2024 Packers News, Transactions, Trades - Week 1 in Brasil v. Iggles

[MoMM]

How much cap left we have?

[Profound23]

I wonder what the Packers are looking for in a linebacker? I doubt the Packers are in on Queen, and he seems likely to be overpaid soon. Some of the cheaper options have already come off the board today. Jerome Baker is available and he's solid, though he seems like he's gonna be pricy too.

One guy who would fill a very specific role is Isaiah Simmons. He's not at all a run defender, but he's maybe the best coverage linebacker available.

That said, I have no idea if that's what the Packers are even looking for.

Jeremiah Trotter in the 2nd/3rd?

[RRyder823]

How much cap left we have?

Off the top of my head and having no idea what the 1st year cap numbers for Jacobs and Mckinney are (let's assume 20 million combined even though for 1st year that might be high balling) before they cut Jones I believe they were at 34 million

34+ 6 for cutting Jones=40

40-20 for JJ/Mckinney=20

20-10 for Signing draft picks=10

10-5 for in season moves=5

So by my rough and very unscientific calculations they have about 5 million in space to play with (Probably slightly more). So they probably could still be in play for a Queen or one of the Safties available



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[humanrefutation]

Packers to sign RB Josh Jacobs
The deal: Four years, $48 million with $12.5 million guaranteed
Grade: C-

The Packers decided to pay Jacobs approximately $12 million instead of paying Aaron Jones approximately $11 million, and that is a trade I would make zero days per week.

I'm usually the first to choose a younger running back -- and Jacobs is three years younger than Jones -- but there's just one problem: Jones is better.

Jacobs is coming off a disastrous season in which he accrued just 3.5 yards per carry and minus-0.4 yards per carry over expectation, per NFL Next Gen Stats data. His total minus-86 rush yards over expectation was the sixth-worst mark by any running back in the league last year.

Although part of that can be attributed to the Raiders' lack of a consistent passing threat, that hindrance is somewhat accounted for in the expectation metric. If defenders are loading the box, that lowers the expectation.

Jacobs was good in 2022 by any measure, including RYOE (plus-158 that year). But after last season it looks as if that was the outlier year, not 2023. Jacobs has accrued negative rush yards over expectation in three of the past four seasons. Dating back to 2018, Jones has never recorded a negative RYOE season.

Jones has long been heralded for his receiving abilities, but Jacobs makes an impact there, too. If I'm choosing one of these backs, it is Jones, but in reality I'm picking neither. I would try to get Jones back on a cheaper deal, and if that doesn't work, just go cheap.

The one saving grace here is that this is really a one-year deal with team options, as the guarantees are minimal. -- Walder

[humanrefutation]

Packers shore up secondary with Xavier McKinney
The deal: Four years, $68 million
Grade: B+

The safety market was uncertain heading into free agency after players such as Jamal Adams, Eddie Jackson and Justin Simmons were released by their respective teams. But McKinney just jump-started it with $17 million per year over four seasons. The 24-year-old is one of the game's best safeties and certainly one of the most versatile. The 2020 second-round pick has nine interceptions over the past four years, including five in 2021, and he has an ability to play in man or zone situations.

Under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, the Packers needed a free safety with center-field range and vision. McKinney brings those traits, and he will be the cornerstone of a remade secondary that should be much more physical at the line of scrimmage.

McKinney's $17 million per year average comes in third-highest in the league behind those of Derwin James Jr. and Minkah Fitzpatrick -- and just slightly lower than the franchise tag rate of $17.1 million. That's a win for the Packers, who check off a huge team need at a reasonable cost. -- Matt Miller

[ReasonablySober]

If Jacobs reverts to the 2022 version, he's the 2nd best Packers running back in my lifetime (Green, 2003). If he's the 2023 version and Jones is still the version we saw late in the season, it'll be a huge mistake.

[TroyD92]

If Jacobs reverts to the 2022 version, he's the 2nd best Packers running back in my lifetime (Green, 2003). If he's the 2023 version and Jones is still the version we saw late in the season, it'll be a huge mistake.

Huge mistake seems like a stretch imo

[Turk Nowitzki]

Gute just has this fascination with the power back archetype that I don't even agree is completely necessary to have in the modern NFL. Whatever, he got his guy. At the end of the day we're still in the same spot of needing a reliable #2

[ReasonablySober]

If Jacobs reverts to the 2022 version, he's the 2nd best Packers running back in my lifetime (Green, 2003). If he's the 2023 version and Jones is still the version we saw late in the season, it'll be a huge mistake.

Huge mistake seems like a stretch imo

Why? Jones at the end of the year was massively valuable. Literally carried the team. Meanwhile, Jacobs was bad this season.

If both players are their most recent versions, the Packers f*cked up.

[Shaffty]

Packers shore up secondary with Xavier McKinney
The deal: Four years, $68 million
Grade: B+

The safety market was uncertain heading into free agency after players such as Jamal Adams, Eddie Jackson and Justin Simmons were released by their respective teams. But McKinney just jump-started it with $17 million per year over four seasons. The 24-year-old is one of the game's best safeties and certainly one of the most versatile. The 2020 second-round pick has nine interceptions over the past four years, including five in 2021, and he has an ability to play in man or zone situations.

Under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, the Packers needed a free safety with center-field range and vision. McKinney brings those traits, and he will be the cornerstone of a remade secondary that should be much more physical at the line of scrimmage.

McKinney's $17 million per year average comes in third-highest in the league behind those of Derwin James Jr. and Minkah Fitzpatrick -- and just slightly lower than the franchise tag rate of $17.1 million. That's a win for the Packers, who check off a huge team need at a reasonable cost. -- Matt Miller

the grade does not match the description lol

[Profound23]

Gute just has this fascination with the power back archetype that I don't even agree is completely necessary to have in the modern NFL. Whatever, he got his guy. At the end of the day we're still in the same spot of needing a reliable #2

Agreed, however Jacobs is a rare combo of both.

If Jacobs reverts to the 2022 version, he's the 2nd best Packers running back in my lifetime (Green, 2003). If he's the 2023 version and Jones is still the version we saw late in the season, it'll be a huge mistake.

Huge mistake seems like a stretch imo

Why? Jones at the end of the year was massively valuable. Literally carried the team. Meanwhile, Jacobs was bad this season.

If both players are their most recent versions, the Packers f*cked up.

Agreed, we have to hope Jacobs was this bad because they were loading the box against him due to bad QB play and a bad oline. But that's not hard to believe if you look at his previous 4 years.

[humanrefutation]

Gute just has this fascination with the power back archetype that I don't even agree is completely necessary to have in the modern NFL. Whatever, he got his guy. At the end of the day we're still in the same spot of needing a reliable #2

I'm not sure if that's a Gute thing or a LaFleur thing.

[Ayt]

I hadn't thought much about McKinney because it seemed like a pipedream. What a perfect fit for the new defense.

[Matches Malone]

I hadn't thought much about McKinney because it seemed like a pipedream. What a perfect fit for the new defense.

He's all I've been thinking about and I was 100% ready to be disappointed

[TroyD92]

If Jacobs reverts to the 2022 version, he's the 2nd best Packers running back in my lifetime (Green, 2003). If he's the 2023 version and Jones is still the version we saw late in the season, it'll be a huge mistake.

Huge mistake seems like a stretch imo

Why? Jones at the end of the year was massively valuable. Literally carried the team. Meanwhile, Jacobs was bad this season.

If both players are their most recent versions, the Packers f*cked up.

I mean if you think they are a super bowl contender this year I can see it, but I think the window starts in another year or two and Jones will be 31-32 by then. If Jacobs is **** then you reset next year to me atleast.

[ReasonablySober]

Why wouldn’t the contending window be right now? They were incredibly close to the SB last season, and in 2-3 years some of these talented young guys are going to be expensive vets on other teams.

[TroyD92]

Why wouldn’t the contending window be right now? They were incredibly close to the SB last season, and in 2-3 years some of these talented young guys are going to be expensive vets on other teams.

So you're expecting a superbowl next year? I guess i'm just a year or two off from putting those expectations onto the team.

[ReasonablySober]

Why wouldn’t the contending window be right now? They were incredibly close to the SB last season, and in 2-3 years some of these talented young guys are going to be expensive vets on other teams.

So you're expecting a superbowl next year? I guess i'm just a year or two off from putting those expectations onto the team.

SB or bust. Yup.

[Frank Nova]

Why wouldn’t the contending window be right now? They were incredibly close to the SB last season, and in 2-3 years some of these talented young guys are going to be expensive vets on other teams.

So you're expecting a superbowl next year? I guess i'm just a year or two off from putting those expectations onto the team.

How could you not be all in on a Super Bowl contending team at this point? I know that sounds like a far cry from where we were even 6-7 wks into the season but things changed awfully fast when the team really started clicking. It’s not even just bias Packers fans expecting a big season, look at the Vegas odds. Love is a MVP contender and the Packers have really high odds to win the conference.

[Profound23]

I hadn't thought much about McKinney because it seemed like a pipedream. What a perfect fit for the new defense.

He's all I've been thinking about and I was 100% ready to be disappointed

Ironically I wanted him or Antoine Winfield in that draft but neither fell to us in the 2nd round and we got Dillon, which I was fine with.

I'm worried about how much we paid him but am cautiously optimistic.