Prioritizing Needs

[n4t]

Bulaga, when healthy last season, played poorly. Just saying RT could be more of a problem than we may want to think.

I would use every available vector to bring in EDGE players. And go from there.

 

[Dantés]

Bulaga, when healthy last season, played poorly. Just saying RT could be more of a problem than we may want to think.

I would use every available vector to bring in EDGE players. And go from there.

Hopefully the Gute retains the TT acumen for finding great OL prospects in the middle round.

 

[Dantés]

My ranking of OPs positions:

1. A starting CB
2. EDGE contributors
3. A starting RG or OG depth depending on how one sees McCray
4. ILB depth or potentially a starter with more athleticism
5. A QB2 to replace Hundley
6. WR depth, especially with speed
7. RT depth depending on how one sees Murphy and Spriggs
8. DL depth
9. Depth at safety
10. A TE1 and depth at the position

I wouldn't mind doubling up on CB and Edge picks too!

TE all the way at the bottom! Interesting. Care to elaborate?

 

[XPack]

TE all the way at the bottom! Interesting. Care to elaborate?

In addition to Richard Rodgers, we have Cobb, TyM, Aaron Jones and Jamaal who are all decent pass catchers from backfield. If we want a TE who can block better, we can get someone in later rounds of draft. I don't think this position warrants a higher priority at the moment.

 

[Dantés]

In addition to Richard Rodgers, we have Cobb, TyM, Aaron Jones and Jamaal who are all decent pass catchers from backfield. If we want a TE who can block better, we can get someone in later rounds of draft. I don't think this position warrants a higher priority at the moment.

But we don't actually have Rodgers. He's a free agent. Lance Kendricks is the only TE under contract at this point.

 

[C-Lee]

Bulaga won't even be ready for the start of the season.

 

[XPack]

But we don't actually have Rodgers. He's a free agent. Lance Kendricks is the only TE under contract at this point.

I think we'll re-sign him. If we lose Richard, then yeah...TE will move up that list to #3 position after CB and Edge.

 

[Dantés]

I think we'll re-sign him. If we lose Richard, then yeah...TE will move up that list to #3 position after CB and Edge.

You don't think it would be helpful to find a real receiving threat at the position?

 

[HardRightEdge]

As a starting point I think you have to go with Spriggs and Jones development addressing the RT and ILB needs and King and Randall at corner. Are we writing off Rollins? I think that's fair, especially with the Achilles injury on top of all the others while development progress has been questionable. There's a lot of investment in these players that needs to be taken to the next step. Otherwise, there are just not enough picks and not enough cap to get the job done.

Again, I think you have to take a two year view which means looking at age and high pay at the WR and OLB positions.

Renegotiations, blah, blah, blah. That's a demotion which makes nobody happy and implies a reduction in snaps. Few players are going to agree if it means they still have a primary role, and if they go to a complimentary role you're still looking for that playmaker. Of course you can always extend aging players with declining performance out 3 years, give him the nice signing bonus, and push the cap consequence out a year or two. That's just foolish.

Frankly, rather than renegotiating both Nelson and Cobb, I'd prefer cutting both, paying Jarvis Landry the money to play slot, and draft a wideout in the top 2 rounds. Of course that's not going to happen, but it goes to illustrate a point.

Let Matthews play out his deal, and use the other of the top two picks at OLB. There's some cap space left over to look at RG possibilities if they don't see McCray at the stage of development that they saw in Taylor or to bring back House or sign a TE . Third round for a developmental CB.

Rome was not built in a day or even a year.

 

[OldSchool101]

I wouldn't mind doubling up on CB and Edge picks too!

It's definitely warranted at both positions.

 

[Dantés]

As a starting point I think you have to go with Spriggs and Jones development addressing the RT and ILB needs and King and Randall at corner. Are we writing off Rollins? I think that's fair, especially with the Achilles injury on top of all the others while development progress has been questionable. There's a lot of investment in these players that needs to be taken to the next step. Otherwise, there are just not enough picks and not enough cap to get the job done.

Again, I think you have to take a two year view which means looking at age and high pay at the WR and OLB positions.

Renegotiations, blah, blah, blah. That's a demotion which makes nobody happy and implies a reduction in snaps. Few players are going to agree if it means they still have a primary role, and if they go to a complimentary role you're still looking for that playmaker. Of course you can always extend aging players with declining performance out 3 years, give him the nice signing bonus, and push the cap consequence out a year or two. That's just foolish.

Frankly, rather than renegotiating both Nelson and Cobb, I'd prefer cutting both, paying Jarvis Landry the money to play slot, and draft a wideout in the top 2 rounds. Of course that's not going to happen, but it goes to illustrate a point.

Let Matthews play out his deal, and use the other of the top two picks at OLB. There's some cap space left over to look at RG possibilities if they don't see McCray at the stage of development that they saw in Taylor or to bring back House or sign a TE . Third round for a developmental CB.

Rome was not built in a day or even a year.

I think it's fine to allow Spriggs to continue his development, but depending on how much they like Murphy, they may still spend a mid-round pick to hedge at OT.

Pettine will have to decide how he wants to use Jones. Is he an athletic compliment to Martinez and Ryan at ILB, or is he Burnett's replacement? What does Pettine want out of his inside backer?

I would certainly be ready to move on from Rollins, but I'm not on board with the idea of cutting both Nelson and Cobb.

 

[AmishMafia]

1. OLB - We need to get better pass rush
2. CB - There is a boatload of raw-but-high-potential CBs this year. I advocate waiting till the 3rd through the 5th and grabbing 3 of them giving us a decent chance of hitting at least one. [Expecttin we will have 7 picks w/comps in this range]
3. TE - takes time to develop. We need to resign Rodgers as well.
4. DT - need to get better at DE and give some snaps off for Clark
5. WR - need some youth for depth
6. OL - depth. Surprised how well Spriggs looked. Will need a backup - Bulaga is done. Campen has the young pups ready to go.

 

[GleefulGary]

1) Edge - draft/FA
2) CB - FA/draft
3) TE - FA/draft
4) ILB - draft/FA
5) WR - draft/FA (unless if we restructure or cut guys, I don't see us using FA here)
6) OL - draft (specifically OT here)
7) QB depth - FA/draft
8) DL depth - draft

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

1. OLB - We need to get better pass rush
2. CB - There is a boatload of raw-but-high-potential CBs this year. I advocate waiting till the 3rd through the 5th and grabbing 3 of them giving us a decent chance of hitting at least one. [Expecttin we will have 7 picks w/comps in this range]
3. TE - takes time to develop. We need to resign Rodgers as well.
4. DT - need to get better at DE and give some snaps off for Clark
5. WR - need some youth for depth
6. OL - depth. Surprised how well Spriggs looked. Will need a backup - Bulaga is done. Campen has the young pups ready to go.

I like your thinking, but I would only take 2 CB's in rounds 3-5 and make sure to resign House. I also would push WR way up to our 2nd pick and hope you find a decent TE in Rd. 3 (if you don't sign one of the top 3 FA TE's). If Jordy and/or Cobb can't be renegotiated, I also wouldn't be opposed to cutting them and using the money on a higher end FA WR.

I would be shocked to see our first 2 picks be on QB, OL, RB, K, P.....with DL, ILB trailing behind.

 

[XPack]

You don't think it would be helpful to find a real receiving threat at the position?

Can't say it won't help...but I don't think it's that much of a priority if we retain Richard.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I think after the Packers saw what the offense could do with a TE of Jared Cooks ability, they double downed on that and signed both Bennett and Kendricks. Frankly, I was disappointed in Kendricks. I would be absolutely shocked if they returned to running an offense without a TE capable of what either Cooks or Bennett were capable of. Whether that is in the form of a FA, draft pick or both, I expect a very athletic TE in Green Bay for 2018.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

If Joshua Jackson (sp) is available when we pick at 14 (he is a corner from Iowa) I am sure you all knew, do we take him over edge rusher? Frankly if Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia is available at 14 I would take him but to each it's own, My list would be switch tight end with receiver but all else is well with me.

Gutekunst should draft the player presenting the best value to the roster with position of need obviously being a factor in the decision. If there's a player available at #14 the Packers have rated heads and shoulders above everybody else the GM should oull the trigger regardless of position (aside of QB) though.

Resign Brooks, Evans, Dial, House and Rodgers

I'm not convinced re-signing any of the players you mentioned should be a top priority for the Packers this offseason.

well just recently here are a few things that happened. The best TE on the FA market was signed and he quit. A guy that most everyone would have said was a good quality starter at TE was just marginal at blocking and couldn't catch a cold. An all Pro DB in the prime of his career had his career ended by concussion. We've seen a glut of injury in 3 position groups in the past 2 seasons at DB, OLine and RB. There aren't enough FA's, cap money and draft capital to move on without skipping a beat. Some guys got older, some didn't perform like they had and were being paid to do and we lost a HOF QB for half a season. But I guess a good team would just move on and win championships?

It's definitely reasonable to expect a drop-off in performance if several player within a position group suffer injuries that force them to miss games. There's no denying teams can do a better job to absorb those losses than the Packers have done over the past few years though by at least having backups that have played in the league before and not solely relying on undrafted rookies.

My ranking of OPs positions:

1. A starting CB
2. EDGE contributors
3. A starting RG or OG depth depending on how one sees McCray
4. ILB depth or potentially a starter with more athleticism
5. A QB2 to replace Hundley
6. WR depth, especially with speed
7. RT depth depending on how one sees Murphy and Spriggs
8. DL depth
9. Depth at safety
10. A TE1 and depth at the position

I wouldn't mind doubling up on CB and Edge picks too!

Even if the Packers re-sign Rodgers the Packers definitely need to inprove the tight end position.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I'm not convinced re-signing any of the players you mentioned should be a top priority for the Packers this offseason.

Yeah, sorry, im my head I was putting that list in chronological order, not necessarily in order of importance and I probably should have said that in the post. While all the current potential Packer FA's I listed aren't top priority to resign, the Packers have to make decisions on them by 3/9. Decisions, which may impact how they shop the FA market and draft.

 

[Dantés]

I would not mind having Dial back if the price is right. But agree with Captain that it should not be some kind of priority.

 

[PackerDNA]

Good lists all around. The thing that strikes me is how long they are.
Gonna be an interesting off season.

 

[Dantés]

Good lists all around. The thing that strikes me is how long they are.
Gonna be an interesting off season.

They're long because we're talking about areas where the depth needs to be addresses as well as the starting positions. If you include backups, I would think that every team has a list about that long. That's not to say that the Packers' roster is just as good as anyone else's. But this is a time of year where all 32 clubs have a long to-do list. Take the Patriots, for example. Considering their free agents, in no particular order they need to address:

-Backup QB (Future starter?)
-Starting RB
-Starting LT
-Depth along OL
-TE depth
-EDGE depth
-DT depth
-LB depth; potentially a new starter
-At least one starting CB, plus depth

Not all that different, in terms of volume of needs, from the Packers. Again, I'm not trying to argue that the Packers are as good as the Patriots. I'm just lending some perspective to the list of needs on the roster.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Good lists all around. The thing that strikes me is how long they are.
Gonna be an interesting off season.

It's interesting that there hasn't been a lot of discussion about Special Teams. I think this is another area the Packers need improvement on. Apparently, MM is still happy with the job that Ron Zook is doing. While the Packers special teams hasn't been terrible, they also haven't been that special either.

 

[Poppa San]

Gutekunst should draft the player presenting the best value to the roster with position of need obviously being a factor in the decision. If there's a player available at #14 the Packers have rated heads and shoulders above everybody else the GM should oull the trigger regardless of position (aside of QB) though.

Really? Any other nuggets of wisdom we should know about? Such as the team with the most points at the end wins the game (major sports). Or no matter how much the coach rants and raves, the call on the field stands (MLB especially)

It's definitely reasonable to expect a drop-off in performance if several player within a position group suffer injuries that force them to miss games.

First I've ever seen you clearly and concisely admit this.

 

[Half Empty]

Really? Any other nuggets of wisdom we should know about? Such as the team with the most points at the end wins the game (major sports). Or no matter how much the coach rants and raves, the call on the field stands (MLB especially)

Don't follow them, so how do they determine the winner in the minor sports?

 

[Dantés]

It's interesting that there hasn't been a lot of discussion about Special Teams. I think this is another area the Packers need improvement on. Apparently, MM is still happy with the job that Ron Zook is doing. While the Packers special teams hasn't been terrible, they also haven't been that special either.

What's really kind of surprising to me is that of all the punt returners who had more than 10 returns in 2017, Trevor Davis' 12 yds/PR was 3rd in the league; only Detroit's Jamal Agnew and LA's Pharoh Cooper were better. And there were 39 guys who had 11 or more chances. I was really surprised to see that. Perhaps the narrative isn't fitting the reality with him.