2019 Packers Off Season Thread - Cut Day Saturday

[humanrefutation]

Barnwell offered his two priorities for the Packers for the remainder of the offseason:

Resolve Mike Daniels' future. As the Packers transition away from the Clay Matthews era on defense, they're about to hit a crossroads with another defensive stalwart. Daniels has arguably been the Packers' best defender when healthy over the past few seasons, but the 2017 Pro Bowler just turned 30 and is entering the final year of his deal.

The Packers also appeared to signal a different direction with their moves this offseason. General manager Brian Gutekunst targeted height and arm length with his defensive line additions this spring. The Packers signed 6-foot-4 Za'Darius Smith and 6-foot-5 Preston Smith to play on the edge, and then supplemented those selections by drafting 6-foot-5 Rashan Gary in the first round. Gutekunst also drafted 6-foot-3 Kingsley Keke to play on the interior, where he would be backing up the likes of 6-foot-3 star Kenny Clark and 6-foot-5 Dean Lowry.

Daniels, who could figure as a defensive end or a tackle depending on the situation, is an even 6-foot. The Packers also structured their offseason deals to hand significant raises to the two Smiths and fellow free-agent additions Adrian Amos and Billy Turner in 2020; the four signings will combine for a cap hit of $23.4 million this year, but that figure rises to $47.8 million next season. Green Bay has players such as Bryan Bulaga and Mason Crosby coming off the books in 2020, but the significant investments at defensive line suggest that it might not intend to keep Daniels after this season.

If that's the case, should the Packers think about trading Daniels? There's no guarantee they will get a compensatory pick for Daniels next offseason given Gutekunst's interest in free agency, and they could still bring back Muhammad Wilkerson as a rotational piece after his 2018 season with the team was cut short by an ankle injury. A trade also would allow the Packers to save $7.6 million in cash and roll over $8.3 million onto their 2020 cap.

On the other hand, if the Packers just want to load up on defensive line depth and emulate the Eagles, they should work on re-signing Daniels now.

Add a veteran wide receiver. One position the Packers failed to address altogether this offseason was wideout, where they'll return Davante Adams and his trio of spectacularly named sidekicks in Geronimo Allison, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown. The latter two are entering only their second season and still have plenty of time to develop, of course, but it seems like the Packers could do more to give Aaron Rodgers options. This is the same guy who turned James Jones into a valuable wideout out of thin air in 2015, at least in name.

It surprised me that the Packers didn't take a shot at one of the veterans whose markets didn't materialize, and I still wonder if they might look toward one of the few remaining receivers left in Pierre Garcon. The former Colts draftee was cut after two seasons in San Francisco, where he missed 16 of 32 games with injuries, but the 32-year-old was reasonably productive over an eight-game stretch with C.J. Beathard or Brian Hoyer as his quarterback in 2017. Garcon also has played under Kyle Shanahan, who has a long-standing relationship with new Packers coach Matt LaFleur, so the playbook shouldn't be an issue. Green Bay shouldn't give up on their young wideouts, but mixing in Garcon early in the year and seeing if there's anything left in the tank would make a lot of sense.

[Treebeard]

At this point in his career, what would it take to resign Daniels and for how long?

[M-C-G]

At this point in his career, what would it take to resign Daniels and for how long?

I would not do anything over two years. Daniels has been a pretty healthy guy, but he is undersized and he is on the wrong side of 30. But he is a good leader and still a good player.

No idea what kind of market would be out there for him and having a healthy season or not will be a big variable. Malik Jackson just signed a deal that is basically a 2 year 8.5M per deal, is about the same age. So that might be close.

[IrishRainbow]

Didn't Jones spout off before about not getting run? Im sorry, I like the physical tools... but damn, you scared? Beat the rookie in camp. JJ was a high enough pick to get the lean on taking a starting position if he balled in the opportunities. Hasn't happened yet. Sack up bruh, nothing is gonna be straight handed to ya.

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[M-C-G]

Didn't Jones spout off before about not getting run? Im sorry, I like the physical tools... but damn, you scared? Beat the rookie in camp. JJ was a high enough pick to get the lean on taking a starting position if he balled in the opportunities. Hasn't happened yet. Sack up bruh, nothing is gonna be straight handed to ya.

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Was excited as hell about the draft pick, but the guy just didn't seem to be able to learn the defense and I think he thinks he is a lot better than he is. Unfortunately the lack of leadership in the secondary meetings seems to have bitten us in the ass with development of Randall, Rollins and Jones. Lots of talent that just didn't end up amounting to anything.

[Mags FTW]

Didn't Jones spout off before about not getting run?RealGM mobile app

Yup. When HaHa got traded, he thought he would get more burn.

Josh "Thon" Jones. Requesting a trade before actually doing anything.

[bizarro]

Do yourselves a favor. Read all the good feels re: Bart Starr. Make sure to go watch the Favre number retirement and Bart Starr reunion. The Feels. THIS is why we are fans, my men. Let us appreciate our legends.

https://www.packers.com/news/inbox-he-was-the-best-of-us

[Reddeye]

Read on Twitter

[Mags FTW]

Good chance that we do to the Bears what they did to us in the first half of last year's opener. Throw a bunch of stuff at them they've never seen before.

Save some for the Vikes though.

[humanrefutation]

ESPN's Offseason Grades:

Green Bay Packers
Grade: C+

The Packers should be better on defense, but did they hire the right head coach for the right reasons? Matt LaFleur's ties to Sean McVay seemed to be his greatest selling point. That, and he wasn't Mike McCarthy.

"They obviously think LaFleur can fix the offense on his own because they didn't really sign or draft anybody on offense," an exec said. "It seems odd that you can hire LaFleur and then everybody [on offense] you have in the building would be a fit for what he does. Maybe that is the case."

Execs suggested that holdover defensive coordinator Mike Pettine could have shaped the offseason priority list more than the first-time head coach with 16 games' experience calling offensive plays.

"One of the concerns is that defensive coordinator is a strong-willed guy and does he wield too much influence?" an exec said. "Free agency was all defense. The first four picks of the draft were defense. And then I have some questions about the staff after they did not get the special-teams coordinator [Darren Rizzi, who landed with New Orleans]."

A strong, established offense-minded head coach might have had the gravitas to set guidelines for quarterback Aaron Rodgers and even challenge him when appropriate.

"I think a C-plus grade is fair," an exec said. "You gotta ding them for the coach. Obviously, we could all be wrong, but if they had an accountability problem, I would think they would bring in somebody that would bring accountability to the franchise. Maybe LaFleur is that guy, but wouldn't you want to bring in a guy with some serious juice?"

[MAC1987]

ESPN's Offseason Grades:

Green Bay Packers
Grade: C+

The Packers should be better on defense, but did they hire the right head coach for the right reasons? Matt LaFleur's ties to Sean McVay seemed to be his greatest selling point. That, and he wasn't Mike McCarthy.

"They obviously think LaFleur can fix the offense on his own because they didn't really sign or draft anybody on offense," an exec said. "It seems odd that you can hire LaFleur and then everybody [on offense] you have in the building would be a fit for what he does. Maybe that is the case."

Execs suggested that holdover defensive coordinator Mike Pettine could have shaped the offseason priority list more than the first-time head coach with 16 games' experience calling offensive plays.

"One of the concerns is that defensive coordinator is a strong-willed guy and does he wield too much influence?" an exec said. "Free agency was all defense. The first four picks of the draft were defense. And then I have some questions about the staff after they did not get the special-teams coordinator [Darren Rizzi, who landed with New Orleans]."

A strong, established offense-minded head coach might have had the gravitas to set guidelines for quarterback Aaron Rodgers and even challenge him when appropriate.

"I think a C-plus grade is fair," an exec said. "You gotta ding them for the coach. Obviously, we could all be wrong, but if they had an accountability problem, I would think they would bring in somebody that would bring accountability to the franchise. Maybe LaFleur is that guy, but wouldn't you want to bring in a guy with some serious juice?"

Or they went all Defense because the defense was atrocious every year since the super bowl.
Idk I'm not an NFL Executive.


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[M-C-G]

ESPN's Offseason Grades:

Green Bay Packers
Grade: C+

The Packers should be better on defense, but did they hire the right head coach for the right reasons? Matt LaFleur's ties to Sean McVay seemed to be his greatest selling point. That, and he wasn't Mike McCarthy.

"They obviously think LaFleur can fix the offense on his own because they didn't really sign or draft anybody on offense," an exec said. "It seems odd that you can hire LaFleur and then everybody [on offense] you have in the building would be a fit for what he does. Maybe that is the case."

Execs suggested that holdover defensive coordinator Mike Pettine could have shaped the offseason priority list more than the first-time head coach with 16 games' experience calling offensive plays.

"One of the concerns is that defensive coordinator is a strong-willed guy and does he wield too much influence?" an exec said. "Free agency was all defense. The first four picks of the draft were defense. And then I have some questions about the staff after they did not get the special-teams coordinator [Darren Rizzi, who landed with New Orleans]."

A strong, established offense-minded head coach might have had the gravitas to set guidelines for quarterback Aaron Rodgers and even challenge him when appropriate.

"I think a C-plus grade is fair," an exec said. "You gotta ding them for the coach. Obviously, we could all be wrong, but if they had an accountability problem, I would think they would bring in somebody that would bring accountability to the franchise. Maybe LaFleur is that guy, but wouldn't you want to bring in a guy with some serious juice?"

Or they went all Defense because the defense was atrocious every year since the super bowl.
Idk I'm not an NFL Executive.


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When you look at the pieces we have on defense, it's time to challenge for a top 5 defense or people aren't doing their jobs. With a solid offensive line, solid TE, solid RB and Aaron Rodgers, there is no reason to think we can't be one of the best teams in the league this season.

[MickeyDavis]

I'm hyped for this season. At least for now haha. At this point no draft picks are busts, everyone is healthy. New coach, new offense. I think our defense will be much improved. Good times.

[MickeyDavis]

I was looking up special teams stats for last year and we were 4th in kickoff return average and 6th in punt return average. Surprised me.

29th in takeaways with only 15. Fortunately because of Rodgers were only had 15 giveaways (second).

[PintSizedBox10]

I was looking up special teams stats for last year and we were 4th in kickoff return average and 6th in punt return average. Surprised me.

29th in takeaways with only 15. Fortunately because of Rodgers were only had 15 giveaways (second).

i think you've got that backward? or im reading it wrong.

Our opponents were 4th and 6th against us. We were terrible on coverages

[Mags FTW]

As I've said before, it will be nice to finally have a defense where you don't have to cross your fingers and hope for the best when they're on the field.

For that alone, I can't give them any lower than a B.

[LittleRooster]

I’m also wondering, who is that coach with “juice” this random exec wanted us to hire?

Harbaugh?


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[MickeyDavis]

I was looking up special teams stats for last year and we were 4th in kickoff return average and 6th in punt return average. Surprised me.

29th in takeaways with only 15. Fortunately because of Rodgers were only had 15 giveaways (second).

i think you've got that backward? or im reading it wrong.

Our opponents were 4th and 6th against us. We were terrible on coverages

Stupid day drinking

[Mags FTW]

I’m also wondering, who is that coach with “juice” this random exec wanted us to hire?

Harbaugh?

Or Arians

[chonestown]

A coach with juice helps with energy, effort imo. LaFleur can scheme and plan all he wants, but it comes down to playmakers making plays and then hoping those plays survive the five minutes spent deliberating the legality of the play in the replay booth.