PackerPatrick posted:I am reading stuff about how Hooper is cool with coming to the Packers. I get that. But why would the team want to spend 10+ Mil per year on a TE after releasing a TE getting less? Is he really that much better than Graham? Is that really where the team wants to spend it’s limited cap money?
If he is, great, but I don’t see it. Am I missing something?
Or why pay $10 million for a TE when we could draft one at rookie salary?
He's a proven commodity. He is that much better for the Packers than Graham considering he can do multiple things, like blocking.
Not a great TE draft? Yeah, an option is to bring him in so you dump draft picks on big contributors on both lines and a couple of skill guys.
I wouldn't mind picking up Joseph in FA instead. Price might be better and the experience would be a bonus playing next to Clark. Keep Fling a Fak for blocking and short passing game and draft another TE alongside Sternberger. Lazard will play into that TE equation as well.
PackLandVA posted:So is "unofficial" free agency going to start tomorrow and official FA om Wednesday? Or is it going to be delayed?
@AlbertBreer: The NFL sent a memo to teams informing them that league business this week will go forward as scheduled. So ...
• Monday, 11:59 a.m. ET: Deadline for franchise/transition tags
• Monday, 12:00 p.m. ET: Legal tampering window opens.
• Wednesday, 4 p.m. ET: League Year begins.
Packers cap got hit by the new CBA. Basically a $5.3M reduction in available spending money. If they want to make an UFA moves. This doesn’t account for all of our RFA’s, which we will be keeping a bunch, so I’m guessing we will have to make more roster reductions if we want to shore up any weaknesses with vet FA’s. Lane Taylor is obviously a prime candidate, but Linsley’s $8M cap hit would help. Patrick isn’t a slouch at Center, Jenkins probably wouldn’t be either, I think we could make it work without CL. If push comes to shove I would rather have Bulaga at $12M hit than Linsley and Taylor at $12M.
Free agent LB Christian Kirksey has agreed to terms on a 2 year, $16 million dollar deal with the Green Bay Packers per his agency @SPORTSTARSNYC
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2020
Don’t know about that guy at all.
Kirskey’s signing will all but end Blake Martinez’s time in Green Bay. It should also end any Cory Littleton talk. It wouldn’t shock me if they double dipped at ILB because they’ve done that in the past (Graham/Lewis, Smith/Smith, etc...) but this is likely their big move at ILB.
— Andy Herman (@AndyHermanNFL) March 16, 2020
Pettine was the Browns' coach when they drafted him.
Solid deal. I'm guessing a 2 year deal sealed it. Sounds like he was a cap casuality partially due to injury. He brings a lot of solid intangibles with the skill set including replacing Martinez as field general. The injuries he had don't sound long term either but he has to prove he can stay healthy. Gotta think ILB will still be high priority in the draft.
When he was at his peak, Kirksey got after the quarterback when he was deployed, registering at least two sacks in each of his first four seasons. He’s a high-volume tackler who is built to play the run and the pass.
In just seven games in 2018, Kirksey had career highs in passes defensed (5) and interceptions (2). Like Alexander, Kirksey played special teams throughout his career. He played around 50 percent of the special teams snaps in his first four seasons.
Agree, if he can stay on the field. Guy's only played in nine games in the last two years.
I'm guessing that's probably it for FA.
Hopefully he stays healthy. Good low cost move, probably won't have a huge cap number in 2020, maybe ~$5M. They can probably get similar production to Martinez and then draft a better chase LB to pair with him. I'm curious what Curtis Bolton will do, he's a good fit paired with a thumper like Kirk.
Henry posted:I'm guessing that's probably it for FA.
I think we'll see one more "name" FA signing. Maybe a WR/TE/OT that doesn't break the bank. But if this is it and we fill those other holes via the draft that's cool, too.
Even better if we get the 6" Kirksey from Madden. A Juan Zamboni dream.
The #Vikings have agreed to terms on a 2-year extension with QB Kirk Cousins, per @MikeMcCartney7.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2020
Really like that move from the Queens.
Grave Digger posted:Hopefully he stays healthy. Good low cost move, probably won't have a huge cap number in 2020, maybe ~$5M. They can probably get similar production to Martinez and then draft a better chase LB to pair with him. I'm curious what Curtis Bolton will do, he's a good fit paired with a thumper like Kirk.
Pretty sure the Oren Burks experiment is going to continue but I hope they aren't banking on him as a chase guy even though that's what he was drafted for.
Basically, if Kirksey wasn't injured the past two years he'd be getting a big ass contract. He does everything Martinez does but also has some coverage skills.
michiganjoe posted:Really like that move from the Queens.
They didn't have a choice. I'm guessing that Harrsion Smith or Everson Griffin money. I love that move being a Packers fan.
PackerHawk posted:Henry posted:I'm guessing that's probably it for FA.
I think we'll see one more "name" FA signing. Maybe a WR/TE/OT that doesn't break the bank. But if this is it and we fill those other holes via the draft that's cool, too.
Even better if we get the 6" Kirksey from Madden. A Juan Zamboni dream.
I'd be happy as shit if they could get Linval Joseph. Those two signings alone would let Grzzzzz load up on skill guys and oline in the draft.
I don't get it...he's a good player, but in the twilight of his career.
The #Bengals informed star WR A.J. Green they're placing the franchise tag on him, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 16, 2020
The Packers sign Christian Kirksey but are reported to be very interested in Cory Littleton? Why both? Or does signing Kirksey mean that the team is no longer interested in Littleton? Inquiring minds want to know.
I mean they have literally nothing at ILB.
When the details come out, I am guessing Kirksey is essentially a 1 year, prove it type deal which is fine. From his rookie season through 2017, he was pretty damn solid as a ILB. So if he can stay healthy, that's a good get.
And no, I don't think Gutey is done.
#Vikings QB Kirk Cousins' contract extension clears $10 million in 2020 cap space, source said. He was due $29.5 million in final year of his old contract. Now under contract for three years, $96 million, including $61M fully guaranteed.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 16, 2020
I don't know how thrilled Prescott will be with this, but he probably doesn't have much choice. A couple of these players may also be available for trade.
Franchise tag roundup:
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 16, 2020
▪️DAL: Dak Prescott (exclusive)
▪️CIN: A.J. Green
▪️TEN: Derrick Henry
▪️KC: Chris Jones
▪️TB: Shaq Barrett
▪️NYG: Leonard Williams
▪️JAC: Yannick Ngakoue
▪️LAC: Hunter Henry
▪️BAL: Matt Judon
▪️PIT: Bud Dupree
▪️WAS: Brandon Scherff
▪️DEN:Justin Simmons
Jesus, so that's $152 million (if my math is right) for 5 years. That's a lot of money for someone who has one semi-meaningful win in his career.
#Packers have expressed interested in newly released former Lions T Rick Wagner.
Browns release Morgan Burnett.
The #Packers have agreed to terms with free agent RT Rick Wagner, formerly of the #Lions, per me and @MikeGarafolo. This signals what has become clear, that Bryan Bulaga is gone.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2020
Details on the Kirksey contract. That's an incredibly amazing deal 👀
— Andy Herman (@AndyHermanNFL) March 16, 2020
Russ Ball you sly fox you. https://t.co/xip3sY4J8b
"Kirksey had career highs in passes defensed (5)"
STAHP! I can only get so erect.
Another not pricey deal.
@AaronWilson_NFL: Rick Wagner (Packers): $11M total over two years base pay with $2.25M base salaries each year, plus $1M third day 2021 league year roster bonus, $250K workout bonus annual, up to $750K total annual workout bonus, plus $2.75M playtime base escalator in 2021, $500K incentive 2020
Can this guy play?
Hate to lose Bulaga, but such is life. Hope he cashes in somewhere.
I have never met Rick Wagner, but he was my cousin's roommate at Wisconsin. They played on the same offensive line at West Allis Hale high school and is close with many members of my extended family. From the people I have talked to about him, he is an awesome guy and while we sort of make fun of the "Packer People" thing, he truly is someone you want as a Green Bay Packer.
ilcuqui posted:Can this guy play?
Serviceable is the term I most frequently hear and the contract terms pretty well reflect that.
I'll say this for Gutenmeister. He don't fuck around. Ted would have shaved his cat, given himself a home perm, and re-painted the inside of his mailbox before he even realized FA was open.
And hats off the Russ Ball, these are really cap friendly deals that GB can easily move on from. It also gives GB a lot more lee way in how they draft when you fill some key needs and not have to find everything and everyone via the draft. incredibly refreshing.
Stop gap. RT is a major need in the draft.
RT
WR
ILB
As far as Wagner goes, he played much better when he was with the Ravens than with the Lions. Obviously that's why the Lions gave him a huge deal to sign a few years back as he was very highly regarded with the Ravens. Like Bulaga, he's had some injury issues that have hampered him, especially last season.
The nice thing about these two signings is they have no impact on compensatory picks. They could get full value from losing Martinez and Bulaga.
With the latest OT signing in the NFL for >$16M, I think Bulaga is just more than GB can afford. Hope Wagner can be serviceable and not a liability in a division with Khalil Mack, Danielle Hunter, and maybe Chase Young...not to mention competing against NFC teams with Nick Bosa, Frank Clark, Cam Jordan, etc. Their plan hopefully involves blocking TEs, because putting Wagner on an island is a recipe for disaster.
Per NFL insider Mike Lombardi, who is also linking with Peter King, the #Packers could be interested in trading for All-Pro Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins.
This was re-iterated on the Bill Michaels Show. Again, rumor at this point.
Peter King is dead-on accurate with his reporting on Hopkins. Last year, I said on GM Shuffle, there was the potential of a big-time receiver being available--that was Hopkins. @peter_king
— Michael Lombardi (@mlombardiNFL) March 16, 2020
packerboi posted:Per NFL insider Mike Lombardi, who is also linking with Peter King, the #Packers could be interested in trading for All-Pro Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins.
This was re-iterated on the Bill Michaels Show. Again, rumor at this point.
Peter King is dead-on accurate with his reporting on Hopkins. Last year, I said on GM Shuffle, there was the potential of a big-time receiver being available--that was Hopkins. @peter_king
— Michael Lombardi (@mlombardiNFL) March 16, 2020
IF players perform at a good enough level, the Packers just made two really quality deals. Are they better today than they were at this time last year? No, Bulaga and Martinez are objectively better players, but value also takes into account skill vs. cost. GB thinks will get more bang for their buck from these two, it’s hard to argue that’s possible if things fall right. Big gamble though.
