2020 Free Agency Thread

A couple of interesting tidbits:

On T Bryan Bulaga:

According to a source, the Packers have not had any talks with his agent since the season ended.

There’s plenty of time before the free-agent period begins, but if the Packers were eager to get him under contract they probably would have done so already. The team may be waiting to see how the CBA goes and whether they will have more salary-cap space than anticipated. 

It’s unlikely that outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell will return to the Packers.

The unrestricted free agent will be looking for more playing time after losing snaps to free agents Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith last season. Fackrell’s sack numbers dropped from 10½ in 2018 to one in ’19.

Teams that dig deep will find that Fackrell had the second-best pressure rate (pressures per play) behind Za’Darius Smith, but his inability to finish will cost him some money in free agency.

Fackrell, a source said, is likely to sign a one-year deal with another team that will allow him to show what he can do with more playing time.

A couple of takeaways from the combine: The Packers are intent on adding on a pass-catcher both in free agency and the draft and plan to make a run at Falcons free-agent TE Austin Hooper. Also, they were scheduled to meet with Aaron Jones' agent, who is interested in starting talks on a new deal for the running back as he's entering his final contract year.

Rob Demovsky, ESPN Staff Writer

Hooper would be a nice add for sure. Was hoping we'd be able to snipe Albert Oblahblahblah out of Mizzou in round 4, but his 4.49 40 at 260lbs will make that impossible. We'd need to probably get him in round 2...which given our other needs is a non-starter.

Buluga isn't going to take some hometown discount.  He already made that clear when he was approached about restructuring his previous contract.  I would imagine the FO is waiting to see what the draft brings before negotiations start.

Well if they wait until after the draft he’ll be long gone before negotiations can even begin

As well as Bulaga played last season there is a significant risk involved in extending him. Jason Spriggs was supposed to be the guy and my guess is Gutey gives it another shot.

YooperPackfan posted:

Well if they wait until after the draft he’ll be long gone before negotiations can even begin

Ahh, good point.  Dates and such.

I'm pretty sure Buluga would have no problem testing the market.  He's basically going to be a starter or retire, that's it.

Bless his heart....but it needs to be asked whether he's ascending or descending...can you picture 2-3 more healthy years from him?

You basically have to weigh "can you picture 2-3 more healthy years from him?" vs. "can you imagine RT (and the whole right side of the OL) w/o him?".

michiganjoe posted:

As well as Bulaga played last season there is a significant risk involved in extending him. Jason Spriggs was supposed to be the guy and my guess is Gutey gives it another shot.

I've heard more then once now supposedly  the Packers consider Jenkins as a potential long term solution at RT. Bill Micheals just brought that up again last week and claims GB is considering it. He played both RT and LT at Mississippi.

I love him inside and the job he did his rookie year. I just don't know how he'd be kicked out to tackle.

As for Bulaga, yes of course I'd love to see him back but the injury history cannot be ignored. In 10 years, he's had 2 seasons where he started 16 games. "Better off moving on a year early" saying keeps poppin' in my head when it comes to players like this with injury histories.  See TJ Lang, Josh Sitton, etc.       

bulaga is a really tough call.  the whole 'get rid of a guy one year early' thing keeps playing in my head, i remember tj lang and sitton both of whom really didn't make a dent like they were supposed to...i guess sitton did better of the two, but both were injured quite a bit.  knowing 75's history, i would draft OL high and see if we can keep the flying dutchman from retiring.  it REALLY will set the tone for FA and the draft whether or not gutey resigns 75.

At this point, I'd move on from Bulaga because I don't believe he will be healthy the entire season. Lots of good OT in this draft. If Jenkins is the long term plan at RT, then go out in round 2 and draft the best pulling guard in the class Netane Muti and plug him in at LG.

Spriggs was a dumpster fire year one. If he were a 6th round pick his ass would have been gone long ago. 2nd round trade up means they hung on to him this long.

Chongo posted:

Hooper would be a nice add for sure. Was hoping we'd be able to snipe Albert Oblahblahblah out of Mizzou ....

Was watching film of Albert O  a few days back. Like Him.

Depressing part was he was destroying Oren Burks on multiple plays. 

DH13 posted:

You basically have to weigh "can you picture 2-3 more healthy years from him?" vs. "can you imagine RT (and the whole right side of the OL) w/o him?".

Not with who is currently on the roster.  Yes, you could shift guys like Block It man or Turner around but I'm not convinced about the depth behind them.  Plus, I don't know how well Turner would fare at RT. 

If his demands are reasonable for a solid RT I'd sign him.  I'd just make sure the contract protects the Packers in case of injury.  They still need to draft more depth on Oline even with Buluga onboard.

https://profootballtalk.nbcspo...un-at-austin-hooper/

Guess we'll see.....lotta good WR's in the draft. Very deep

In my ideal world

Packers sign Littleton and Hooper in FA

Packer draft Jalen Reagor at 30

Christina Hendricks pledges her undying lust for me

We have a date tonight...I’’ll ask for you.

Adding another sister-wife eh Kiel? Adding a ginger to the stable...you should be close to the complete set by now.

Not gonna happen Timpranillo. 

Packers are going with Murray at 30.

Blair Kiel posted:

Now you're being as ass.

No, he was being a sphincter...lol...

Packdog posted:

Chongo posted:

Hooper would be a nice add for sure. Was hoping we'd be able to snipe Albert Oblahblahblah out of Mizzou ....

Was watching film of Albert O  a few days back. Like Him.

Depressing part was he was destroying Oren Burks on multiple plays. 

Wouldn't that have been something like a freshman beating up a senior?

Gauging interest in Schobert

I get the feeling Buluga and Schobert will be intertwined decision making.  If they could hit on Schobert that would be huge in more than one way (10 mil a year).  It also means they have to consider Martinez, calling the defense along with finding a capable counterpart.  

Burks appears to be a 3rd round STer.

TBH I have not watched Schobert at all, but he must bring a hell of a lot more to the table from playmaking ability than Blartinez because he's a lot slower based on combine numbers.

Not sure on Burks...is it that he can't cut it and can't be trusted, or are they not giving him a fair shot (reps) to improve? Not looking good on him though...

The point Dougherty made the other day stands out.  He's been given opportunities to be the starter at the beginning of the season and plays himself onto the bench.  What's even worse is you rarely even see him in spot/rotation duty.  That's pretty damn bad considering the state of ILB.

Link

If the Packers don’t re-sign veteran Bryan Bulaga, they don’t plan to move Elgton Jenkins to right tackle. The second-round pick from last year played so well at left guard that they don’t want to disrupt that. In fact, they view Turner, who played right guard, as a more viable option at tackle if they lose Bulaga in free agency. Also, it’s a tackle-rich draft, so they could find a replacement there.

I'd like to see GB sign Schobert, Littleton or Kwiatkoski and then still draft Murray, Queen or Dye to shore up that position once and for all.  

Yeah, they still need starters as well as depth.  If they could essentially swap Martinez for Schobert when it comes to a cap hit that would be solid.  Having a rookie starter next to him would be even better.

Really hope the interest in Hooper and Schobert are smokescreens.  I'm sure Gute will inquire what they are looking for to gauge the market.  However, Hooper is just not impressive.  He is stiff and cannot get open on his own.  Paying top FA for that skill set is not where it it's at.  Instead, looking at a guy like Hunter Henry, who is young and might sign a prove-it deal (he has battled injury), seems like a better approach to me.  I like Schobert - he is more of a playmaker than Martinez, but he will command top dollar and run defense is not his forte.  I hope the interest in Kwiatkowski from the Bears is real.  Young guy, ascending, smart player, rangy, and plays the run very well.

Packmeister posted:

Packdog posted:

Chongo posted:

Hooper would be a nice add for sure. Was hoping we'd be able to snipe Albert Oblahblahblah out of Mizzou ....

Was watching film of Albert O  a few days back. Like Him.

Depressing part was he was destroying Oren Burks on multiple plays. 

Wouldn't that have been something like a freshman beating up a senior?

Yeah, pretty ugly. Must’ve taken a lot of other good tape to get that out of your memory. But yet GB still drafted him. 

I want no part of Billy Turner at RT. 

PackerHawk posted:

I want no part of Billy Turner at RT. 

We need to draft a replacement/back up for Bulaga. IMO, Turner is not it. If we cut Bulaga, we may need to draft two OTs just to have some depth at the position.

Make no mistake. Bulaga was very good in 2019. VERY good. The biggest question is....

Will he stay healthy with a big contract?

It's a tough call. Glad I don't have to make it. 

Unless he takes a very reasonable deal, I'd move on.  A year early instead of a year  late.

Chongo posted:

At this point, I'd move on from Bulaga because I don't believe he will be healthy the entire season. Lots of good OT in this draft. If Jenkins is the long term plan at RT, then go out in round 2 and draft the best pulling guard in the class Netane Muti and plug him in at LG.

Spriggs was a dumpster fire year one. If he were a 6th round pick his ass would have been gone long ago. 2nd round trade up means they hung on to him this long.

It's not that he was a 2nd round pick that he was kept around. What kept him around was that the scouts believed he had the ability that made him a 2nd round pick.

Teams better believe in their scouts ability to project guys to the NFL. They believed Spriggs had the talent. I don't think there is any doubt he checked the boxes, but IMO he just didn't have the strength and could/would gain that strength to be an NFL tackle.

I still think he would have been better as an inline TE or a DE.

Bulaga was a first round pick.

Spriggs was 2nd

Not certain if you were referring to Bulaga or Spriggs in your 1st paragraph. If Spriggs. My apologies in advance. 

https://profootballtalk.nbcspo...-headed-to-the-jets/

AtTheMurph posted:

Chongo posted:

At this point, I'd move on from Bulaga because I don't believe he will be healthy the entire season. Lots of good OT in this draft. If Jenkins is the long term plan at RT, then go out in round 2 and draft the best pulling guard in the class Netane Muti and plug him in at LG.

Spriggs was a dumpster fire year one. If he were a 6th round pick his ass would have been gone long ago. 2nd round trade up means they hung on to him this long.

It's not that he was a 2nd round pick that he was kept around. What kept him around was that the scouts believed he had the ability that made him a 2nd round pick.

Teams better believe in their scouts ability to project guys to the NFL. They believed Spriggs had the talent. I don't think there is any doubt he checked the boxes, but IMO he just didn't have the strength and could/would gain that strength to be an NFL tackle.

I still think he would have been better as an inline TE or a DE.

Except he showed all flaws that were a knock on him coming out a college, particularly that he was soft.  Again, scouting and tagging a guy as a high pick because "he looks the part in his undies" is stupid. 

Considering Gertie, Wolf and Highsmith were all part of that FO leaves to question if it was a combined failure or were there particular FO "trains of thought" that shit the bed. 

Haven't heard of a lot of college OTs making the transition to TE or DE.  Spriggs couldn't make the transition to his natural position.  Long Oren Burks can't even handle the transition from SS to ILB.

Boris posted:

https://profootballtalk.nbcspo...-headed-to-the-jets/

Mayo would certainly be able to speak to his ability to fit his scheme.  Not sure why the Titans declined his option.

Spiggs' problems were in his head.
Can't predict that, unfortunately.

Tagging AJ Green

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story...ag-receiver-aj-green

God....Cincinnati sucks. I feel bad for Green