The 2019 Dantés Draft Thread

[Pokerbrat2000]

Agreed, its gonna be too much dead $ to let Graham walk and then replace so best just to ride it out and hope he builds more chemistry with Rodgers and the new coordinator. There are far more pressing needs and the Packers have won with Richard Rodgers at TE so it's the least of our worries.

Agreed and if you are going to get Aaron a shiny new toy, I think going after a WR in Free Agency would be the more prudent thing to do. I like the 2 rookies so far, but I don't think that if they are really going to shine, it will happen in year 2. Adding another high draft pick at the position would be just trying to develop 3 young guys and learning a new offense, isn't something I think Rodgers needs at this point.

 

[brandon2348]

Agreed and if you are going to get Aaron a shiny new toy, I think going after a WR in Free Agency would be the more prudent thing to do. I like the 2 rookies so far, but I don't think that if they are really going to shine, it will happen in year 2. Adding another high draft pick at the position would be just trying to develop 3 young guys and learning a new offense, isn't something I think Rodgers needs at this point.

I agree with this and thats why I want to add a speed guy type toy through draft that can be schemed one on one in certain situations without all the nuances of developing a young receiver to Rodgers standards. Al La Parris Campbell. I expect LaFleur to be much more competent at scheming guys open in favorable matchups.

On top of that it would be amazing to add another legit receiver via free agency. Im gonna be saying this a lot but the Kansas City Chiefs are the blueprint for us to get back to winning and contending.

 

[brandon2348]

With all that said if Gute wants to get BOLD and dump someone eating a bad contact I hope he sends Nick Perry's *** packing.

 

[AmishMafia]

I think they can also see what they have in Tonyan rather than draft anyone if they keep Graham.

TE is the most difficult position other than QB in football. It takes a year or two for WRs and OL to have an impact. A TE has to know all the routes AND all the blocking assignments. If you draft a TE you should be looking for the impact 2 or 3 years from now. Now is the time to get Graham's replacement for 2 years from now. Especially how this is a very deep TE class.

 

[brandon2348]

TE is the most difficult position other than QB in football. It takes a year or two for WRs and OL to have an impact. A TE has to know all the routes AND all the blocking assignments. If you draft a TE you should be looking for the impact 2 or 3 years from now. Now is the time to get Graham's replacement for 2 years from now. Especially how this is a very deep TE class.

Unfortunately that ship has sailed with trying to draft 3 years down the road. Time is ticking and were quickly running out of it. The Colts drafted two players last draft that were All-Pro's "this year". We need to have some of that happen with this draft. Rookies, more then ever are producing much faster then in the past. We simply don't have the time to spend a premium pick to develop a TE three years out.

 

[sschind]

In my opinion adding another wide receiver is more important than to improve the tight end position.

I agree if they keep Graham. Lots of fans (I'm not one of them) are advocating getting rid of him and saving some money. If they do that TE becomes a huge area of need.

 

[sschind]

there was a third choice...pay what the other 35+ year old qb's are making, and yes...waiting until now would have been much more prudent. 33.5 would have laughed at. utterly dumbfounded. if he didn't want to wait, tough. that's the capitulation i mentioned.

I honestly don't think Rodgers contract would have been all that different if they had waited. He still would be the highest paid player in the league. Maybe not by as large a margin but he'd still be a 30 million a year guy.,.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I honestly don't think Rodgers contract would have been all that different if they had waited. He still would be the highest paid player in the league. Maybe not by as large a margin but he'd still be a 30 million a year guy.,.

I tend to agree, but I am sure there are a few posters who wouldn't want to pay him Kizer money.

 

[AmishMafia]

Unfortunately that ship has sailed with trying to draft 3 years down the road. Time is ticking and were quickly running out of it. The Colts drafted two players last draft that were All-Pro's "this year". We need to have some of that happen with this draft. Rookies, more then ever are producing much faster then in the past. We simply don't have the time to spend a premium pick to develop a TE.

Wishing it doesnt make it happen. Where the Colts players TEs? The point was about TEs and impacting the NFL as rookies.

When has a rookie TE been an all-pro? If that's your standard, it's out of touch with the realities of the NFL and you will never draft a TE.

 

[brandon2348]

Wishing it doesnt make it happen. Where the Colts players TEs? The point was about TEs and impacting the NFL as rookies.

When has a rookie TE been an all-pro? If that's your standard, it's out of touch with the realities of the NFL and you will never draft a TE.

Im not disagreeing TE's usually take longer to develop. However, in our current situation with Graham and Rodgers being 35 and so many other holes I don't like taking the long approach on a TE with a premium pick now. Maybe when the Packers start over at QB a TE might make more sense. If were not in "win now" mode now we will never be.

 

[brandon2348]

This is another example of the cumulative damage of Thompsons draft misses on defense for several years is the lack of talent at TE and other offensive positions that should be hitting full development now for the tail end of Rodgers career. Instead the cupboards are near bare.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Rookie TE's haven't really fared well, but second year TE's have. These are 2014 stats from an article, so probably some are a bit off.

Rookie TE's:

• Only 26 rookie tight ends have ever topped the 500-yard mark.
  
• only two rookie tight end in the last 15 years have recorded more than five receiving touchdowns (Gronk and Hernandez)

2nd Year:

• Since 2004, five players at the position have recorded at least 900 receiving yards and six touchdowns in their second seasons. Among those five, Antonio Gates, Jason Witten, Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski all went on to become elite options at the position from their second year on.

 

[Pkrjones]

This is another example of the cumulative damage of Thompsons draft misses on defense for several years is the lack of talent at TE and other offensive positions that should be hitting full development now for the tail end of Rodgers career. Instead the cupboards are near bare.

Wrong thread, but why not grab a younger TE in free agency, e.g. Jesse James, Demetrius Harris, CJ Uzomah, Xavier Grimble, Geoff Swaim, Jeff Heuerman, other others?

 

[brandon2348]

Wrong thread, but why not grab a younger TE in free agency, e.g. Jesse James, Demetrius Harris, CJ Uzomah, Xavier Grimble, Geoff Swaim, Jeff Heuerman, other others?

If the Packers make the right cuts they will have over 40 mill in cap space with nobody that expensive to re-sign. They are in a great position to add some offensive tools through free agency such as a TE and/or WR etc etc.

 

[Packer96]

Draft Hockenson, best all around TE in the draft. Catches everything with his hands, ferocious blocker, smart, good kid. He is a coaches dream. If we don't take him the Pats will.

 

[Dblbogey]

I guess McCarthy was right about Janis as he hasn't been able to get a job with another team though.



The Packers desperately need a veteran free safety.



Rodgers is still an elite quarterback, hopefully you will realize that next season as well.



In my opinion adding another wide receiver is more important than to improve the tight end position.

Draft Hockenson, best all around TE in the draft. Catches everything with his hands, ferocious blocker, smart, good kid. He is a coaches dream. If we don't take him the Pats will.

I love Hockenson. I watched about 8 of his games, and he's a player. His teammate Fant is a physical freak but didn't seem to be nearly the football player that Hock is.

 

[sschind]

I think they can also see what they have in Tonyan rather than draft anyone if they keep Graham.

Rookie TE's haven't really fared well, but second year TE's have. These are 2014 stats from an article, so probably some are a bit off.

Rookie TE's:

• Only 26 rookie tight ends have ever topped the 500-yard mark.
  
• only two rookie tight end in the last 15 years have recorded more than five receiving touchdowns (Gronk and Hernandez)

2nd Year:

• Since 2004, five players at the position have recorded at least 900 receiving yards and six touchdowns in their second seasons. Among those five, Antonio Gates, Jason Witten, Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski all went on to become elite options at the position from their second year on.

And we got one of them so whoo hoo problem solved.

Seriously though I think Graham will be more than OK for us in 2019. That doesn't mean the future can be ignored. I know Robert Tonyan made one great catch so some fans are already planning their HOF induction trips but we need help at the position. If you are enamored with Lewis's blocking ability fine, resign him for another year cheap. He came here for one year and did nothing to raise his price so he should be affordable.

I have high hopes for everyone who puts on a Packer uniform but we need to get a pass catching TE prospect in here to develop him for when Graham leaves. At #12, #32 I would say probably not but day 2, early day 3 if the right prospect is there why not. The problem is do you have room on the roster for 2 developing TE's. I think having 4 on the active roster is a stretch when there are s many needs at oter positions. If you Keep Graham as your #1, Lewis as your blocker, Tonyan as the young unknown and a rookie (or FA) I just don't know if there is enough room. I honestly can't see a higher round rookie being any less productive than Tonyan.

 

[Packer96]

That sums up why the Pack is where its at today, we keep thinking we're going to get 1st round performance with day 2 or 3 picks. Frankly with the 4 you mention above, we still don't have a TE.

 

[GreenNGold_81]

Wrong thread, but why not grab a younger TE in free agency, e.g. Jesse James, Demetrius Harris, CJ Uzomah, Xavier Grimble, Geoff Swaim, Jeff Heuerman, other others?

Because those guys all suck. Maybe James, but even then they signed Vance because they wanted an upgrade. Uzomah is a journeyman who benefited from more targets after the top two TE's got injured. If the team just decided to throw Kendricks 15 balls a game he'd put up better stats than most of these guys.

 

[OldSchool101]

Problem with that approach is that TE's taken in later rounds take longer than those taken in early rounds, if they ever make it.

We have Graham, Tonyan and could sign Kendrick’s pretty cheap for now. That’s not a major weakness and it’s a position we can buy a year or pick mid-late at TE to round things out.

I agree if they keep Graham. Lots of fans (I'm not one of them) are advocating getting rid of him and saving some money. If they do that TE becomes a huge area of need.

I agree. 1 year in a new system and many have already written him off? Lets practice some prudence. Graham is under contract and actually I’m very comfortable waiting to get his successor in 2020. We potentially have Tonyan and Kendrick’s backing him up so I don’t see Graham, Kendrick’s and Tonyan as weakness going into 2020.

Let’s concentrate at pairing DeVante with another formidable WR. Parris Campbell?? FA?? Or a stellar RB that compliments Aaron Jones.

By addressing TE in 2020 we have the resources to go after OL, a pass rush specialist and either another formidable RB or WR toward the top of the draft if needed.

 

[RRyder]

D. White has pretty good chance to be a packer, I think he goes around 12 spot. At 12 3-4 edge and DL guys are gone...White is likely first LB....so the value is there. also chance for OT Williams at 12.

People do know there are 3/4 edge rushers littering the entire first round this year right?

Can people stop acting like there arent going to be options at 12 for someone who's worthy of the pick?

 

[Deleted member 6794]

Problem with that approach is that TE's taken in later rounds take longer than those taken in early rounds, if they ever make it.

While that's definitely true the Packers don't need a starting tight end as long as they decide to hold on to Graham.

The vast majority of these first round TE's contribute little for a long time. For a team in win now mode I'd suggest we look at free agent TE's and seek out a bargain contract (Eifert) or trade for Brate.

Eifert has been inured way too much for the Packers to be interested in him. The Packers don't have enough cap space to trade for Brate.

there was a third choice...pay what the other 35+ year old qb's are making, and yes...waiting until now would have been much more prudent. 33.5 would have laughed at. utterly dumbfounded. if he didn't want to wait, tough. that's the capitulation i mentioned.

Rodgers will have the eighth highest cap hit in 2019 behind two 35+ year old QBs in Brees and Brady.

With all that said if Gute wants to get BOLD and dump someone eating a bad contact I hope he sends Nick Perry's *** packing.

The Packers releasing Perry only saves $3.3 million of cap space for next season. It might be tough to adequately replace him with that kind of money.

When has a rookie TE been an all-pro? If that's your standard, it's out of touch with the realities of the NFL and you will never draft a TE.

Jeremy Shockey was the last one in 2002 to be named All-Pro after his rookie campaign.

Wrong thread, but why not grab a younger TE in free agency, e.g. Jesse James, Demetrius Harris, CJ Uzomah, Xavier Grimble, Geoff Swaim, Jeff Heuerman, other others?

The Packers might be smart to add a young veteran tight end for a reasonable contract but none of the guys you mentioned would present an upgrade.

If you are enamored with Lewis's blocking ability fine, resign him for another year cheap. He came here for one year and did nothing to raise his price so he should be affordable.

I don't expect the Packers to offer Lewis another contract as his blocking was that great last season to begin with.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

I think i figured out Gute first round move this year. He making a deal with Redskins who sit at 15 needing a QB. Right behind us is Dolphins at 13 needing a QB. Gute gonna slide back to 15 and get the Redskins 2nd rounder...thus Redskins leap frog dolphins. its perfect. We get a second and just move back one non QB spot at 15.....Do IT.

Washington definitely wouldn't offer their second round pick to move up three spots to #12.

They might also trade out of the back of round 1 into the top of round 2 with someone who is looking to grab a 5th year option player.

It might be smart for the Packers to hold on to the late first round pick because of the fifth year option though.

 

[elcid]

Washington definitely wouldn't offer their second round pick to move up three spots to #12.

I disagree, if the Redskins feel like the need is high to draft a QB who can start in the absence of Smith and they start panicking, they might be willing. Its true that its a longshot though

 

[Packer96]

I'm prejudiced, I've known the Hockenson family for over 20 year, talk to his dad every week and I've seen every game TJ has played. The kid can flat out play, watch some of the tape on him. The first Mackey award winner as a sophomore. We spent years drafting D with very little ROI. With the 12 pick, Oline to protect the AR. With the Saints pick, Hockenson, I don't see him going past the Pats pick. Bundle our later round picks to move up for another Oline. FA for defense. It's not a defense league anymore, its a throw and catch league, you can't throw it if your on your back. I'm not convinced our young receiving corp is that bad, give them a year in a new system.