Packers re-sign Aaron Jones

[Sunshinepacker]

Austin Gayle of PFF was talking about this deal and citing it as a reason why teams should never spend their top picks on running backs.

His argument was basically "if you can get Aaron Jones for 9.5M then you don't need to spend draft capital-- just sign him!"

It's absurd just how stupid some of these arguments are becoming.

Austin... teams can't just go sign Aaron Jones. He never hit free agency. Just like Derrick Henry, Dalvin Cook, Ezekiel Elliott, Alvin Kamara, David Johnson, Chris Carson, Todd Gurley, Austin Ekeler, etc.

Nearly all the good running backs end up signing an extension with their first team. FA is not a good source for the position for that reason, and also because 2nd contracts for RB's are fraught.

It's just incredible to me how some of these analysts will make such clearly poor arguments to support their priors.

The truth is that if you want good play at RB, far and away the best way to get it is to spend a day 2 pick on the position.

And yet... The Packers just signed Aaron Jones so I'm not sure how we're supposed to ignore that fact. Teams could also draft Jones in the 5th round I guess? Teams without good quarterbacks need to draft running backs high in the draft but when you have a great quarterback? It's unnecessary. Think about it. A high draft pick RB means you're giving him the ball a lot, why would you draft a guy that forced you to give your great QB the ball less? The Giants need Barkley because they need someone amazing to give the ball to instead of the QB. The Packers, Bucs, Chiefs? Not so much.

 

[Dantés]

And yet... The Packers just signed Aaron Jones so I'm not sure how we're supposed to ignore that fact. Teams could also draft Jones in the 5th round I guess? Teams without good quarterbacks need to draft running backs high in the draft but when you have a great quarterback? It's unnecessary. Think about it. A high draft pick RB means you're giving him the ball a lot, why would you draft a guy that forced you to give your great QB the ball less? The Giants need Barkley because they need someone amazing to give the ball to instead of the QB. The Packers, Bucs, Chiefs? Not so much.

I've demonstrated to you before (I think more than once) that the hit rate at running back on day 3 is too poor to think that a team can just always find a solution going that route. Good running backs from day 3 do exist, just like at any other position, but finding one with any particular pick, rounds 4-7, is a low % proposition. So if you actually need a running back and think "oh, I'll just take one in the 5th because look at Aaron Jones," you're almost certainly going to fail. Day 2 is, demonstrably, where the majority of good running back play is found.

If you have a running back in place and you want to take shots on a successor on day 3, by all means. You may hit.

That I've proven this to you and you're still coming back with the same argument suggests to me that you just don't want to see what's there.

Also your comments here essentially boil down to "find a running back who isn't good enough that you want to give him carries." So I think you maybe need to think about it.

McCarthy's last year here, running backs almost never took the ball away from the QB. Since LaFleur took over, Green Bay has shifted towards balance. What has happened to the offense as a result?

 

[thequick12]

I've demonstrated to you before (I think more than once) that the hit rate at running back on day 3 is too poor to think that a team can just always find a solution going that route. Good running backs from day 3 do exist, just like at any other position, but finding one with any particular pick, rounds 4-7, is a low % proposition. So if you actually need a running back and think "oh, I'll just take one in the 5th because look at Aaron Jones," you're almost certainly going to fail. Day 2 is, demonstrably, where the majority of good running back play is found.

If you have a running back in place and you want to take shots on a successor on day 3, by all means. You may hit.

That I've proven this to you and you're still coming back with the same argument suggests to me that you just don't want to see what's there.

Also your comments here essentially boil down to "find a running back who isn't good enough that you want to give him carries." So I think you maybe need to think about it.

McCarthy's last year here, running backs almost never took the ball away from the QB. Since LaFleur took over, Green Bay has shifted towards balance. What has happened to the offense as a result?

Day 2 is where majority of the really good players are found not just at the running back position. The 2nd round especially seems to be a gold mine...

Segwey that's why I've been trading down a ton in the pff mocks I've been doing lately. Move to 2md round pick up a 2022 1st and 2021 3rd plus

 

[PackerfaninCarolina]

Only bummer about this is that now we probably can't make a run at Larry Fitzgerald

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.c...s-officially-a-free-agent-for-the-first-time/

 

[pacmaniac]

Rodgers won the MVP award last season but because he supposedly missed an open Lazard on a single play the wide receiving corps was good enough

Also missing MVS in the second half, a throw that Rodgers said he'd like to have back. The WR corps was definitely capable of taking us to the SB.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

Aye captain,
I prefer GB WR group to those of these teams
Arz-Blt-Chi-Cin-Den-Det-Hou-Ind-LV-Mia-N.E.-N.O-Gia-Phl-SF-Ten-Wsh

You might have a point with the Packers having a more talented receiving corps than most teams you mentioned. While not being in desperate need of an upgrade this offseason I would prefer Gutekunst to add another weapon before the start of next season.

Also missing MVS in the second half, a throw that Rodgers said he'd like to have back. The WR corps was definitely capable of taking us to the SB.

It's mind-boggling there are some fans pointing at random plays on which he supposedly missed open receivers to blame him for not making it to the Super Bowl.

 

[scotscheese]

It's mind-boggling there are some fans pointing at random plays on which he supposedly missed open receivers to blame him for not making it to the Super Bowl.

I haven't seen anyone say that it was AR's fault we didn't get to the SB, he made mistakes along with others.

but the WR room is just not as bad as you think it is. it's not a GREAT room, but it is adequate at the very least.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

I haven't seen anyone say that it was AR's fault we didn't get to the SB, he made mistakes along with others.

but the WR room is just not as bad as you think it is. it's not a GREAT room, but it is adequate at the very least.

As mentioned in the post above I agree the Packers' wide receiving corps is most likely better compared to the rest of the league than expected entering the 2020 season and definitely isn't a pressing need this offseason.

With that being said it doesn't make any sense to cherry pick some random plays and put blame on Rodgers.

 

[Schultz]

I am really hoping they get a WR/KR that can contribute late in the draft. In one thread (not sure if it is this one) I mentioned signing Willie Snead. So yes I am also looking for an upgrade. Just that I think OL, CB, DL (2 of each) take precedent.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I am really hoping they get a WR/KR that can contribute late in the draft. In one thread (not sure if it is this one) I mentioned signing Willie Snead. So yes I am also looking for an upgrade. Just that I think OL, CB, DL (2 of each) take precedent.

Agreed, and Jones does very well as a receiver. As you say, other needs are more pressing, especially on D. The only problem with this group is that there's no established #2 to take double coverage off Adams. So like last year, expect Adams to play underneath the safeties with MVS getting the home run passes. And to show just how good Adams is, he'll still have a 1400 yard season, maybe 1600 if he plays all 16, with 12 to 15 TDs. Incredible receiver.

 

[Schultz]

Sometimes we take him for granted he is so good. I am hoping EQB steps up. They must see something. I noticed it seemed like his 1st target of the game he either dropped it, it was thrown slightly behind him and he couldn't make the tough catch or there was just plain good coverage causing an incompletion. Then you would see the body language from both he and Rodgers. Neither one having any confidence in him.
Draft wise hoping they get 2 birds with 1 stone. If Amari Rodgers is there in the 4th round and the 1st 3 picks were a OT, DL & CB that is the earliest I would go WR. Eskridge and Stevenson would be nice in the 5th or 6th round as long as other needs have been covered. All 3 of these guys would help in the return game. Would be nice to get one of them.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Sometimes we take him for granted he is so good. I am hoping EQB steps up. They must see something. I noticed it seemed like his 1st target of the game he either dropped it, it was thrown slightly behind him and he couldn't make the tough catch or there was just plain good coverage causing an incompletion. Then you would see the body language from both he and Rodgers. Neither one having any confidence in him.
Draft wise hoping they get 2 birds with 1 stone. If Amari Rodgers is there in the 4th round and the 1st 3 picks were a OT, DL & CB that is the earliest I would go WR. Eskridge and Stevenson would be nice in the 5th or 6th round as long as other needs have been covered. All 3 of these guys would help in the return game. Would be nice to get one of them.

Good draft sequence. I'm hoping they can pick up a CB in FA and draft a WR earlier.

As for ESB, he's a mystery. Based on what he's done so far, I'd say he won't be back this year. But GB isn't exactly deep at WR.

 

[thequick12]

the WR room is just not as bad as you think it is. it's not a GREAT room, but it is adequate at the very least.

The thing you're not taking into account when making that statement... just how good aaron rodgers is

Could patrick mahomes put up an mvp season with the packers wrs ? Yeah most likely but who else do you think could...

The Packers wrs beyond adams are just guys...mvs if he can show he can be effective in the short and intermediate areas could elevate himself above that status in 2021

 

[Heyjoe4]

The thing you're not taking into account when making that statement... just how good aaron rodgers is

Could patrick mahomes put up an mvp season with the packers wrs ? Yeah most likely but who else do you think could...

The Packers wrs beyond adams are just guys...mvs if he can show he can be effective in the short and intermediate areas could elevate himself above that status in 2021

Good point. Imagine this WR group with a guy like Trubisky or Garropolo. Not pretty. Look what happened to Greg Jennings when he left GB. Nada.

One way or another, Gluten has to lock down a legit #2 WR. He doesn't have to be All Pro, just good enough to keep the D honest. Adams could put up some record-breaking numbers.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Good point. Imagine this WR group with a guy like Trubisky or Garropolo. Not pretty. Look what happened to Greg Jennings when he left GB. Nada.

One way or another, Gluten has to lock down a legit #2 WR. He doesn't have to be All Pro, just good enough to keep the D honest. Adams could put up some record-breaking numbers.

A more realistic way to look at it....think of the Packers WR group with Jordan Love or some UDFA rookie QB starting. We got to witness what happens to the Packers offense when Brett Hundley took over and the next year, Deshon Kizer. Not only was it not pretty, but it was with a much better group of WR's. I understand everyone's excitement about the 2020 Packer offense, but I wouldn't go out of my way to give any WR not named Adams too much credit for it.

 

[Dantés]

The thing you're not taking into account when making that statement... just how good aaron rodgers is

Could patrick mahomes put up an mvp season with the packers wrs ? Yeah most likely but who else do you think could...

The Packers wrs beyond adams are just guys...mvs if he can show he can be effective in the short and intermediate areas could elevate himself above that status in 2021

The thing that almost no one has been willing to take account is that WR’s are just not nearly as important to this Packers offense as they were to the previous one. That’s also a factor.

 

[Schultz]

Actually they are more important in their blocking assignments. Lazard has been a very good blocking WR.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Actually they are more important in their blocking assignments. Lazard has been a very good blocking WR.

No doubt that Lazard gets credit for his blocking. As far as MVS, Taylor, EQB, Beggleton and Shepherd it is what was asked of them and dictated by the offense that MLF runs. Again, I wouldn't say any of those guys were elite pass blockers, nor high end pass catchers, they were functional pieces in an offense that was elite in other areas.

This whole notion of "who needs better WR's when you have the top offense" is kind of settling and lame IMO. All one has to ask themselves is "could the offense have been even better with 1or 2 better WR's?" Anyone answering "no" is only trying to fool themselves.

 

[Mondio]

any team can be better with better players. We would have been better with better tackles and a better RG, or better linebackers, or a better DB or 2. Sure we could have been better with another better WR. I however would put that in the 2nd handful of reasons we didn't advance past the Bucs, not the first.

 

[Dantés]

any team can be better with better players. We would have been better with better tackles and a better RG, or better linebackers, or a better DB or 2. Sure we could have been better with another better WR. I however would put that in the 2nd handful of reasons we didn't advance past the Bucs, not the first.

Poker’s post is just flailing over the embarrassment of how good the offense was after he pissed and moaned for months about the WR position.

It’s also a straw man— no one is arguing that the position doesn’t matter or against adding at the position.

 

[AmishMafia]

I suspect if MVS or Lazard was playing for the Vikings we would be wondering why we can't find guys like that. I don't think they are as bad as some think and I expect them to be better next year. I remember thinking that Funchess was on his way to stardom when he signed a 1 year $10M contract. He can be very impactful.

That being said,, we can definitely upgrade the WR position and we should try. This will be a great draft to do that. There are 20 guys who are day 3 guys who could have made it to day 2 with another year of development. Guys who will be 55/750/7 guys and probably a few top 20 guys.

Those worried about our receivers are forgetting about Aaron Jones (weird because this is his thread) and our TE. We got great receiver production from them.

 

[thequick12]

Poker’s post is just flailing over the embarrassment of how good the offense was after he pissed and moaned for months about the WR position.

It’s also a straw man— no one is arguing that the position doesn’t matter or against adding at the position.

I guess the bottom line is you can be content to let your fhof qb elevate the play of mediocre/good pass catchers to good/great or you can go out and get some guys who are good/great pass catchers that get elevated to great/fhof

Yeah you're gonna be really good under the first option but the second option is much more likely to make you a champion...

 

[Dantés]

I guess the bottom line is you can be content to let your fhof qb elevate the play of mediocre/good pass catchers to good/great or you can go out and get some guys who are good/great pass catchers that get elevated to great/fhof

Yeah you're gonna be really good under the first option but the second option is much more likely to make you a champion...

Building a really great team makes you much more likely to make you a champion.

The WR position is not irrelevant, nor is it some magic key to success.

The only reason it's been such a fixation for the last year is that people expected to see it on draft day, and they didn't. Some of them have not gotten over the shock.

 

[thequick12]

Building a really great team makes you much more likely to make you a champion.

The WR position is not irrelevant, nor is it some magic key to success.

The only reason it's been such a fixation for the last year is that people expected to see it on draft day, and they didn't. Some of them have not gotten over the shock.

Well maybe so with some people but I've been wanting them to get some wrs for a lot longer than that.

I'm not saying it's a magic key I'm just saying it's dumb to ignore it because you have a fhof qb that doesn't make sense to me. I'm of the philosophy you have a fhof qb you get him some real deal weapons at wr. The Packers have one at this time which is a far cry from the last time they won the super bowl when they had no less than 3 Driver Jennings Nelson

 

[AmishMafia]

Well maybe so with some people but I've been wanting them to get some wrs for a lot longer than that.

I'm not saying it's a magic key I'm just saying it's dumb to ignore it because you have a fhof qb that doesn't make sense to me. I'm of the philosophy you have a fhof qb you get him some real deal weapons at wr. The Packers have one at this time which is a far cry from the last time they won the super bowl when they had no less than 3 Driver Jennings Nelson

But then again, Rodgers has had more talent at WR than Tom Brady has had.

I think that improving the defense will do more for the team than a new WR. The better the defense the shorter the field he has to go and the more opportunities Rodgers gets.