2019 NFL Free Agency/A Busy Day for Green Bay

[PeaveyFury]

I'm still hoping for the same two guys in the first round, Sweat at 12 and Fant at 30, but maybe the Packers think Allen is going to be a elite edge rusher and they move up for Allen, or Fant's stock keeps rising and they can't afford to wait until 30 to take him.

 

Now just a Saints-like Lattimore-Ramzcyk-Williams-Kamara draft and maybe we'll get Arod another Super Bowl or 4 during the rest of his time here in Green Bay.

 

This draft is incredibly important, as is this offseason as a whole. So far so good....

 

Sweat is increasingly unlikely to be there at 12, and I'm just not willing to give up the fantastic capital we have this year to move up unless Allen or Bosa start falling. I think what yesterday's moves have done is removed the 'need' to pick an Edge at 12, and they can go whereever they'd like. I'd be modestly surprised if 30 (if they stay there) isn't one of the TE's, but I'm increasingly convinced that they may look for value at 12 or trade down with a team looking to move up if a QB falls to there. Gute seems like the type that may go BPA with that pick.... i.e., are you better off taking the 4th Edge off the board, or the best OT/WR/CB/S if guys like Jawaan Taylor, D.K. Metcalf, Greedy Williams are there as one of them is likely to be.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

He looked so drained to me last season. Like a noticeably diminished player. I don't doubt he'll get plucked out of the bargain bin soon, but if I were a GM I just wouldn't bother. He has a chance to be decent somewhere but I would rather go with a 23 year old than clog a roster with Randall Cobb. 2/14 or something sounds like what he'll get, with low guaranteed $$ and an out for the team to release him if he proves to be washed up.

[GAME05]

Before all this the Packers had so many big holes I thought trading the 12th for more picks would've been the best move. Now they still have the same needs, but it all just doesn't feel as desperate.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Before all this the Packers had so many big holes I thought trading the 12th for more picks would've been the best move. Now they still have the same needs, but it all just doesn't feel as desperate.

 

The rushers they got yesterday bump the reasonable expectation to being in contention in the NFC again IMO. They have needed guys like that for so long, it's really depressing to think about. They had an old but still really productive Peppers, but prior to that you probably have to go back to young Clay or a year of Cullen Jenkins for a comp. Anyone saying they overpaid is nuts. Overpaying is the name of the FA game. If you wanted edge players under 30 that have proven they can play that is what they cost.

 

The residual effect is also huge. Blake Martinez can be the really good supplementary player he probably should be rather than the star you're trying to force him to be. Dean Lowry and Fackrell also seem like they'll get a boost from adding that kind of talent. And they haven't even drafted anyone yet. Just two huge additions. Hopefully they stay healthy.

[Point Beer Is Best]

Yesterday set the Packers up really well for the draft. Their biggest holes going into the offseason were that they needed two starting EDGE players, two starting safeties, and a starting OG. Well they checked off 4 of those 5 needs. They can truly take BPA or move around as they please to target specific players.

 

With the rumors that they were in on Malik Jackson, and Daniels seemingly on the decline, a guy they might be looking at with their first pick is Ed Oliver. Most mocks I've seen have him going a few picks ahead of us (7-10), so they may have to move up from 12 if he's the guy they covet.

 

Of course Blake Martinez is also in the last year of his rookie deal, and there was some crazy money thrown at ILB so far, so maybe another guy that hasn't been mentioned too much is Devin White.

[FVBrewerFan]

Since I've seen a lot of incorrect information out there, even from usually reliable Packers- related sites, I figured it would be helpful to post the cap hits for these deals. These are rounded numbers, and may not be 100% accurate, but should be very, very close.

 

The up-shot is they still have money to spend this year if they want to assign more FAs and/or swing a trade. Also, always the option to free-up more space by cutting/trading one or more of Williams, Graham, Crosby, Bulaga. They still need to save space for the rookie class, but the point of all this is they do have more room to maneuver than I expected.

 

Here are the total CAP SPACE hits for all 4 signings combined. If I have time later I can post the individual info if anyone's interested. Important to note, in each case they are 4 yr contracts. Although after the first two years they have options. 3rd yr is a push or slightly in the Packers favor (Cap savings vs dead money) And by the 4th yr they could easily be cut to save big cap room.

 

4 yrs/ $182MM/ incl $56MM Signing Bonus

 

2019: $23MM

2020: $48MM

2021: $54MM

2022: $57MM

[Pugger]

Randall Cobb is most certainly NOT worth 3/24. That’s pure and utter insanity. Cobb is a league minimum (veteran) player now, at best.

 

Will Cobb become an UFA this spring?

 

 

Cobb's a UFA as of right now.

 

It will be interesting to see what kind of interest he draws...

[PeaveyFury]

 

4 yrs/ $182MM/ incl $56MM Signing Bonus

 

2019: $26MM

2020: $45MM

2021: $54MM

2022: $57MM

 

Prior to these signings and factoring in the Perry cut, the Packers had ~$38.2 million in cap space. Their draft pool is estimated at $10.3 million. Including that, and assuming your number for 2019, they've got about $1.9 million to work with free and clear, and more pending other cuts/restructures.

 

Za'Darius' contract is the only one I haven't seen official numbers on yet, which implies some skepticism about his agents' details from yesterday. The others total $16,150,000, so I'm curious how his was officially structured. Update: Spotrac has his cap # at $7,250,000, leaving the Packers ~$4.5 million under the cap right now.

[KeithStone53151]

 

4 yrs/ $182MM/ incl $56MM Signing Bonus

 

2019: $26MM

2020: $45MM

2021: $54MM

2022: $57MM

 

Prior to these signings and factoring in the Perry cut, the Packers had ~$38.2 million in cap space. Their draft pool is estimated at $10.3 million. Including that, and assuming your number for 2019, they've got about $1.9 million to work with free and clear, and more pending other cuts/restructures.

 

Za'Darius' contract is the only one I haven't seen official numbers on yet, which implies some skepticism about his agents' details from yesterday. The others total $16,150,000, so I'm curious how his was officially structured. Update: Spotrac has his cap # at $7,250,000, leaving the Packers ~$4.5 million under the cap right now.

 

According to this, the Packers have much more cap space than is being noted here.

 

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I gave up trying to figure this stuff out long ago.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Skins forced to cut Zach Brown. Yikes, that is a pretty top level player to be out there. Who knows if we were one of the teams trying to work out a trade.

[PeaveyFury]

 

4 yrs/ $182MM/ incl $56MM Signing Bonus

 

2019: $26MM

2020: $45MM

2021: $54MM

2022: $57MM

 

Prior to these signings and factoring in the Perry cut, the Packers had ~$38.2 million in cap space. Their draft pool is estimated at $10.3 million. Including that, and assuming your number for 2019, they've got about $1.9 million to work with free and clear, and more pending other cuts/restructures.

 

Za'Darius' contract is the only one I haven't seen official numbers on yet, which implies some skepticism about his agents' details from yesterday. The others total $16,150,000, so I'm curious how his was officially structured. Update: Spotrac has his cap # at $7,250,000, leaving the Packers ~$4.5 million under the cap right now.

 

According to this, the Packers have much more cap space than is being noted here.

 

 

I’d bet that is still gross of the draft pool, and as he noted doesn’t include the RFAs. My number will be a bit low since some of the draft will offset the top 51, so I think they still have room to make another serious move or two if they want.

[FVBrewerFan]

 

4 yrs/ $182MM/ incl $56MM Signing Bonus

 

2019: $26MM

2020: $45MM

2021: $54MM

2022: $57MM

 

Prior to these signings and factoring in the Perry cut, the Packers had ~$38.2 million in cap space. Their draft pool is estimated at $10.3 million. Including that, and assuming your number for 2019, they've got about $1.9 million to work with free and clear, and more pending other cuts/restructures.

 

Za'Darius' contract is the only one I haven't seen official numbers on yet, which implies some skepticism about his agents' details from yesterday. The others total $16,150,000, so I'm curious how his was officially structured. Update: Spotrac has his cap # at $7,250,000, leaving the Packers ~$4.5 million under the cap right now.

 

According to this, the Packers have much more cap space than is being noted here.

 

 

I corrected my numbers above now that we have Za'Darius break-out. As far as what's left:

 

$38MM - $23MM= $15MM remaining. Tom has an extra couple million, not sure why. But relatively close. After rookie pool, they have $5-$7MM to spend yet.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

With Tyrell Williams going to the Raiders, it is possible/likely Jordy Nelson will be released. Get ready for an influx of reunion talk.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Just a guess but if Nelson is cut I think he retires. I did just see this which is interesting:

 

"Nelson was largely overlooked last season as well, but after a slow start in Oakland, he actually came on strong at the end of last season. He had 38 catches over the last five weeks of 2018, third most in the NFL over that time."

[superfly]

I'm still hoping for the same two guys in the first round, Sweat at 12 and Fant at 30, but maybe the Packers think Allen is going to be a elite edge rusher and they move up for Allen, or Fant's stock keeps rising and they can't afford to wait until 30 to take him.

 

Now just a Saints-like Lattimore-Ramzcyk-Williams-Kamara draft and maybe we'll get Arod another Super Bowl or 4 during the rest of his time here in Green Bay.

 

This draft is incredibly important, as is this offseason as a whole. So far so good....

 

Sweat is increasingly unlikely to be there at 12, and I'm just not willing to give up the fantastic capital we have this year to move up unless Allen or Bosa start falling. I think what yesterday's moves have done is removed the 'need' to pick an Edge at 12, and they can go whereever they'd like. I'd be modestly surprised if 30 (if they stay there) isn't one of the TE's, but I'm increasingly convinced that they may look for value at 12 or trade down with a team looking to move up if a QB falls to there. Gute seems like the type that may go BPA with that pick.... i.e., are you better off taking the 4th Edge off the board, or the best OT/WR/CB/S if guys like Jawaan Taylor, D.K. Metcalf, Greedy Williams are there as one of them is likely to be.

 

 

After what we spent yesterday on the position I sure hope that isn't the #1 priority at 12.

[Point Beer Is Best]

I corrected my numbers above now that we have Za'Darius break-out. As far as what's left:

 

$38MM - $23MM= $15MM remaining. Tom has an extra couple million, not sure why. But relatively close. After rookie pool, they have $5-$7MM to spend yet.

 

 

I think they will actually have a bit more. It may cost about $10M to sign the rookie class, but since just the top 51 salaries count towards the cap, it may only impact the cap by $3-$4M. Many of the draft picks will be below the top 51, or only incrementally larger and replace the bottom few on the top 51.

 

Other interesting note is that Perry was not released with the Post-June 1st designation, so they are taking his full cap hit in 2019 rather than spreading it out over two years.

[Outlander]

Correct, after signing their draft picks it will reduce their cap room by 4 or 5 million

[PeaveyFury]

It did give me a lot of joy to see that after signing Barr, the Vikings basically have no cap room to do anything.

[PeaveyFury]

The Packers have re-signed Marcedes Lewis to a 1-year deal.

 

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

The Packers have re-signed Marcedes Lewis to a 1-year deal.

 

 

I view this as LaFleur doubling down on his commitment to the running game. Lewis is probably one of if not the top blockers in the league. He's a solid receiver who was underutilized in that department by McCarthy. I am getting more and more excited to see what a TE corps of Graham/Lewis/Tonyan and a drafted rookie can do in an innovative offense that plays to their strengths.

[CheezWizHed]

"Nelson was largely overlooked last season as well, but after a slow start in Oakland, he actually came on strong at the end of last season. He had 38 catches over the last five weeks of 2018, third most in the NFL over that time."

[sarcasm]What?!? Trade our #44 pick for him![/sarcasm]

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Just a guess but if Nelson is cut I think he retires. I did just see this which is interesting:

 

"Nelson was largely overlooked last season as well, but after a slow start in Oakland, he actually came on strong at the end of last season. He had 38 catches over the last five weeks of 2018, third most in the NFL over that time."

 

Nelson was officially released today. Adam Humphries said today in his introductory press conference with the Titans that the Patriots expressed interest in him before he chose the Titans. Nelson would likely come pretty cheap.

 

There's a few dots there to connect.

 

 

As for him returning to the Packers, I think that ship has probably sailed.

[Pugger]

Jordy might not come back until he retires a Packer. You have to wonder why Gruden let him walk, unless he is going to bring him back for even less.......

[OldSchoolSnapper]

We safety swapped with the Bears. Sorta.