Contract Status of Packers WRs Will Make Drafting One More Likely This Year
By GilMartin
Many experts expected the Green Bay Packers to select a wide receiver in the first round of 2020 NFL Draft. But the Packers not only didn’t pick a receiver in round one, they did not select one in the entire draft. But that is likely to change in 2022. In addition to still needing to fortify the position, the contract status at the receiver position changes dramatically after this season.
Nearly all the Packers receivers are not under contract after the 2021 campaign. Here is a look at the receivers currently on the roster and what their contract status is:
1. Davante Adams
The Packers top receiver is entering the last year of his present contract in 2021. According to spotrac.com, Adams will have a cap hit of $16.76 million this season.
Many reports indicate the Packers are negotiating an extension with Adams to reduce that cap hit and keep him in Green Bay beyond 2021. The Packers certainly need to find a way to accomplish both of those goals as Adams is by far the team’s best receiver and one of the top wideouts in the league right now.
Because he does not rely on pure speed to get open, he is likely to age more gracefully than many players at this position. Keeping him under contract for another four or five years would certainly make sense for the Packers if they money is reasonable.
2. Allen Lazard
Lazard is under contract to the Packers for the coming season and is scheduled to make $850,000. After that, he will be a restricted free agent.
Lazard is the Packers best blocking receiver the Packers have and his size and reliability are assets for the team. Last season, 23 of his 33 receptions resulted in first downs. He also has won the trust of quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
In three seasons with the Packers, Lazard has come a long way. He started as a street free agent and became one of the top three receivers on the team. Injuries cost him six full games last year and slowed his progress a bit.
The Packers have a decision to make on Lazard. Is he a part of the team’s plans beyond this season or is he in his final year in Green Bay? Lazard’s performance in 2020 will go a long way toward answering that question.
3. Marquez Valdes-Scantling
MVS gained a career-high 690 yards receiving in 2020 and scored six touchdowns while averaging a league-high 20.9-yards per catch. He is a dangerous deep threat who needs to become more consistent to take his game to the next level.
Valdes-Scantling had a catch percentage of just 52.4 according to pro-football-reference.com. That number needs to get higher for MVS to establish himself as part of the foundation of this offense going forward.
He is entering the last year of his rookie deal and will be an unrestricted free agent next year if the team doesn’t sign him to an extension.
4. Equanimeous St. Brown
Like MVS, St. Brown is heading into the final year of his first NFL contract and will be an unrestricted free agent in 2022.
EQ has struggled to stay healthy and that has limited his contributions to the offense. He missed all the 2019 season due to an injury. In 2020, St. Brown was limited to 12 games and caught just seven passes for 117 yards and his first NFL touchdown.
St. Brown will have one final chance to prove he can be a consistent contributor to the Packers offense. He has the size and ability to accomplish that goal but must stay healthy and have a strong training camp to get that chance.
5. Devin Funchess
Funchess is the great unknown for the Packers heading into 2021. He signed as a free agent last year but opted out of the 2020 season due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The one-year, prove-it contract he signed was moved forward to 2021 but it will expire at the end of this season.
The former Michigan star has played only one game in the last two seasons and it is not clear what he will contribute to the offense. Funchess has a lot at stake in 2021 to show the Packers what he can do and to sustain his NFL career.
Because each of the top five Packers receivers on the depth chart are presently not under contract beyond this season, the depth chart at receiver is likely to look different in 2022 than it does entering 2021. While it is likely some of these players will be signed to new deals, the cap crunch the Packers find themselves in in 2022 may make it difficult for the Packers to bring back all the players they may want to re-sign.
Expect the Packers to draft at least one receiver this year to fill the anticipated void and reinforce the talent and depth on the roster and to give Rodgers more weapons to throw to. The contract status of the top five receivers only serves to further justify the Packers short-term and long-term needs at this position.
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Comments (79)
Coldworld
April 15, 2021 at 12:12 pm
I would be shocked if they didn’t draft a receiver this year, in fact if they didn’t draft more than one. The question is not if, but when, even if you ignore returning or the option role in the equation. This draft has a lot of good value later and a lot of over value early after the very first picks.
GilMartin
April 15, 2021 at 12:47 pm
I agree, Coldworld. I think the Pack will take one WR in the first three rounds and one on Day 3. But we'll see. One thing we've learned from Gute is to expect the unexpected. Thanks for commenting.
PF4L
April 15, 2021 at 01:15 pm
Hell...why not draft 3 of them. Drafting in 3's seems to have become a pattern since 2017.
Packers Potluck Picks
BradHTX
April 15, 2021 at 01:28 pm
“Packers Potluck Picks”
Perfectly played, PF4L. Plenty of possibilities.
PeteK
April 15, 2021 at 02:46 pm
Those 3 O linemen drafted last year could turn into a pot of gold.
PF4L
April 15, 2021 at 03:03 pm
Same with my lottery ticket
PeteK
April 15, 2021 at 03:33 pm
One of them already had some glimmer, unlike your your dire predictions. LOL
greengold
April 15, 2021 at 01:11 pm
Agree. GB takes at least 2 WRs. Great talents will be available through all 7 rounds. This draft is as deep or more so at WR than last year, with great variety.
I’ve got about 7 personal favorites that can be had from pick 29 all the way to 256. Going to be interesting how long some of those top talents hang around... There will always be a couple good ones for GB to choose from no matter the round. Some as far back as R5 can be immediate starters, or close to.
PatrickGB
April 15, 2021 at 12:27 pm
I could see a WR being drafted. There will be good ones available. The concern of many fans is that the team has greater needs elsewhere. When EQ was drafted he was part of the lower rounds threesome picks. So it could happen again. Yet the WR value is higher in the second or third round. My personal hope is that we pick up a CB before the third round and maybe an OT in the first. Like many, my wishes for a certain position have been all over the place as the draft gets closer. I must have changed my mind 10-15 times. But we will definitely need at least one WR because of what is mentioned in the article.
Fubared
April 15, 2021 at 12:45 pm
Ya St Brown was a steal. Three years in and he caught how many passes? This guy was highly over rated having played at ND. What a lot of people dont know is he was often benched for dropping sure passes and running the wrong routes. A real steal
GilMartin
April 15, 2021 at 12:51 pm
This year will be EQs final chance to prove he can be a contributor. His biggest issue in his first 3 years has been staying healthy. He definitely needs to be more consistent. We'll see if he can do it. Thanks for the comment, Ernesto.
Leatherhead
April 15, 2021 at 02:04 pm
MVS has been our most available WR. Lazard has missed time, and ESB has missed more. Adams has missed 6 games. All of them in their contract year. Who’s part of the future.? This could go in several different directions depending on what they do on the field.
dobber
April 15, 2021 at 02:28 pm
Who said he was a steal?
A 6th round lottery ticket based on potential...as is true of most 6th rounders.
GilMartin
April 15, 2021 at 12:48 pm
I am right there with you with regard to position need. I hope we get a quality receiver or two in this draft. Ideally one in the first three rounds and one on day 3, but we'll see what's out there and what Gute chooses to do. Thanks as always for commenting, PatrickGB.
stockholder
April 15, 2021 at 12:27 pm
I say if you draft one. Make it a good one. We've seen
all the guys taken later. But the best ones were early.
Fubared
April 15, 2021 at 12:47 pm
The best ones will be gone at 29 like they always are where the packers start to draft. To me 29 is really round two.
No they need to go for defense and just pick a couple of late round receivers and hope for the best. They sure as heck arent getting an adams look alike at 29 or the second round.
GilMartin
April 15, 2021 at 12:53 pm
They could get someone in the 2nd or third round but they are not as likely to have a big impact as a rookie. Remember, Adams didn't break out until year 3. We shall see.
dobber
April 15, 2021 at 02:30 pm
"To me 29 is really round two."
Rounds don't mean anything. It's a way to categorize stuff. All that matters is who is on the board when your turn comes up.
PeteK
April 15, 2021 at 03:34 pm
Yes, but we could get lucky. Driver was a 7th , Brooks a 3rd, and MVS, Lazard are playing better than their draft positions. A very good QB and O line can help make a WR look much better. So unless brain trust believes Runyon is our RT , T before WR.
Coldworld
April 15, 2021 at 06:37 pm
I’d go with Jenkins, Runyon at guard
GilMartin
April 15, 2021 at 12:49 pm
Always want good picks. We saw what happened last year. I think Gute will find a WR or two this year in the draft. Thanks for commenting, stockholder.
Fubared
April 15, 2021 at 12:43 pm
Based on Murphys cheap ball agenda, I see them hoping they can find another UFA to love at the receiver position. I also see someone on the team being cut like St Brown who is mostly dead wood. Took how many years to figure that out????
They better get some pass rushers the next time Brady comes to town ya think?
GilMartin
April 15, 2021 at 12:52 pm
We'll see how they handle the WR position in this draft. Pass rushers are one issue but the bigger issue vs the Bucs was pass protection. This will be an interesting draft, for sure. Thanks for commenting, Ernesto.
PF4L
April 15, 2021 at 01:11 pm
Exactly Gil...That game was controlled at the line of scrimmage on both sides, just not by the Packers.
Ernesto also brings up a good point. The Packers like to keep non productive players on the roster too long. I thought that might have changed with J'Mon Moore, but idk.
PeteK
April 15, 2021 at 05:30 pm
It was a hard fought game in which we outgained the Bucs, so I don't think that warrants the term controlled. Also, it takes at least 3 yrs to properly assess a draft. The Aints learned that brutal fact with Favre.
Leatherhead
April 15, 2021 at 05:51 pm
If I recall, we had more yards on the ground and in the air, so I don’t see how that supports a narrative of being beaten on the LOS. You don’t get 450 yards of offense if people aren’t getting blocked.
dobber
April 15, 2021 at 02:31 pm
What player did St. Brown take a roster spot from that has you pissed up? Every team has below-replacement players at the bottom of its roster.
PF4L
April 15, 2021 at 03:16 pm
Just FYI....ESB has been on the injured list, or on IR in 40 out of 48 weeks.
To some that may be an issue.
Just sayin.
Coldworld
April 15, 2021 at 05:48 pm
Hardly a fan of EQ, in fact I think he’s in a fight to be in the roster in September, but developing late picks is time consuming and hit and miss. There is no doubt EQ can do some things with the ball in his hands. Unfortunately he seems to have low drive, determination and desire. Or he could just be immature. The team knows, we don’t.
Driver took till his 4th year. The difference in my mind is that Driver played STs. However, EQ probably would have benefited from a normal off season last year. He has one more to put it together. That may be all. If he does, the ability is there and he would be a big boost to us. See no reason not to give him a 3rd camp at this point. There is no downside at this point.
PF4L
April 15, 2021 at 08:35 pm
I liked ESB, my hope was he was a good possession type guy. But man, you talk about the walking wounded.
You can take the best football player in the world, but if he is constantly injured, he won't be much help.
I don't disagree with giving him another camp, but after his 3 seasons, his ceiling is questionable.
Titletown222
April 15, 2021 at 07:46 pm
There will be talented UDFAs at WR, OT, and CB due to the quality of those positions in the draft. Here’s hoping we can find 2-4 that can give us depth this year and help build the roster next year
TarynsEyes
April 15, 2021 at 01:00 pm
Drafting a WR last year was never more warranted, but instead is now seen as a complete blunder by the FO. The WR group is dependent on the huge jump in the salary cap to even consider the ability to resign a few from that group that doesn't warrant being resigned for the money the FO will likely need to scrounge up. The optimist will certainly declare that the MLF offense can succeed with anyone and that might hold water to a certain point, as long as Rodgers is the bucket, but that would also compel the optimist to ignore and deny the Rodgers 'trust' quagmire that mandates a 2-3 year internship for any, if any, to pass his litmus test.
Dare I say it, it seems this predicament throws a boulder into the 1-3 draft selections be for defense concept, and possibly now might demand a double-dip at WR early, as they need guys with the ability to appease Rodgers faster than the normal 3-year grace period unless the moving on from Rodgers after this season or next is already chiseled into the proverbial stone. Naturally, getting two WRs that can accomplish such, appeasing Rodgers in less than 3 seasons, is a daunting feat, but the thinking cannot be dismissed by the FO if they actually do have a real intention of extending Rodgers. This then begs the question, can they really let Love sit for 4 years while losing any/all trade value, arguable, for Love
Leatherhead
April 15, 2021 at 02:22 pm
It was a blunder to not draft a WR last year? We finished first in the league in scoring!! We need more blunders like that. Our WR group is big, cheap, and young, with the exception of Adams, and if we part company with Adams we could get younger and cheaper by replacing him with a rookie superduper. Next year.
I don’t think The Plan is for Love to sit for four years.
TarynsEyes
April 15, 2021 at 02:50 pm
You apparently didn't read the article where it tells you who we might not have or want to have back, depending on how one interprets or places a different skew.
This is it for this group because, after this season, Adams could be gone for the money, Lazard is restricted but not a #1, MVS is a free agent with 50/50 hands, ESB is a 5 at best, Funchess isn't a value worthy of the overpay the FO will likely be compelled to offer. Where is the carry-on group after this season? Either the FO scrapes up money for these guys of limited value, or this team is rebuilding its receiver group, and with that goes any Rodgers SB chance, less they step in a bucket of shit-luck this year, and that, because of the lack in improvements isn't likely to happen, again.
PF4L
April 15, 2021 at 03:23 pm
What LH doesn't realize is, that just because an offense did well one season, That same will happen every season.
The Packers defense went from 5th...to 32nd in one year. things change
What he also doesn't realize is that just because an offense was successful, that does NOT eliminate the need for a #2 receiver.
But then again....we may get a superduper rookie. :)
Coldworld
April 15, 2021 at 05:56 pm
Equally, your receiver might just as easily be a Moore as an Adams. I do find humor in the willingness to disparage while adopting a position no less, and perhaps more, flawed than the one you dismiss.
I confess, part of me suspects that you intend to create the illusion of simplicity. Otherwise you just have an incredible ability to dash off example after example.
PF4L
April 15, 2021 at 08:11 pm
There is no illusion of simplicity.
A good offense contains a proven #2 receiver, that will never ever change.
But quiet possibly, if you have an innovative offensive mind, and a HOF QB,
they together can create the illusion, that a #2 receiver isn't needed.
They can adjust, make allowances for, and overcome.
Simple
PF4L
April 15, 2021 at 01:05 pm
That's quite the murderer's row of your top 5 wide receiver's :)
The collateral damage of neglecting to address the wide receiver position, the failure to have a true #2
has done what....?
It's probably put a big smile on Davante Adam's agents face.
The Packers couldn't have known they were giving Adams 98% leverage in this years contract negotiations by their inactivity of adding receiver talent?
Not only will the Packers draft a receiver...they have no choice.
In a recent article by JerseyAl....he conducted a poll where 1% thought our greatest need was at receiver.
I think if that poll was taken last year before the season, it would have been 70-80%.
Again...when you fail to address needs, your kicking the can down the road, much like the salary cap.
Sooner or later, you have to deal with it.
Better sooner, before the needs multiply, to what they are today.
Lare
April 15, 2021 at 01:11 pm
Hopefully, any WR's Gutekunst drafts is better than J'Mon Moore, MVS and ESB.
Coldworld
April 15, 2021 at 05:59 pm
I will live with a 3rd day receiver with as much upside as MVS is showing. Wont help us this year, but good pipeline. I think you said much the same about Adams early on.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
April 17, 2021 at 07:10 am
Great comment!
frankthefork
April 15, 2021 at 01:20 pm
ESB is not that good, and DA17 is not affordable next year, but GB needs him badly. Funchess is injury prone #3. So what's left, MVS, Lazard and Taylor are not making it as #'1's. Me thinks we take T Marshall at 29 or a trade back which would be wiser. An Adams deal in 2022 is near impossible with Rodgers, Bak, Smiths and all the rest. Beside that, Gute thinks ahead, so expect 2 WR's.
PF4L
April 15, 2021 at 03:26 pm
Gute thinks way ahead, and behind, all at the same time.
Nate-1980
April 15, 2021 at 06:03 pm
Ha you forgot,”Gute doesn’t think at all”, for the “smartest” man in the room basically running this teams talent prospects it’s a huge problem..
PF4L
April 15, 2021 at 08:01 pm
I can't call Gute the smartest man in the room...Rodgers is still there.
Have you seen him on Jeopardy? That boy is smooooth.
He's a Baaaad Man!! - Stephen A.
Leatherhead
April 15, 2021 at 01:42 pm
There will be no WR drafted on the first two days. Nor should there be.
We had an awesome passing attack last year and we return all the targets plus Deguara and Funchess. There’s no room for some guy to get 3 or 4 targets a game.
There will be changes to the passing attack after this season. The 1265 brass has arranged it this way on purpose so they’d have maximum flexibility going into the last year of Gutekunst’s contract.
But IMO, there’s no reason to believe that the Packers are going to spend a premium pick at WR. You can quote me on that.
PF4L
April 15, 2021 at 03:29 pm
And you boys think that i act like Mr. Know It All?
:)
Glass houses
frankthefork
April 15, 2021 at 04:27 pm
Packers missed on Jefferson, Claypool, Pittman and a few others last year. Can you imaging if AR has someone other than DA17 to count on? No other Packer justifies a double team than Adams. Thielen and Jefferson or JuJu and Claypool was a thing of beauty, like Nelson and Cobbs 4 years ago.
In 2022 there's not one WR with a contract and DA17 will cost you $22m a year! Wrong.
Needs;
2 WR's, OT, DL, DT, LB, 2 CB's, S, TE, RB and a QB...That's 12 players so I guess Gute better hit on some UDFA's
Coldworld
April 15, 2021 at 06:08 pm
We dont need a TE particularly since Funchess can do some move aspects and I think Deguara will take up some others if required, in addition to Sternberger.
We will probably go UDFA for QB. No 3rd QB gets a meaningful snap in preseason this year I suspect. At worst, we sign another at cut down, to our PS. We won’t keep 3 on the roster.
There you go, 10 needs for 10 picks without considering a few futures types who look interesting, UDFAs and pickups in the summer.
PF4L
April 16, 2021 at 05:53 am
Gee...i don't know. Funchess might not make the roster. The last time he caught a pass was in Sept 2019.
Another tight end in the 3rd round maybe.
Might as well go for the hat trick.
Nate-1980
April 15, 2021 at 06:09 pm
It would’ve been a thing of beauty to select one of those receivers from last years draft that tore it up their rookie year.. But Gute doesn’t think you need quality receivers in a passing league because he has Aaron Rodgers to save his ass.. Guess all we have is to “imagine” having a good receiving core sadly..
PF4L
April 16, 2021 at 06:06 am
CeeDee Lamb had a nice rookie year. He had 433yards in his first 5 games with Prescott.
He finished with 943 yards from 3 other QB's the remainder of the season.
Fairly impressive if you ask me.
Seems to me there were a lot of successful 1st round picks contributing on the field their rookie season.
The shocking part?
It was during Covid, Virtual camps...
Must be the twilight zone?
How can that be? I thought rookies during Covid...aren't expected to produce
Who knows....maybe those players have.......talent?
Funny that it's even possible, when you draft, to get instant results.
Whooda thunk it?
One receiver even broke the rookie record for receiving yards (over 1300) in his rookie season...how is that even possible in virtual times?
Don't mind me...i get confused easily :)
AFTER THOUGHT: With Adams up for a new contract, maybe Adams will be a team player (like Brady) and take a pay cut to help out the cash strapped team?
Instead of say 22 million a year, maybe he'll be agreeable to say...10 million a year?
Maybe Alexander takes one for the team also.
Somebody has to do it..Rodgers won't play ball...apparently Rodgers doesn't think it's his responsibility to pay his co-workers salaries.
Selfish Diva
HankScorpio
April 16, 2021 at 07:01 am
Funchess? Yeah, him and Reggie Begalton are sure to make a difference.
:rolleyes:
That "awesome" passing attack could not get it done when it counted. But they sure beat up on teams like Detroit. It's a shame they didn't get to play a team like that in the NFC CG.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
April 17, 2021 at 07:33 am
A good WR gets what....5 or 8 pass attempts per game unless you are Adams. A starting OL or DL plays 60 some plays a game. That is the bottom line for me!
If you can't stop the pass rush and your star QB who is taking up 20% of the team cap can't be effective and throw the ball to your star WR who is taking up x percent of the cap what good is it taking a WR high?
If your defensive line isn't effective stopping the run, or applying pressure to the opposing QB what good does it do to have a star QB and WR sitting on the bench as your opponent runs down the clock?
The Packers desperately need a number of quality OL and DL to take the next step. The next several drafts need to focus on these positions as the Packers transitions away from Rodgers. Love is the future and sooner than later. MVS is better than people give credit and will continue to develop. I don't think we have seen the best yet of either Lazard or ESB. The Packers have quite a bit more offensive talent than many give credit at running back, HB, TE, and receiver. Yes, they will draft one or two WR's but hopefully after taking several talented big bodies.
Roadrunner23
April 15, 2021 at 02:20 pm
Yep I couldn’t agree with you more Gil, in today’s NFL you can’t pay everybody that’s why I expect them to also take an offensive lineman and a defensive lineman fairly high for the same reason.
They just paid Bakhtiari and Clark huge contracts, so in essence you bring a kid in on a rookie contract to offset the high priced guy. Then you develop the rookie and by the time he turns into hopefully a superstar you pay him and about that time (30) the veteran retires or moves on. That is why the Packers don’t pay out too many third contracts except in rare circumstances like QB or LT.
It is a business model they have been following for the most part and it works in today’s NFL.
Lphill
April 15, 2021 at 02:36 pm
2021 farewell tour , Rodgers and Adams , biggest blunder in the history of sports.
Leatherhead
April 15, 2021 at 03:19 pm
Oh no. Favre and just about anybody is a bigger blunder than Rodgers and Adams.
PeteK
April 15, 2021 at 03:28 pm
Without a major calamity, you missed it by a year. They will both be there in 2022, after that we can only hope for a Lovely connection.
PF4L
April 15, 2021 at 03:41 pm
I don't know about Adams, but citing the salary cap situation next season, plus the inactivity on Rodgers contract, it seems the writings on the wall that this is Rodgers last year with us.
Packers0808
April 15, 2021 at 05:15 pm
They will both be back again! Packers if they want to stay competitive have to have them both! Love will flop like a bad dive!
Coldworld
April 15, 2021 at 06:10 pm
If Rodgers’ contract isn’t touched this year, you do realize that it could be next year?
Best to consider options before jumping.
PF4L
April 15, 2021 at 07:41 pm
To keep Rodgers, means you start unloading heavy salaries that carry dead cap money. PLUS...sign Adams and Alexander
If you extend Rodgers contract next season to lessen that impact, then reasonable minds have to ask.....why the hell did they draft Love....to begin with?
Again...according to OTC...
The Packers top 15 players under contract equal over 190 million, with a projected salary cap of 203 million. That's with 32 players signed
Those 32 players put the Packers 8 million over the cap sitting here today. But they still need Alexander and Adams, and the rest of the roster.
The math doesn't work to keep Rodgers and keep the team intact.
Packers0808
April 15, 2021 at 08:04 pm
Jump to conclusions much? This preseason, draft not done yet!
PF4L
April 15, 2021 at 09:36 pm
???
I was discussing the 2022 salary cap and it's roster in determining the status of the Packers situation a year from now with educated knowledge. Offering opinions based on those findings.
WTH....does this months draft have anything to do with any of my comments?
Does it change next years Salary cap, the top 15 players contracts, does it change having to sign Adams and Alexander?
What does this draft matter?
PF4L
April 16, 2021 at 05:19 am
A thumbs down....
Well....that clears things up...lol
Thanks for participating :)
Packers0808
April 17, 2021 at 07:33 am
Thumbs down not from me. My point is simple no one knows the cap yet for NEXT year. Who knows how much more there will be for negotiations! Just one consideration. The thumb down person must see other things s not to be so sour so early! By next year I obviously meant 2022!
PF4L
April 16, 2021 at 08:15 am
OTC had two projected cap numbers for 2021...
1st 175 million, then adjusted to 180 million after the NFL/NFLPA met.
This year it's 203 million, which should be a closer estimate because now they know how the League/Union decided to spread out the lost Covid revenue.
But again, this has nothing to do with the draft, each draft has a fixed cost under the CBA. It may move with the cap, but it's VERY minimal.
I know the thumbs down most likely didn't come from you and i appreciate the response.
So it's all good...
The thumbs down are almost automatic as i've compiled quite a large list of raving fans who like to let me know they are thinking of me :)
Thegreatreynoldo
April 16, 2021 at 03:09 pm
Huh? Things can change, but those are pretty much the numbers. Moreover, while a rookie might make an expensive player expendable, overall the draft is unlikely to change the numbers significantly.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
April 19, 2021 at 09:34 am
Where is the blunder? Is the blunder with Rodgers and Adam's having their agents push hard to receive the best salaries (or close) for their positions in football over the years hamstringing the teams abilities to sign free agents, and re-signing our players to help them win SB's?
Haven't we seen after last number of years that Rodgers and Adam's even when healthy and having their best years cannot carry them over the top. The team needs a better balance of talent on both sides of the ball that the Packers are struggling to provide with these salaries of Rodgers and Adams crippling the team. The team needs to get younger and free up the cap in order to retain talented players and sign solid FA's.
If the Packers were to trade Rodgers and Adam's for top value I'd be okay with it. The Packers stars on offense and defense are for the most part young and with the extra draft picks the Packers would get with Love at QB on a rookie contract could actually have a team capable of winning the SB for a number of years. Of course, everything depends on Love and his development for this plan to work. No one has seen Love practice or play all last year. None of us know what the coaches and Gutey think about Love. The fact so many on here have claimed drafting Love was a mistake and that he will bomb cracks me up. Most of you ignore the fact that Rodgers and Adam's cap numbers are the most detrimental to the teams ability to field a power house team and win the SB. Instead, you want to attack Gutey's drafting and decision making. At the same time many of you were the same one's who at the end of the 2018 season loudly proclaimed the Packers were so talent depleted it would be at least three years of solid drafting before they would make the playoffs again and be competitive. I'm going to sit back and enjoy watching the draft and what Gutey does this next year. I feel very comfortable with his decisions and like the fact he doesnt pander to us fans and makes good aggressive decisions on personnel.
Packers0808
April 15, 2021 at 05:13 pm
Lane Taylor signed with Texans, another OL option gone!
Leatherhead
April 15, 2021 at 05:55 pm
He was a good player before his body gave out.
Coldworld
April 15, 2021 at 06:13 pm
Gone to Campen. I’d have looked at him post draft as a back up and spot starter, but I get the feeling that the team decided not to. Whether money or health or something else. I’m glad Taylor found a home. He was a very good UDFA find for us.
PF4L
April 15, 2021 at 07:55 pm
Taylor seemed like an option, but at the end of the day it might have come down to availability.
He's missed 29 of 32 games the last 2 seasons.
Dagger
April 15, 2021 at 08:35 pm
Hope they sign Davante again and get a speedy, sudden slot magic man like Elijah Moore. He would add immediate help to the WR rotation and also be a return man. Super strong and quick. Would soon become Arod's second favorite target.
Fabio
April 16, 2021 at 02:27 am
Given the need to write WR this year, I think how absurd Love's choice was (considering how many talents were available last year).
If we had drafted WR in 2020 (Higgins, Pittman Jr, Shenault !!, Claypool !!!) it could have been a help perhaps already in the past season and a starter this season without the need for immediate drafting in the first rounds of the draft today with the possibility of leave Davante (alas) in 2022 .....
But we have Love so we are happy (sarcasm!)
Fabio
April 16, 2021 at 02:36 am
There are teams that take forever to find their Q, we have one that the whole world envies us and what do we do? .... let's think about the future! As if we had won many SBs !!
I still think that the vision of the project for this season is very criticizable also in view of 2022 (starting from the 2020 draft to get to the failure to acquire CB in FA or help Clark)
HankScorpio
April 16, 2021 at 05:53 am
When TT drafted Aaron Rodgers, he followed it up with Terrance Murphy, Greg Jennings, James Jones, Jordy Nelson and Jermichael Finley on day 2 of successive drafts. IOWS, he supported his QB of the future by giving him talented pass catchers. It's like TT had a plan to support his choice. Gute would be wise to follow that same model with Jordan Love. He's already one year behind.
Aside from that, the Packers have neglected pass catchers as much as any team in the NFL when it comes to pick on days 1-2 in recent years. There are some that look at the lofty numbers in regular season and whistle a happy tune, right past the grave yard of the 4th quarter of the NFC CG. When it was all on the line for another trip to the SB, they did not have the firepower to get it done.
So yes, WR is a need. You can point fingers at Kevin King over the NFC CG. And you'd be right. You can point your finger that their 3rd OT was not good enough. And you'd be right. But you can also point your finger at the WR room not being up to snuff. And you'd be right about that, too.
PeteK
April 16, 2021 at 07:29 am
Add fumble and injury to Jones to the factual reasons we lost. Not scoring TDs in the red zone towards the end of the game was surprising, but good defenses tighten up when there is less space. However, blaming WRs is speculation especially since we threw for 346 yds, and came within inches of a TD with Adams.
Fabio
April 16, 2021 at 07:46 am
Hi Hank
I point my finger on ideas!
When TT drafted Rodgers I remember that he was potentially a number one in the draft who then rolled due to unnecessary needs of the other teams and TT did not trade for him !!! So it was seen as a sudden once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that TT was right about (thankfully)
BG chose it as a priority !!! And JL was rated perhaps as not even within the top 5 !!!!
We fans know that in 2022 we will have problems with the WR body I don't understand how BG can't know !!! The past season is likely to remain epochal for the number of high-level WR present and how many of us have written? zero!!! But we want to write some this season !! I repeat having drafted a WR last year (between Claypool and all those available I feel bad at the thought!) It might have helped last season, but it certainly would have helped this season with the prospect of being able to resign in 2022 from DA (and I'm very sorry but he starts to get too old and with some injuries - it can be an extremely dangerous signature!).
BG didn't take a risk on an opportunity that rained down on him !!! He has chosen and sacrificed other choices for Love!
I disagree with the choice as a whole (risk, lost choices to make up for the trade, missed other choices, Rodgers years of play left ...)
And if he no longer believes in Rodgers or considers him a burden (it would be his evaluation, I may not agree, but I would respect it) then this season he must trade him because we will never again have the opportunity to receive as many compensation choices as this year! !! (Not to mention that we could also ask for a Q in exchange which would make Love's choice even more incomprehensible - think of a possible Russel Wilson ...)
Then there would be much more to say (CB - LB or D in general ...), but I stop here because someone says I'm too long in my posts (LOL)
A greeting
A pleasure to talk to you
Greetings from Italy
GPG