"But with three dominant players in Kenny Clark, Campbell and Jaire Alexander at all three levels of the Green Bay defense, the tide is changing."

I'd argue there's MORE than just three players Cory. No offense Cory and I agree with those three completely, but I'd also include Rashan Gary too. Not to mention Adrian Amos was pretty damn GREAT in 2020 and still really solid in 2021. Hey if Stokes doesn't hit a sophomore slump, this defense is cooking with gas.

IF the Packers can get a running mate for Kenny Clark and Darnell Savage plays MUCH closer to the last 9 weeks of 2020, this is one of the top defenses in the ENTIRE NFL...Easy!

Not to get off topic, but does anyone really no why BJ Raji stepped away from the game (and stayed away)? Man, he made it easy to cheer for him...loved his motor. That Pick 6 and dance against Chicago was beautiful!

The three highest paid players on the Packers are on offense....Rodgers, Adams, and Bakhtiari. Together, those three players make more than the entire defense combined.

Edit: How does a simple statement of fact get a downvote?

THE 3-4-4 is here to stay. Thats what these signings mean. It doesn't prioritize anything. And I believe after the success of Campbell, Amos, Smith, Mercilus, and Douglas. Gute will continue to get veterans for it. It's what Wolf did. Mix in a few picks. And its real change. The returns allow the offense to Re-Load.

Packers took this long to realize this?

I was reading Douglas was a priority over Campbell. I also believe Campbell would be the most difficult player to replace on the D. So very happy he is back. He is the first Packer all pro ILB since Nick Barnett in 2007, I believe.

Now get Douglas re-signed, who has said he wants to return.

Keeping both those guys will greatly help Gutey's decision making for the draft.

Hicks played in maybe 5 games last season because he was injured. If we could have gotten him 5 years ago, I'd say yes to getting him. Not now, though. I'd look to the draft for either a Jordan Davis , a Wyatt or DeMarvin Leal at DT. All three have been available to the Packers at 28 in various, recent drafts. We would get a solid DT, with either of these three, and at a rookie price.

IMO Campbell was the most important FA they had to sign. (after tagging Adams).

Campbell was a Perfect fit for the defense. He brought leadership, he brought speed, he brought technically sound play to the ILB position. They have their key piece in the middle of the defense now. Something they really have not had since Desmond Bishop.

For the remaining FA's, I hope Douglas is at the top of their list. I would absolutely love to see them to have Alexander, Stokes and Douglas as our top 3 CB's.

I hope they can bring back Tonyan and Lazard also.

"PENDULUM Is Swinging Toward Defense"...I can picture K Greene looking into both eyes of Clay announcing, "It is TIME!"

On a side note, I hope we can draft (or FAs) some ballers for special teams. Buy them all shirts that have a picture of Stuart Smalley from SNL stating, "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough and doggone it, people like me..."

Go, go, go Pack go....one-handers....go!

More in made public on #12's contract:

His new deal is essentially a four-year contract worth just under $160 million, per CBS sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones, but things get exceedingly complex upon review of the paperwork.

It contains two dummy (void) years on the back in that serve as placeholders and allow the Packers to spread the cap hit more evenly, per NFL Network, and drops his 2022 salary cap hit from $46.66 million to roughly $28 million. Rodgers will earn $150.6 million of the aforementioned $160 million in the first three years of his contract ($50 million average per season), including a robust $136.5 million over the next two seasons, the latter breaking down to $74.5 million to be earned in 2022 and $62 million set to be earned in 2023.

Here are the cap hits for each of the next three seasons:

2022: $28.5 million (decreased from $46.7 million)
2023: $31.6 million (increased from $7.7 million -- previously voidable season)
2024: $40.7 million

As I feared, 75 million in dead cap after 2024. That contract helps this year but eats up predicted cap increases virtually single-handedly. The dead cap represents almost the entire increase projected (with tv money) till 2026.

This team is going to get older and more and more reliant on a few aging vets and a lot of first and minimum contract types.

This is the kind of contract that kills teams for years after. Not only is rebuild not the word, it will be a tear down, but it looks like we’ve no way out if Rodgers declines or gets hurt.

Absolutely insane. One year, maybe 2 with no real ability to sign FAs and aging players around a guy who hasn’t had enough around him before and will be 39 by this post season.

If we don’t win it this year, our chances are going to decline not rise. By the end of this we will make last year’s Bears look like spring chickens. At that point we aren’t rebuilding, we are scorched earth. If anything happens to Rodgers in the interim we are equally screwed.

I would say that there is an over 90 percent chance this will go down as the worst contract ever entered into by the Packers.

I love the Packers, but it’s not worth having anything invested in this leadership. What a ludicrous price to pay for a one, maybe 2 year run back with slightly less than before. Enjoy it while it lasts, because next year the decline begins snd the precipice is now well and truly guaranteed.

My disgust for the Packers FO is unprintably extreme. No fun in debating how lemmings strategically approach the cliff, so I think I will wean myself off doing so.

It's funny you mention Hicks. I too think he would be an excellent addition.

Rodgers new cap hit is $28M. Brady's cap hit this year is $20M.

Hick's projected contract is... $8M/year

Prioritizing defense (AND Special Teams) is probably prudent considering this supposedly vaunted offense...designed by one of the disciples of the vastly overrated Kyle Shanahan, and led by our All-World regular season QB... has averaged a whopping 18.6 ppg during our last 3 playoff losses.

There is a reason why I am not employed by an organization in the NFL. I don't have the knowledge nor the interest to deep dive to learn all the ramifications (good and bad) of decisions made when it comes to a player and their contracts. What's best for the team both long and short term, not a strong clue.

As a fan with a love and genuine interest in the Packers and football for that matter...I am not excited. I tend to go off of my gutt feeling, that is just my personality. I don't have much faith in Rodgers both on and off the field that I see in regards to Packer topics. Correct, I do not know him and he isn't writing about me and my character...I get that. But, because he has been (is)
super talented, we should just accept the shrapnel (sp?) that flies from his character? When a contract is signed, doesn't he owe the Packers his best side? Obviously not, through my eyes. I am currently not a business owner, but...this seems to be a decision that was more out of panic than rationale.

I don't think this new money on Rodgers will change him and his abrasiveness. What appears team-oriented to help make him look good (follow the bread crumbs) comes back to HIM.

I apologize for this sentiment, I hate throwing out negative energy, especially someone's potential character in regards to their long term employer. Just being honest with my opinion and gut feeling. I hope I am wrong. I will always appreciate Aaron for his dedication to his craft but so want to move on from him and this situation (will it need to be revisited every year with him?)

I am no better than the next person, we are all trying to do the best we can. Hell, I have more issues than Sports Illustrated. I guess I just have to see how this plays out and hope for the best..

This team has been overly obsessed with the offense for decades now! Accordingly, its terrific for them to keep Campbell. If they can add Douglas, I would consider it a HUGE success for Gutes and Ball! But my overriding concern is that paying Rodgers' and Adams RIDICULOUS money is not going to get us a Super Bowl! Rodgers' is not hungry anymore and is frankly far too in love with himself and not the team. Adams ONLY cares about the status of being the highest paid WR in football. These are the guys who are going to take us to the "promised land"? I hope so but I have serious doubts...