Packers will have over $17 million post Draft, how to use it?

[Deleted member 6794]

I would prefer seeing the Packers go after either Blount or McCourty with that kind of money. Address 2 positions considered to be thin or in need of upgrading and take a bit of pressure off finding them in the draft. If they are worried about Martinez, Ryan and Thomas, go after an ILB mid to late rounds.

I don't believe there is a pressing need to upgrade the inside linebacker position to address it with a trade or a free agent signing. I'm fine with adding depth with a draft pick though.

 

[Bagadeez04]

I don't believe there is a pressing need to upgrade the inside linebacker position to address it with a trade or a free agent signing. I'm fine with adding depth with a draft pick though.

We have average guys at inside linebacker. I'd love to see that upgraded

 

[Dantés]

We have average guys at inside linebacker. I'd love to see that upgraded

Ryan was pretty good last year. Martinez was uneven, but he was a rookie playing a lot of snaps. You are right that as a unit, they weren't better than average. But I think their age and trajectory will make the position low priority, at least for the 1st string. Of course, if a stud falls you can't let the current guys at ILB stop you from taking them.

 

[OldSchool101]

Ryan was pretty good last year. Martinez was uneven, but he was a rookie playing a lot of snaps. You are right that as a unit, they weren't better than average. But I think their age and trajectory will make the position low priority, at least for the 1st string. Of course, if a stud falls you can't let the current guys at ILB stop you from taking them.

Yes, and to add to that, we often use guys in multiple positional roles IF they prove talented enough. Hybrid roles are becoming increasingly important for
purposes of expanded schemes or injury/depth contingency plans.

 

[Mondio]

There isn't a position on this team that if the next greatest falls to them, you don't take him.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

We have average guys at inside linebacker. I'd love to see that upgraded

I agree but don't feel the need to sign an expensive free agent or use an early round pick to improve the inside linebacker position though.

 

[brandon2348]

I agree but don't feel the need to sign an expensive free agent or use an early round pick to improve the inside linebacker position though.

Rueben Foster is dropping. I think he changes that discussion.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

Rueben Foster is dropping. I think he changes that discussion.

According to several sources there's no chance Foster drops to #29.

 

[brandon2348]

According to several sources there's no chance Foster drops to #29.

Mayock says "second round" and that some teams have him "off there board".

 

[Deleted member 6794]

Mayock says "second round" and that some teams have him "off there board".

Here's what Mayock said about Foster on Friday:

There are some red flags there. I think the combine incident has been wiped clean by almost every team. I think that was way overdone and the kid should not have been sent home. That's my opinion and most people in the league believe that," Mayock told reporters during a conference call Friday. "As far as the diluted sample at the combine, that's always really disappointing and has to be taken into consideration. I think the shoulder is apparently going to be OK from a re-check perspective, I don't see him sliding all that far. I think he's a top-20 pick all day long in any draft. Could he have been a top-10 pick? He still might be a top-10 pick.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...-lb-reuben-foster-still-might-be-a-top10-pick

 

[brandon2348]

Here's what Mayock said about Foster on Friday:

There are some red flags there. I think the combine incident has been wiped clean by almost every team. I think that was way overdone and the kid should not have been sent home. That's my opinion and most people in the league believe that," Mayock told reporters during a conference call Friday. "As far as the diluted sample at the combine, that's always really disappointing and has to be taken into consideration. I think the shoulder is apparently going to be OK from a re-check perspective, I don't see him sliding all that far. I think he's a top-20 pick all day long in any draft. Could he have been a top-10 pick? He still might be a top-10 pick.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...-lb-reuben-foster-still-might-be-a-top10-pick

Well I just heard on NFL network that some teams have Foster off there board and late first to second round is where Foster could land and they referenced Mayock. I don't think he will be there when Packers draft and believe this just to be pre-draft chatter. Would be sweet if he did though.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

Well I just heard on NFL network that some teams have Foster off there board and late first to second round is where Foster could land and they referenced Mayock. I don't think he will be there when Packers draft and believe this just to be pre-draft chatter. Would be sweet if he did though.

I agree that Thompson should select Foster if he's still on the board once the Packers are on the clock. I highly doubt it will happen though.

 

[PackAttack12]

Well I just heard on NFL network that some teams have Foster off there board and late first to second round is where Foster could land and they referenced Mayock. I don't think he will be there when Packers draft and believe this just to be pre-draft chatter. Would be sweet if he did though.

And a kid that would have a huge chip on his shoulder after falling so far.

 

[Spanky]

As of this writing, cap space is down around $13 million when accounting for the recent draft picks. Given that Ted normally keeps $7-$10 million of his cap space in reserve for emergencies (which rolls over to the next year if not used), it looks like there's not much left spend. He'll probably use what's left of his "usable" cap with extensions.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

As of this writing, cap space is down around $13 million when accounting for the recent draft picks. Given that Ted normally keeps $7-$10 million of his cap space in reserve for emergencies (which rolls over to the next year if not used), it looks like there's not much left spend. He'll probably use what's left of his "usable" cap with extensions.

Actually signing the 2017 draft class will only reduce the available cap space by approximately $1.2 million, resulting in the Packers having close to $16.5 million available after accounting for players #52 and #53 on the roster as well as the practice squad. That should be enough money to add another veteran or two.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Actually signing the 2017 draft class will only reduce the available cap space by approximately $1.2 million, resulting in the Packers having close to $16.5 million available after accounting for players #52 and #53 on the roster as well as the practice squad. That should be enough money to add another veteran or two.

Add to that any significant cuts that the Packers may make in their Roster before the final 53, AKA Josh Sitton last year. I'm still not convinced that Clay Matthews is locked into the final 53. Right now it appears that he almost has to be, based on sheer lack of depth at the position. However, if Dumervil, another free agent or a current player on the roster makes Clay expendable in the same way that Lane Taylor made Sitton easier to cut, the Packers could pick up another $10 M+ of cap space.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

Add to that any significant cuts that the Packers may make in their Roster before the final 53, AKA Josh Sitton last year. I'm still not convinced that Clay Matthews is locked into the final 53. Right now it appears that he almost has to be, based on sheer lack of depth at the position. However, if Dumervil, another free agent or a current player on the roster makes Clay expendable in the same way that Lane Taylor made Sitton easier to cut, the Packers could pick up another $10 M+ of cap space.

Even if the Packers add another veteran edge rusher via free agency I don't believe the team has close to enough depth at the position to release Matthews before the start of this season.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Even if the Packers add another veteran edge rusher via free agency I don't believe the team has close to enough depth at the position to release Matthews before the start of this season.

You could be right, considering the current depth for the two positions is Elliott, Fackrell and Biegel and a few UDFA's. The Packers carried 6 OLB's into the 2106 season, to repeat that leaves them still one short with Matthews. Which points to your conclusion, TT has left us thin enough at OLB, that he may leave himself no choice but to pay Clay and see what happens. I'm still shaking my head that he let 2 OLB's (Peppers and Jones) walk in Free Agency and did nothing but draft Biegel to try and address an already weak position. 4 months to figure it out, it would just be nice to have other options besides paying Clay another $10M if you didn't have to.

Edit: I forgot to include Reggie Gilbert in that list of current OLB's on the roster

 

[Deleted member 6794]

You could be right, considering the current depth for the two positions is Elliott, Fackrell and Biegel and a few UDFA's. The Packers carried 6 OLB's into the 2106 season, to repeat that leaves them still one short with Matthews. Which points to your conclusion, TT has left us thin enough at OLB, that he may leave himself no choice but to pay Clay and see what happens. I'm still shaking my head that he let 2 OLB's (Peppers and Jones) walk in Free Agency and did nothing but draft Biegel to try and address an already weak position. 4 months to figure it out, it would just be nice to have other options besides paying Clay another $10M if you didn't have to.

Well, it's kind of mind-boggling that while Thompson made several good moves this offseason it seems he didn't adequately address the team's biggest weaknesses at outside linebacker and cornerback.

... waiting for Amish to bash me as a Thompson hater because of this post once again ...

 

[PikeBadger]

You could be right, considering the current depth for the two positions is Elliott, Fackrell and Biegel and a few UDFA's. The Packers carried 6 OLB's into the 2106 season, to repeat that leaves them still one short with Matthews. Which points to your conclusion, TT has left us thin enough at OLB, that he may leave himself no choice but to pay Clay and see what happens. I'm still shaking my head that he let 2 OLB's (Peppers and Jones) walk in Free Agency and did nothing but draft Biegel to try and address an already weak position. 4 months to figure it out, it would just be nice to have other options besides paying Clay another $10M if you didn't have to.

Edit: I forgot to include Reggie Gilbert in that list of current OLB's on the roster

Long ways yet to Labor Day and the final 53. Every year is different. 7 Wr's one year, 7 OL another. All of the position groups are variable in quantity outside of the 3 specialists. It seems to be true for the most part that Thompson keeps the best 53.

 

[swhitset]

Well, it's kind of mind-boggling that while Thompson made several good moves this offseason it seems he didn't adequately address the team's biggest weaknesses at outside linebacker and cornerback.

... waiting for Amish to bash me as a Thompson hater because of this post once again ...

For the record, I generally support Thompson, but agree with you on this point.

 

[rodell330]

I would like to see them bring up Josh Hawkins and either Cut Gunter or put him back on the practice squad. House, King, Randall, and Rollins is who I imagine will be the top 4 corners. I like Hawkins for his speed and I'm tired of seeing slowness in the secondary.

I'd like to see Janis resigned. There's no need to try to fix the defense just to have the special teams take a step back. Janis is probably the best gunner in the league.

 

[brandon2348]

I would like to see them bring up Josh Hawkins and either Cut Gunter or put him back on the practice squad. House, King, Randall, and Rollins is who I imagine will be the top 4 corners. I like Hawkins for his speed and I'm tired of seeing slowness in the secondary.

I'd like to see Janis resigned. There's no need to try to fix the defense just to have the special teams take a step back. Janis is probably the best gunner in the league.

I like Hawkins too. Something to work with there.

 

[GreenBaySlacker]

Actually signing the 2017 draft class will only reduce the available cap space by approximately $1.2 million, resulting in the Packers having close to $16.5 million available after accounting for players #52 and #53 on the roster as well as the practice squad. That should be enough money to add another veteran or two.

Greenbay signed guard Evans since the cap figure was at 16.5 mil(I thought)
Never did hear what Evans is making or for how long...

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Greenbay signed guard Evans since the cap figure was at 16.5 mil(I thought)
Never did hear what Evans is making or for how long...

One year

CONTRACT TERMS:1 yr(s) / $2,250,000

SIGNING BONUS: $200,000
GTD AT SIGN:$200,000
WORKOUT BONUS: $100,000
BASE SALARY: $1,150,000
PER GAME ROSTER BONUS: $50,000 ($800,000)
INCENTIVES:$225,000