Rapoport: Packers To Be Big Spenders On D

LittleRooster · Post #1 » by **LittleRooster** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 3:21 am

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000325541/article/packers-could-be-big-spenders-raji-could-be-history?campaign=Twitter_atl

And who will Green Bay target? According to Rapoport, the team is committed to rebuilding its defense in a way that best suits the philosophy of defensive coordinator Dom Capers.

Why wasn't this done the last few years? Happy to hear that they want to bring in some pieces to help out.

kaulkhara15 · Post #2 » by **kaulkhara15** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 3:35 am

Hope so, we have tons of cap space.

Kerb Hohl · Post #3 » by **Kerb Hohl** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 3:37 am

LittleRooster wrote:http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000325541/article/packers-could-be-big-spenders-raji-could-be-history?campaign=Twitter_atl

And who will Green Bay target? According to Rapoport, the team is committed to rebuilding its defense in a way that best suits the philosophy of defensive coordinator Dom Capers.

Why wasn't this done the last few years? Happy to hear that they want to bring in some pieces to help out.

Because they thought they had drafted said players, who became injured or busted.

MkeShark899 · Post #4 » by **MkeShark899** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 4:21 am

It would be very interesting to know who are his sources. Usually you don't hear too much out of the Packer front office. I want to be optimistic and believe we'll add some pieces on the defensive side but I don't want to get my hopes up too much. After all the recent years of inactivity I need to see it to believe it. It's fun to think about though.

Dline is looking real strong this year in free agency. Linaval Joseph and Arthur Jones would be great fits in my opinion. Both are big strong and athletic. I think DE Tyson Jackson could also be a guy to keep an eye on.

Linebacker doesn't look bad either. Donald Butler is still young and intriguing. I think he'd be a big upgrade over Brad Jones but I have a feeling we might address mlb in the draft. I also still am holding out hope the Steelers cut Woodley and we scoop him up. Definitely could make our pass rush pretty fearsome.

Safety is the other position I'd like to be addressed. Again, maybe the draft is where we'll go but a veteran like Whitner would really add some much needed aggression to our d plus help out with Burnett's development. My top guy is TJ Ward from the Browns but I think he might be out of price range.

DanoMac · Post #5 » by **DanoMac** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 4:36 am

Ward would be amazing, but I see no way he gets away from Cleveland. Byrd would be nice too, but Buffalo will franchise him again. Would be fine with Whitner. Would also be fine with drafting Clinton Dix or Pryor.

Hardy would be unbelievable.

PkrsBcksGphsMqt · Post #6 » by **PkrsBcksGphsMqt** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 5:08 am

Bizarre that Rapoport even listed the number of free agents we might sign. Free agency doesn't even begin for 3 or 4 weeks right?

Wonder how this fits with Chuck's source saying we may go after Graham.

PkrsBcksGphsMqt · Post #7 » by **PkrsBcksGphsMqt** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 5:10 am

Also, I can't believe were 8th in sacks last year. I would have guessed we were in the 20's.

LittleRooster · Post #8 » by **LittleRooster** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 6:38 am

I must have missed Chucks post about Graham. That'd be sick

Godgers · Post #9 » by **Godgers** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 7:23 am

I hope we do spend big and resign none of our own FAs.

El Pooch Grande · Post #10 » by **El Pooch Grande** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 8:33 am

PkrsBcksGphsMqt wrote:Bizarre that Rapoport even listed the number of free agents we might sign. Free agency doesn't even begin for 3 or 4 weeks right?

Wonder how this fits with Chuck's source saying we may go after Graham.

This is encouraging news that the team may take the approach they did in 2006 (when they signed Pickett, Woodson and nearly LaVar Arrington and Adam Vinateri as well), but I will believe it when I see it...

Newz · Post #11 » by **Newz** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 2:26 pm

DanoMac wrote:Ward would be amazing, but I see no way he gets away from Cleveland. Byrd would be nice too, but Buffalo will franchise him again. Would be fine with Whitner. Would also be fine with drafting Clinton Dix or Pryor.

Hardy would be unbelievable.

I agree it s unlikely we get Ward or Byrd. I think both are likely to get franchised or get massively overpaid by someone.

While Hardy is one of the premier defensive players in the NFL, I have no idea if he would fit into our defense. Is he athletic enough to stand up, cover and play in space? Would he be worth all of the money if we had to play him at 3-4 DE as opposed to 4-3 DE? I don't even know what position he would play for us. His profile on a few sites makes it sound like he's 6'4" 290. Maybe he could be a JJ Watt type in a 3-4?

One way or another, day dreaming about Hardy is probably a mistake. My guess is the Panthers do not let him get away. They'll likely franchise him as he is one of the more valuable defenders in the entire NFL.

While I am hoping the Packers spend some money on D and go after some players, I still wouldn't get my hopes up. But the type of guys I am mostly interested in are Byrd (I think there is a chance we can bid on him, where as I bet Ward just gets tagged), Whitner, Dansby (Short Deal), Daryl Smith (Short Deal) and Joseph.

LUKE23 · Post #12 » by **LUKE23** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 3:18 pm

PkrsBcksGphsMqt wrote:Also, I can't believe were 8th in sacks last year. I would have guessed we were in the 20's.

Like to see our sacks percentage and blitz percentage though.

Post #13 » by **MickeyDavis** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 3:56 pm

I can't imagine TT changing his philosophy now. But never say never I guess. Free agency is still a risky crapshoot and can criple your flexibility for years if not done right.

Thompson is 61, Rodgers is 30. Perhaps TT is thinking he has about 5 years left and is willing to take more risks. I doubt it though.

Post #14 » by **MickeyDavis** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 4:06 pm

PkrsBcksGphsMqt wrote:Also, I can't believe were 8th in sacks last year. I would have guessed we were in the 20's.

That's stunning. I figured we were 33 out of 32.

PkrsBcksGphsMqt · Post #15 » by **PkrsBcksGphsMqt** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 4:32 pm

I wonder if TT is changing his philosophy this off season because he finally has both Clay and Rodgers locked up long term. Now he may feel like he can kind of go for it since all of our other players are somewhat replaceable compared to those two.

crkone · Post #16 » by **crkone** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 4:50 pm

Capers threw the kitchen sink trying to get pressure. Seems like every player had a hand in the terrible defense this year, whether from injuries, just plain suckyness, to being unexperienced, whatever.

Matches Malone · Post #17 » by **Matches Malone** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 5:25 pm

****! Let's just buy a whole new damn team! Give me Fitzgerald and Graham on offense and Ward, Hardy, Shields on defense. Draft C.J. Mosley. SHIIIIT

Ok i'm done pipe dreaming lol.

Mags FTW · Post #18 » by **Mags FTW** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 6:01 pm

I'm all for spending, but you have to do it wisely. No Joe Johnsons please.

crkone · Post #19 » by **crkone** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 6:37 pm

Mags FTW wrote:I'm all for spending, but you have to do it wisely. No Joe Johnsons please.

What about a Marquand Manuel?

Godgers · Post #20 » by **Godgers** » Thu Feb 13, 2014 6:38 pm

If we sign a good safety I will call it a good off season considering our gm is TT.