on what you project them to be able to contribute. But it's just a projection based on past work and a GM and or coaches gut feeling of the future of each player. The Packers let Jordy walk because of it and some would have said they should have cut Cobb, Bulaga and Matthews for the same reason. I guess for now, Gute and Co. feel that those 3 players are still needed at their current salaries.

It won't be until after the 2018 season is over that people can accurately conclude "that guy was overpaid."

 

[Dantés]

Jimmy Graham is overpaid because he was the only proven veteran option at his position in a market where multiple teams, including the Packers, had big holes at TE. I did not and do not like the contract, but that's what's going on. If the FO wanted a viable receiving threat at TE, he was it unless they wanted to role the dice on a guy who would be moving from being a role player to being a starter (Burton). I think they were right to want to address the issue, but they were somewhat painted into a corner. TE is a notoriously slow developing position. It isn't like RB where you can just draft a guy and count on plugging him in right away. So I simultaneously understand why they did it and don't care for the contract at all. However, as long as Graham is good, he won't be anywhere near the worst FA contract handed out this offseason, even if he is overpaid.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I would also call the signing of Graham somewhat of trying to cure the hangover from the way Ted Thompson treated the position. TT seemed to ignore the importance of the position until he signed Cook in Free Agency 2 years ago. He tried to repeat the feat by signing Mo Bennett a year later. What he should have been doing after Finley went down, was invest higher draft capital in the position, instead he seemed satisfied with the production of his WR's and just having average TE's.

So you take everything that Dantés said above and add into it the fact that TT left the cupboard pretty bare and you have a team in desperate need of an immediate fix to the TE position. I foresee a higher draft pick spent on a TE in 2019.

 

[Dantés]

I would also call the signing of Graham somewhat of trying to cure the hangover from the way Ted Thompson treated the position. TT seemed to ignore the importance of the position until he signed Cook in Free Agency 2 years ago. He tried to repeat the feat by signing Mo Bennett a year later. What he should have been doing after Finley went down, was invest higher draft capital in the position, instead he seemed satisfied with the production of his WR's and just having average TE's.

So you take everything that Dantés said above and add into it the fact that TT left the cupboard pretty bare and you have a team in desperate need of an immediate fix to the TE position. I foresee a higher draft pick spent on a TE in 2019.

In fairness to TT, I don’t think anyone counted on Bennett being a worthless quitter.

 

[Mondio]

In fairness to TT, I don’t think anyone counted on Bennett being a worthless quitter.

I also don't buy that he didn't know what TE's could do with this offense. He had a budding star he drafted have his career ended in his prime. They drafted a guy they "thought" could make the transition, but never really did and while they gave him time to develop we were a pretty potent offense regardless. There were no shortage of passing targets. Tried to address it one year with FA, and did. Then that FA over valued himself and went and got another one who turned out to be a gutless quitter rather than a dependable receiver and blocker for at least 2-3 seasons.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

äThe Packers let Jordy walk because of it and some would have said they should have cut Cobb, Bulaga and Matthews for the same reason. I guess for now, Gute and Co. feel that those 3 players are still needed at their current salaries.

I'm quite sure the Packers fromt office is well aware Matthews, Cobb and Bulaga are overpaid but they're holding on to all of them as the team currently doesn't have any viable replacement on the roster.

What he should have been doing after Finley went down, was invest higher draft capital in the position, instead he seemed satisfied with the production of his WR's and just having average TE's.

Thompson actually spent a third round pick on a tight end in Richard Rodgers right after Finley suffered a career ending injury. Unfortunately he didn't develop into an adequate replacement.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Thompson actually spent a third round pick on a tight end in Richard Rodgers right after Finley suffered a career ending injury. Unfortunately he didn't develop into an adequate replacement.

True and I realized that after I made the post. I guess it's easy to forget about Richard Rodgers. While his 40 time was equal to Finley, he just always looked like he was in slow motion out there and had a hard time gaining separation.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

True and I realized that after I made the post. I guess it's easy to forget about Richard Rodgers. While his 40 time was equal to Finley, he just always looked like he was in slow motion out there and had a hard time gaining separation.

Finley was definitely more athletic though as proven by him running a 4.66 40 during his pro day though while Rodgers clocked in at 4.82.

 

[PikeBadger]

Jimmy Graham is overpaid because he was the only proven veteran option at his position in a market where multiple teams, including the Packers, had big holes at TE. I did not and do not like the contract, but that's what's going on. If the FO wanted a viable receiving threat at TE, he was it unless they wanted to role the dice on a guy who would be moving from being a role player to being a starter (Burton). I think they were right to want to address the issue, but they were somewhat painted into a corner. TE is a notoriously slow developing position. It isn't like RB where you can just draft a guy and count on plugging him in right away. So I simultaneously understand why they did it and don't care for the contract at all. However, as long as Graham is good, he won't be anywhere near the worst FA contract handed out this offseason, even if he is overpaid.

Totally agree. The idea is to not get into a desperate situation where you need to pay the player’s market price in the first 48 hours of free agency.

 

[PikeBadger]

In fairness to TT, I don’t think anyone counted on Bennett being a worthless quitter.

Agree, however there are reasons that many guys keep re-appearing in free agency.

 

[PikeBadger]

I would also call the signing of Graham somewhat of trying to cure the hangover from the way Ted Thompson treated the position. TT seemed to ignore the importance of the position until he signed Cook in Free Agency 2 years ago. He tried to repeat the feat by signing Mo Bennett a year later. What he should have been doing after Finley went down, was invest higher draft capital in the position, instead he seemed satisfied with the production of his WR's and just having average TE's.

So you take everything that Dantés said above and add into it the fact that TT left the cupboard pretty bare and you have a team in desperate need of an immediate fix to the TE position. I foresee a higher draft pick spent on a TE in 2019.

We’ve never had a lot of higher draft capital. What we have had went to defense where talent was squandered.
The catastrophic injuries to Finley, Murphy, Collins, Franklin and Sherrod makes things even more difficult as you now have to spend more capital to replace them also. Oh well, the NFL is a tough place and every team has it’s own problems.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

Totally agree. The idea is to not get into a desperate situation where you need to pay the player’s market price in the first 48 hours of free agency.

Unfortunately Thompson left several positions in dire need of an upgrade forcing Gutekunst to be active early in free agency.

Agree, however there are reasons that many guys keep re-appearing in free agency.

There was no way for Thompson to predict Bennett would quit during the first season of his deal though.

We’ve never had a lot of higher draft capital. What we have had went to defense where talent was squandered.

There might be an argument to be made that Thompson wasn't that siccessful bringing in talent on the defensive side of the ball as well.

 

[PikeBadger]

There might be an argument to be made that Thompson wasn't that siccessful bringing in talent on the defensive side of the ball as well.

Might be, considering Datone Jones, probably Rollins and Dix too. None of those three have lived up to their drafted place. I’m going to cringe if Randall becomes a really good player in Cleveland.