Extra Cheese: We're on to the offseason

FEATURE

Extra Cheese: We're on to the offseason

Aaron chats with Packers fans worldwide about all things Green and Gold.

Jan 21, 2020

Earlier this evening I held my Packers chat over on our YouTube channel, brought you by our friends at Festival Foods. You can catch the replay below.

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Comments (6)

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Thegreatreynoldo

January 22, 2020 at 02:42 am

It sounds wrong to pay big bucks for a free agent WR when the draft is supposedly loaded with WRs. I do not expect the plethora of great WR prospects in the draft to cause FA wide receiver prices to drop significantly, which is the only scenario I can envision that would justify signing a veteran FA wide receiver.

Most of the contracts for the last 6 seasons have been heavily backloaded, and I see no reason to believe that Clark's extension won't be as well. Two contracts that weren't backloaded are Linsley's and Lane Taylor's, and that is why there are some comments out there about these two getting released/traded.

There might be some surprise cuts, but the only contracts that move the needle in terms of cap space are Graham, Bakh, Adams, Linsley, Taylor and Clark. Folks have suggested that Lucas Patrick could play OC or that Jenkins could be moved to OC and Lane Taylor or Patrick could play OG. I don't want to mess around with Jenkins' development, and don't think Patrick is a starter. Graham and Taylor might be and probably will be cap casualties.

Elway going all in on Peyton Manning and some free agent signings has nothing to do with the doldrums Denver has been in since their super bowl win. Flacco, Keenum, Siemian completely explain their poor records. Going "all-in" is fine by me unless it means shipping multiple future first round picks to other teams for immediate help.

I am not a fan of taking a QB with a 1st or 2nd round pick, but I suppose if a QB with a first round grade that Gute/Lafleur thinks can be a franchise QB drops to pick 30 or pick 60, that might be prudent.

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Guam

January 22, 2020 at 10:35 am

Rodgers' contract has been restructured and assuming Graham and Taylor are cut, does that free up enough cap space to sign Clark, Bulaga and an ILB (Martinez or someone else) at market contracts? Does it leave any space for an additional signing like a D-lineman and at what level (high or mid)?

Sorry to burden you with these questions TGR, but you are my go to cap expert and I think these will be key questions for the Packers offseason!

Leatherhead

January 22, 2020 at 12:10 pm

Yeah, I wish this WR talk would just disappear, but it won't. I agree that Graham is a cap casualty and that's fine. I'm not sure about Taylor. I thought that when they acquired Turner the plan would be to move him to RT if Bulaga were hurt, or not re-signed this year.

They're paying enough for Patrick that it makes me wonder if he's our future RG, or primary interior backup behind Jenkins-Linsley-Taylor. If you're all in on Rodgers, that means doing everything you can to keep him upright, and that means the 8 offensive linemen you suit up all need to be people you can count on, not some UDFA rookie with potential. If we retain Bulaga , I don't think we need a premium (top 100) pick on the offensive line.

We can't go into training camp with Sternberger and Tonyan as our top two TEs, especially if you want to play double TE and run the ball, so I'm looking at ONE FA acquisition on offense and that would be a legitimate, dependable, good-blocking TE.

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Guam

January 22, 2020 at 04:49 pm

One of Taylor/Turner/Linsley/Bulaga need to go. They are all being paid starter money and there is only cap room for three. I think Taylor is the odd man out at this point, but it could be Bulaga and some have speculated it might be Linsley. I think Patrick is the backup for all three interior O-line positions and Veldheer is the backup at tackle. If only Taylor goes, I agree that we need not spend a high draft pick on the offensive line.

I was leaning toward a high pick at TE until the last couple of games. Sternberger has shown himself to be a willing and effective blocker and he has decent speed and hands. He may be our starting TE next year although I wouldn't mind seeing the Packers draft a developmental tight end in the later rounds. Additionally the pundits are saying this draft is thin at TE which means any meaningful addition at TE will likely have to come through free agency and I don't know if we can afford that given other needs. It will be an interesting offseason!

mnbadger

January 22, 2020 at 12:56 pm

My two cents: sign a good veteran wide receiver. Rounds 1&2 draft best available wideout and inside linebacker. Rounds 3&4 repeat but include quarterback and offensive tackle. Remaining picks on best available, making sure to get two athletic inside linebackers.