The Free Agency Thread

[brandon2348]

Hate to sound like a pessimist, but even if we draft Sutton or Ridley or whoever is the "best" WR on the board at #14 through #45, I don't expect much from a rookie, nor will I expect a whole lot from them next year either. If you look back at some of the better WR's the Packers have had through the years, it took 2-3 years before we started seeing much production out of them. I also don't think throwing them into the fire with a starting role right away is good either. So unless the Packers trade for or sign a decent FA WR, I'm looking at Adams, Cobb and Graham to carry the load and holding my breath, none of them get hurt.

The last time the Packers used a 2nd round pick on a receiver they got Adams and he had pretty good rookie production (38c, 446y, 3td) and made some huge plays while coming from a spread offense in college. Remember the Dallas playoff game?

Yes, there is a development time especially with being on the same page with Rodgers but with Aaron turning 35 this year not sure how much longer we can wait to develop one fully.

At the very least we need a guy to come in and compete with Allison while providing depth. As regards to Sutton he has pretty close to elite aheletic talent overall so that would also potentially help speed things up as there is no replacement for athleticism.

 

[Sunshinepacker]

In 2010 the Packers WRs were Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Jordy Nelson and James Jones. The best group of 4 WRs I can remember. If we had anything close to that talent right now we would be set but we don't. Adams and Cobb are worthy of being included in that group but that is it.

I never said they were bad. But not a single one of those guys, no matter how much Packers fans love them, would be considered in the echelon of Julio Jones, Antonio Brown, Beckham, AJ Green, etc. Good receivers yes. But if Case Keenum was throwing the ball to that group of receivers, it wouldn't be a great offense (note the word "great" in great offense, might be a decent offense, but not great).

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

The last time the Packers used a 2nd round pick on a receiver they got Adams and he had pretty good rookie production (38c, 446y, 3td) and made some huge plays while coming from a spread offense in college. Remember the Dallas playoff game?

Yes, there is a development time especially with being on the same page with Rodgers but with Aaron turning 35 this year not sure how much longer we can wait to develop one fully.

At the very least we need a guy to come in and compete with Allison while providing depth. As regards to Sutton he has pretty close to elite aheletic talent overall so that would also potentially help speed things up as there is no replacement for athleticism.

I don't doubt a first or a second round WR could put up similar numbers to Adams Rookie year, but I don't think that is going to be enough, especially if the familiar injury bug starts hitting us. When was the last season we had a relatively healthy combination of QB and WR's?

 

[brandon2348]

I don't doubt a first or a second round WR could put up similar numbers to Adams Rookie year, but I don't think that is going to be enough, especially if the familiar injury bug starts hitting us. When was the last season we had a relatively healthy combination of QB and WR's?

I agree. Thats why we cant stop with just Sutton (who would be the most talented prospect weve had since Jevon Walker) but we need to strike again later in draft and take a flier on a guy like Antonio Callaway who is also very talented. Bringing in these two guys would have me feeling much better about the situation from a talent stand point.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I never said they were bad. But not a single one of those guys, no matter how much Packers fans love them, would be considered in the echelon of Julio Jones, Antonio Brown, Beckham, AJ Green, etc. Good receivers yes. But if Case Keenum was throwing the ball to that group of receivers, it wouldn't be a great offense (note the word "great" in great offense, might be a decent offense, but not great).

I think we saw last year what happens when a below average QB is throwing to our receiving corp. Over the last 20+ years, we have benefited from 2 HOF QB's, as have the WR's that played during that time. Pretty much every WR that has left GB and played elsewhere hasn't been able to put up the numbers they did in Green Bay, nor will any of them be in the HOF themselves. I can only imagine how good Rodgers and the Packer offense would be if they were lining up Jones and Sanu at WR every game.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I agree. Thats why we cant stop with just Sutton (who would be the most talented prospect weve had since Jevon Walker) but we need to strike again later in draft and take a flier on a guy like Antonio Callaway who is also very talented. Bringing in these two guys would have me feeling much better about the situation from a talent stand point.

I was saying it last year, the Packers definitely are about 2 drafts short of investing in an early round wide receiver and it may come back to bite them. Thompson took a lot of fliers on 5th round and later guys and none of them paid off yet. If Cobb leaves next year, the cupboard is going to be really bare.

So I agree with you, they need to pull the trigger this draft and hopefully find at least one, if not 2 guys for the future. Thinking that Allison, Davis, Clark or Yancey are going to fill the need is just wishful thinking at this point. Seems like we have been doing that same wishing at CB, with high picks even thrown at it and it continues to be the weakest position on the team. The good news, I think this draft is pretty deep with WR's in the Round 2-3 grade, so the Packers should be able to find a future starter.

 

[brandon2348]

In 2010 the Packers WRs were Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Jordy Nelson and James Jones. The best group of 4 WRs I can remember. If we had anything close to that talent right now we would be set but we don't. Adams and Cobb are worthy of being included in that group but that is it.

Also, in 2011 they had all that with a healthy Jermichael Finley at TE and 15-1.

 

[brandon2348]

I was saying it last year, the Packers definitely are about 2 drafts short of investing in an early round wide receiver and it may come back to bite them. Thompson took a lot of fliers on 5th round and later guys and none of them paid off yet. If Cobb leaves next year, the cupboard is going to be really bare.

So I agree with you, they need to pull the trigger this draft and hopefully find at least one, if not 2 guys for the future. Thinking that Allison, Davis, Clark or Yancey are going to fill the need is just wishful thinking at this point. Seems like we have been doing that same wishing at CB, with high picks even thrown at it and it continues to be the weakest position on the team. The good news, I think this draft is pretty deep with WR's in the Round 2-3 grade, so the Packers should be able to find a future starter.

They need to develop there high picks they have already invested in. King at corner, Jones at safety, Biegel as an edge, M. Adams on the DL. These guys are all coming into there second season. They need to get Clinton-Dix playing well again. Weve made our bed with these picks and now we kind of gottta lay in it and hope the younger ones can make a second year jump while having a new DC. Just to keep drafting these same positions over and over again with high picks is irresponsible.

They added T. Williams for 5 mill a year and M. Wilkerson for 5 mill. They have 22 mill allocated to Perry and Matthews so these guys have to play.

Im not advocting to spend every pick on offense like we have actually done on defense before(2012) but I feel we need to set the offense up for the back end of Rodgers career while using some picks for supplementing what we already have on defense as well.

 

[elcid]

While I am all for adding a high offensive pick, I dont see any value at 14 unless Barkley slips (which won't happen). Therefore I'd be extremely disappointed if we went offense in the first this year. I understand your thinking but I feel like this is the year that we can take one of the premier defensive prospects which slip out of the top 10 due to the QB run. WR could definitely use some depth, but could also be got in Clark in the 2nd or Brown in the 3rd. OL could need some depth as well but I have faith in the Packer FO taking some pickings in the middle to later rounds for this group. For me, at #14 its got to be a pick in the back 7 of the D.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

And I believe that Cobb's fair market value will always exceed his ability to produce. We need to move on.

The Packers definitely don't have enough quality depth at wide receiver to move on from Cobb.

through trade, or FA, or the draft, they need #2 wr that's at least as good as jordy was...and i'm not talking 2017 jordy.

It's close to impossible to add a receiver as talented as Nelson before he tore his ACL in 2015 at this point of the offseason.

So unless the Packers trade for or sign a decent FA WR, I'm looking at Adams, Cobb and Graham to carry the load and holding my breath, none of them get hurt.

The Packers need at least another starting caliber receiver opposite of Adams though.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

The Packers need at least another starting caliber receiver opposite of Adams though.

Yup, I fully agree and there are a few ways to achieve that.

1. Current roster: About the only guy I see that might be an adequate starter is Allison and that could be a reach to think he will be all that great.
2. Draft: While the Packers could find an eventual starter in the draft, it's a hard ask to expect a rookie to fill that role his first year.
3. Free Agency: Based on bringing in Jordan and the rumors of the Packers being interested in some high profile WR free agents, the desire to sign a WR is apparent. However, the pickings are now mighty thin and they might have to hope that someone gets cut from another team.
4. Trade: This is actually the avenue that I see as most probable now. The Packers have 12 draft picks. There has to be a team or 2 out there that wants more picks and has a WR they are willing to part with in order to accomplish that.

Even if the Packer can find that WR to start opposite Adams, they really need to take a hard long look at their depth and the future of the position. An injury to Adams or Cobb could cripple the Packers offense.

 

[Jerellh528]

The Packers need at least another starting caliber receiver opposite of Adams though.

Yeah, someone with top end speed to open up the offense and create big plays. People say Rodgers can make any wr look good, and part of that is true to an extent. But we still need premier talent at the wr position opposite Adams. I remember when Jordy went down in 2015 it had the whole offense looking like crap, and Rodgers had one of his worst years as a starter. I’m not hopeful if we start the season with Geronimo being the starter as he’s almost like a slower far less talented version of Adams.

 

[GleefulGary]

Yeah, someone with top end speed to open up the offense and create big plays. People say Rodgers can make any wr look good, and part of that is true to an extent. But we still need premier talent at the wr position opposite Adams. I remember when Jordy went down in 2015 it had the whole offense looking like crap, and Rodgers had one of his worst years as a starter. I’m not hopeful if we start the season with Geronimo being the starter as he’s almost like a slower far less talented version of Adams.

Totally.

Ideally, Trevor Davis would be that guy, but he sucks.

You just need a Ted Ginn type. Ginn has bad hands, but even at his old age, is still a deep threat that defenses pay attention too. It's why he was a big loss to Carolina.

A guy like Chark, although raw as a WR, could have a big impact. Robby Anderson, Brice Butler, they open it up in the middle even if they aren't great WR's. You just need that threat, and that's something we don't have.

 

[Sunshinepacker]

While I am all for adding a high offensive pick, I dont see any value at 14 unless Barkley slips (which won't happen). Therefore I'd be extremely disappointed if we went offense in the first this year. I understand your thinking but I feel like this is the year that we can take one of the premier defensive prospects which slip out of the top 10 due to the QB run. WR could definitely use some depth, but could also be got in Clark in the 2nd or Brown in the 3rd. OL could need some depth as well but I have faith in the Packer FO taking some pickings in the middle to later rounds for this group. For me, at #14 its got to be a pick in the back 7 of the D.

If Maurice Hurst is there at 14, and the Packers have no concerns on his hear, I'd put him at the top of the wish list. I know people will claim DT is set for the Packers but Hurst cold turn into Gerald McCoy and teams NEVER regret having too many good dlinemen.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Did the Packers even make Jordan Matthews an offer?? This one stings! The Patriots got a bargain with Matthews! This isn't much more than they were paying Janis!

Patriots' deal with WR Jordan Matthews: one-year, $1 million, plus $700K in incentives. Only $170K is guaranteed.

 

[GleefulGary]

The whole situation with Matthews is weird. He was a really good WR and now he's getting pennies? Feels like there's something up there.

 

[gbgary]

Not disagreeing, but just want someone, anyone!, to clarify the differences in these terms to me. I don't know what qualifies as elite vs stud vs great vs da' man vs freakish....it's all so confusing.

elite= jones, brown, obj, stud= next tier down. jordy was in that tier. that's why i said "at least as good as jordy."

 

[thisisnate]

1 mil for Matthews is insane. There has to be something up that we don't know about. Makes no sense.

 

[FL-PACKERfan]

Still think we should go after Snead. Saints don’t have much cap space and they just tendered him as an original round tender(he was udfa). He would be our #3 for sure. I think we could sign Tre Boston for <3M as well

 

[Sunshinepacker]

1 mil for Matthews is insane. There has to be something up that we don't know about. Makes no sense.

He wanted a one-year deal to increase his market value. I can't blame the guy for choosing the Patriots over the other teams that seemed to be in the mix (Tennessee, Packers, Arizona). Yes, the Packers have the best QB throwing him the ball but the coaches in New England do a much better job of designing an offense around their players' skills. If Matthews wants the best shot to have a great year and then get a big contract, playing in an offense that's designed to maximize his talents while playing with a top-5 QB seems like the way to go.

 

[sschind]

He wanted a one-year deal to increase his market value. I can't blame the guy for choosing the Patriots over the other teams that seemed to be in the mix (Tennessee, Packers, Arizona). Yes, the Packers have the best QB throwing him the ball but the coaches in New England do a much better job of designing an offense around their players' skills. If Matthews wants the best shot to have a great year and then get a big contract, playing in an offense that's designed to maximize his talents while playing with a top-5 QB seems like the way to go.

Some would say those guys in New England have the best QB.

 

[HardRightEdge]

1 mil for Matthews is insane. There has to be something up that we don't know about. Makes no sense.

Matthews had 4 seperate injuries in the last year. Maybe the Packers didn't like the medicals. Maybe the Patriots were the only ones willing to take the minimal risk with a low contract.

 

[Sunshinepacker]

Some would say those guys in New England have the best QB.

Yeah. They'd be wrong. Those are ringzzzz arguments.

 

[Sunshinepacker]

Matthews had 4 seperate injuries in the last year. Maybe the Packers didn't like the medicals. Maybe the Patriots were the only ones willing to take the minimal risk with a low contract.

I mean, that really is minimal risk with that contract. The Packers would have had to think his leg was gonna fall off to pass up that kind of deal.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Matthews had 4 seperate injuries in the last year. Maybe the Packers didn't like the medicals. Maybe the Patriots were the only ones willing to take the minimal risk with a low contract.

He would have fit right in with the rest of the Packers than.