Packers Roster Assessment, 2025 Off-Season

[Heyjoe4]

An ideal scenario and far from likely, is that Hendrickson puts pressure on the Bengals and targets Green Bay as his ideal trade destination.

Realizing his market has closed considerably for a big deal, he accepts a 20-25M one year deal.

The Bengals would lose leverage and would accept a mid-round draft pick.

Completely wishful thinking, but I don't think Hendrickson wants to suit up for them next season.

That's interesting, thanks McK. I think he's at $18 mil AAV now. If they could get Hendrickson with a mid-round pick and a two or three year deal at $20-$25 mil AAV, that would be a good way to go.

Realistically, I don't think he'd settle for a one year deal - but a multiple year deal at an increased AAV might do it. It's hard to know what is going on. But I think if there was a lot of interest in Hendrickson he'd have settled somewhere by now.

 

[McKnowledge]

That's interesting, thanks McK. I think he's at $18 mil AAV now. If they could get Hendrickson with a mid-round pick and a two or three year deal at $20-$25 mil AAV, that would be a good way to go.

Realistically, I don't think he'd settle for a one year deal - but a multiple year deal at an increased AAV might do it. It's hard to know what is going on. But I think if there was a lot of interest in Hendrickson he'd have settled somewhere by now.

I think to acquire Hendrickson in this scenario would push the defense into Top 10 for next season.

Without giving up a high draft pick and securing a rookie defender that contributes immediately could make Green Bay's defense elite.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I think to acquire Hendrickson in this scenario would push the defense into Top 10 for next season.

Without giving up a high draft pick and securing a rookie defender that contributes immediately could make Green Bay's defense elite.

I don't recall how it was measured or who made the ranking, but thought the Packers had a top 10 D last year. Or maybe it was just that they had improved dramatically under Hafley and compared to Barry.

No matter, they clearly need help at Edge after Gary regressed and LVN is still a question mark. He's only one guy, but a talent like Hendrickson makes the other guys better as well. It also takes pressure off finding a day 1 starter in the draft.

 

[OldSchool101]

I can see that, he was autrocious that final year in college - I honestly dumped it and focused on the year prior film study - that version of King is a serviceable piece in the NFL, if he can do that he'll get a chance IMO.

Yeah and We took a later 7th flyer on King in hopes that an earlier version surfaces. So it’s not a big investment of resources. He’s really like a lottery ticket. There’s a 1 in 5 chance he pops and plays starter level like Valentine did or better.

 

[OldSchool101]

I think to acquire Hendrickson in this scenario would push the defense into Top 10 for next season.

With Hendrickson? Plus a Day 1 iDT and a Day 2 LB? I’d speculate we’d crack Top6 area and I might be soft on that projection

I don't recall how it was measured or who made the ranking, but thought the Packers had a top 10 D last year.

No you are correct. GB improved markedly under Hafley. They ranked higher in scoring allowed than any Defense since our 2010 squad.
Ranking #6 Overall in points
#3 in Turnovers
#8 against the Run

It was our pressure rate that slipped into I think it was #20 or 21 something like that. Such is odd. Gary was the only D Packer to break the Top 110 in pressure rate. That means 100 players leaguewide were better than GB’s best pressuring the QB

Oddly it was our Offense passing game that struggled. Our Defense held the Eagles Offense to 15 points at Philly. That was the least number of points Philly scored at home since.. one sec

9/19/21 SF at Philly 17-11

 

[tynimiller]

I think to acquire Hendrickson in this scenario would push the defense into Top 10 for next season.

Without giving up a high draft pick and securing a rookie defender that contributes immediately could make Green Bay's defense elite.

Magic - we were already...

 

[tynimiller]

I do agree with that assessment; however I also agree with @gopkrs in his sentiment you won't find the answer later in the draft.

I think we have to come to the realization that the current WR room will have to improve and improve drastically if Green Bay truly wants to make that next leap into actual Super Bowl contenders.

With that realization, I'm looking at speed burners like Wicks and/or Heath to become more reliable and consistent stretching the field.

Hopefully, in the next few months Jordan Love and the WR crew start working on chemistry.

Genuinely confused by this. Neither of those guys win with speed, they win with technique, footwork and double moves that are awesome. Both those guys were some of the slowest WR prospects in their classes both eclipsing into the 4.6s

First point I agree mostly but would say "you likely won't find the 2025 answer later in the draft". There are for sure guys that might be the next MVS or an MVS with slightly better catch percentage...or even more of a complete WR...or there very well may not be. The good thing though is if all someone is looking to do is cover the role of spreading and pulling the back defenders back away from the underneath routes, pure speed can accomplish this specific aspect...now Watson was A LOT more than that but that specific role can be likely found in the draft - doesn't mean a high quality WR that does that exists though...

 

[gopkrs]

I think we gave up on the speed by not signing MVS. Doesn't bother me much. I still think there is a hole in the receiving core and a guy with good hands and an ability to get to an open area will help alot. So I'm thinking Allen or an early pick. The guy from Ohio State they say is strictly a slot receiver. I just don't buy into strictly this or that. They say he gets open and catches everything. That would do I think until we get a real deep threat.Just think Love needs one more target or the offense will suffer

 

[tynimiller]

I think we gave up on the speed by not signing MVS. Doesn't bother me much. I still think there is a hole in the receiving core and a guy with good hands and an ability to get to an open area will help alot. So I'm thinking Allen or an early pick. The guy from Ohio State they say is strictly a slot receiver. I just don't buy into strictly this or that. They say he gets open and catches everything. That would do I think until we get a real deep threat.Just think Love needs one more target or the offense will suffer

Egbuka is nasty good, and while he did live in the slot primarily it wasn't unheard of wide snaps - 263 wide snaps in last three seasons vs 811 so right at around 32% of his snaps were wide. I think he'll surprise some folks...Egbuka while I'm VERY high on him, I will admit I think he's dang near his cap already - he is very refined. IF by some stretch we draft him Day1 (which I think it would take from us) GB fans likely will be screaming bloody murder when he isn't a top5/top10 type WR...but I strongly think he is that type to give you Top30 type performances likely 80% of his career so long as health stays.

It's a deep WR class in the likely WR2/WR3 and WR4 type guys...very few WR1 types IMO however.

 

[OldSchool101]

Egbuka is nasty good, and while he did live in the slot primarily it wasn't unheard of wide snaps - 263 wide snaps in last three seasons vs 811 so right at around 32% of his snaps were wide. I think he'll surprise some folks...Egbuka while I'm VERY high on him, I will admit I think he's dang near his cap already - he is very refined. IF by some stretch we draft him Day1 (which I think it would take from us) GB fans likely will be screaming bloody murder when he isn't a top5/top10 type WR...but I strongly think he is that type to give you Top30 type performances likely 80% of his career so long as health stays.

It's a deep WR class in the likely WR2/WR3 and WR4 type guys...very few WR1 types IMO however.

What’s crazy is it really isn’t even that deep a WR class, I’d label it more average. Plus as you mentioned it’s not top heavy. Currently we see just 1 consensus top 20 selection and only 4 Day1 projections. There are just 9 consensus Wideouts RD4-RD6 and remember RD’s 2-3 are likely already going to be WR scramble IMO.

While these are not perfect barometers, they are solid indicators that WR needy teams will slight reach at WR a little bit across earlier rounds. That doesn’t bode well for GB, who imo needs 2 WR’s.
I offer that because we have Watson out the bulk of his Contract year and he’s arguably one of our 2 best WR’s. Doubs is top 3-4 and hes in a contract year also. Thats 2 of our best 3-4 WR options and we already lost 1 in real time. We also didn’t draft at WR in 2024, so the pipeline is drying.

I’m not suggesting we panic, but if we took a poll today of the top 2 most needed position groups in GB at this moment I’d bet WR would finish #1 or #2, possibly ahead of DT or CB. My suggestion (and it’s merely my opinion) is to find Veteran help to offer some assurances we don’t get caught napping.

This draft just might be the time to use #23 at WR if it presents itself.

 

[SudsMcBucky]

I still say we need to go and get, at minimum, 1 mid level type free agent WR.

 

[tynimiller]

What’s crazy is it really isn’t even that deep a WR class, I’d label it more average. Plus as you mentioned it’s not top heavy. Currently we see just 1 consensus top 20 selection and only 4 Day1 projections. While these are not perfect barometers, they are solid indicators that WR needy teams will slight reach at WR a little bit across earlier rounds. That doesn’t bode well for GB, who imo needs 2 WR’s.
I offer that because we have Watson out the bulk of his Contract year and he’s arguably one of our 2 best WR’s. Doubs is top 3-4 and hes in a contract year also. Thats 2 of our best 3-4 WR options + we didn’t draft at WR in 2024, so the pipeline is drying.

I’m not suggesting we panic, but if we took a poll today of the top 2 most needed position groups in GB at this moment I’d bet WR would finish #1 or #2, possibly ahead of DT or CB.

I'll be honest though, there typically in normal years is a handful or few first round WRs. I really like the middle part of this class specifically....off hand I'd argue "value of return" for any of the following is better than say picking Tet, Golden, Higgins or Egbuka Day1

Burden, Tre Harris, Elic Ayomanor..., Jalen Royals in second round.
Bech, Noel, Restrepo, Tory Horton, Savion Williams, Kyle Williams in third
Felton in fourth

 

[OldSchool101]

I'll be honest though, there typically in normal years is a handful or few first round WRs. I really like the middle part of this class specifically....off hand I'd argue "value of return" for any of the following is better than say picking Tet, Golden, Higgins or Egbuka Day1

Burden, Tre Harris, Elic Ayomanor..., Jalen Royals in second round.
Bech, Noel, Restrepo, Tory Horton, Savion Williams, Kyle Williams in third
Felton in fourth

I’d even be ok with a mini trade back in RD1 2-7 spots. Houston, Baltimore, Buffalo, KC then using a portion of that gained collateral (such as a 4th or 5th) to leverage up if we sniff a WR we really like approaching or 50’s area.

Now if a player we have boarded at #16 overall take him at 23 but if we have 3-4 rated similarly, I might do a trade back and guess they won’t go away 1-2-3-4 on me.

I’d feel really good if we locked our DT at #25, 27 etc. and a WR before or #55 overall. I’d rest easier.

 

[Thirteen Below]

I’d feel really good if we locked our DT at #25, 27 etc. and a WR before or #55 overall. I’d rest easier.

What are your thoughts about CBs? Where do they fit into your plan?

 

[Thirteen Below]

An ideal scenario and far from likely, is that Hendrickson puts pressure on the Bengals and targets Green Bay as his ideal trade destination.

But what pressure can he put on them? What leverage does he have? Bottom line is, he has a contract, and if wants to play this year, it's going to be wherever Cincinnati decides he's going to play.

I don't really get the impression he wants out of Cincinnati; I think he just wants more money. He's outperformed his contract, and wants to be compensated for that. Cincinnati has spent a lot of money already this year, and doesn't feel they can afford to give it to him. I think it's just business.

I also suspect that the reason the Bengals gave him permission to arrange a trade was not to give him a chance to see what's out there for him - it's to give him a chance to see what isn't out there, so that he's more motivated to take what they're offering. Seems pretty clear by now that he's not in as much demand as he'd hoped, and might be more willing to make a deal.

 

[OldSchool101]

What are your thoughts about CBs? Where do they fit into your plan?

Well right now J’aire is still a Packer. I’m thinking more n more about that. Much of our forward decisions revolve around him. I’m not entirely clear on his position or on talks with him, so until we know his future it’s pretty ambiguous

With no changes we reasonably get a JA that can start 10+ games. He’s still formidable when out there. Stokes was a space filler. So we really only lost 2 core Teams players and a lower echelon Starter and replaced that with a + Starter. We have to be cognizant about JA being gone in a year or 2. So as of now I’m looking at CB in this draft and speculating 3rd and 6th Rounders. Something like that from a needs perspective ..or doing another signing at cutdowns.

 

[McKnowledge]

But what pressure can he put on them? What leverage does he have? Bottom line is, he has a contract, and if wants to play this year, it's going to be wherever Cincinnati decides he's going to play.

I don't really get the impression he wants out of Cincinnati; I think he just wants more money. He's outperformed his contract, and wants to be compensated for that. Cincinnati has spent a lot of money already this year, and doesn't feel they can afford to give it to him. I think it's just business.

I also suspect that the reason the Bengals gave him permission to arrange a trade was not to give him a chance to see what's out there for him - it's to give him a chance to see what isn't out there, so that he's more motivated to take what they're offering. Seems pretty clear by now that he's not in as much demand as he'd hoped, and might be more willing to make a deal.

I understand your perspective, but Hendrickson is still going to want to get a great contract.

Sam Hubbard was a bad omen for him.

He could remain in Cincinnati frustrated, alienated, doing a lot of heavy lifting and on top that a year older.

Or...he could force Cincinnati's hand, go to a different team, surrounded with better players, produce similar numbers or better, win more games, and strengthen his market for next season.

He's in a similar situation as Myles Garrett was, but he is definitely not getting a massive deal from Cincinnati.

 

[McKnowledge]

Genuinely confused by this. Neither of those guys win with speed, they win with technique, footwork and double moves that are awesome. Both those guys were some of the slowest WR prospects in their classes both eclipsing into the 4.6s

First point I agree mostly but would say "you likely won't find the 2025 answer later in the draft". There are for sure guys that might be the next MVS or an MVS with slightly better catch percentage...or even more of a complete WR...or there very well may not be. The good thing though is if all someone is looking to do is cover the role of spreading and pulling the back defenders back away from the underneath routes, pure speed can accomplish this specific aspect...now Watson was A LOT more than that but that specific role can be likely found in the draft - doesn't mean a high quality WR that does that exists though...

Malik Heath Metrics
Dontayvion Wicks Metrics

Malik Heath and Dontayvion Wicks are gliders, and decent route runners capable of separation.

Deep threats don't always run in 9 routes, straight down the field; these guys have good size and could win 50/50 balls.

Not many options in FA and drafting a WR has been hit or miss with Gute.

 

[tynimiller]

Malik Heath Metrics
Dontayvion Wicks Metrics

Malik Heath and Dontayvion Wicks are gliders, and decent route runners capable of separation.

Deep threats don't always run in 9 routes, straight down the field; these guys have good size and could win 50/50 balls.

Not many options in FA and drafting a WR has been hit or miss with Gute.

Gonna have to disagree on the deep threats. Heath and Wicks historically both in college and NFL are not above average depth of target, deep threat types. I love them both and I still think Wicks’ ceiling is top5 wideout in the league.

Hit or miss? Gute has been incredible on wide outs of late…and seemingly at any point in the draft.

 

[lambeaulambo]

I'm fast pick me! I can see the edge wr and cb being addressed we shall see. I still have blue stains on me from the last time I slept in the portopotty.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Egbuka is nasty good, and while he did live in the slot primarily it wasn't unheard of wide snaps - 263 wide snaps in last three seasons vs 811 so right at around 32% of his snaps were wide. I think he'll surprise some folks...Egbuka while I'm VERY high on him, I will admit I think he's dang near his cap already - he is very refined. IF by some stretch we draft him Day1 (which I think it would take from us) GB fans likely will be screaming bloody murder when he isn't a top5/top10 type WR...but I strongly think he is that type to give you Top30 type performances likely 80% of his career so long as health stays.

It's a deep WR class in the likely WR2/WR3 and WR4 type guys...very few WR1 types IMO however.

Yeah I don't see a Marvin Harrison Jr out there. One guy likely to be available at #23 is Matthew Golden, but that would be a reach as he looks more like an early day 2 guy.

I think Gluten goes with Edge or iDL with #23. Or maybe take a CB like Barron if he drops a bit.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I'm fast pick me! I can see the edge wr and cb being addressed we shall see. I still have blue stains on me from the last time I slept in the portopotty.

Oh wow lambeau, that is just not a good thought. Anyway, I'm sure it happened to me when I was young. I don't remember much before age 50 anymore.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Gonna have to disagree on the deep threats. Heath and Wicks historically both in college and NFL are not above average depth of target, deep threat types. I love them both and I still think Wicks’ ceiling is top5 wideout in the league.

Hit or miss? Gute has been incredible on wide outs of late…and seemingly at any point in the draft.

Yeah they unfortunately don't have a legit deep threat on the roster. Reed and Wicks win with their routes, and Doubs win mostly with his hands, but he's not a deep threat either. And Wicks has to solve his drop problem, and he will I think. Gluten can take a flyer on a speedster on day 2 or 3 if one appears. Guys will need to step up big time this year.

 

[gopkrs]

I've decided that I'm going to keep the faith and like whatever Gute decides to do. One caveat. That he goes after real football players and not high ceiling potential ones.