Packers Current Prioritized Needs

I put DL at 1B behind WR.    I believe that Reed is a 1 year deal.   It all starts in the middle of the D and if we can win there it sets up the backers and the secondary to make plays.

Plus, those guys should not be playing more than 60% of the snaps if you want to get the most out of them and keel them healthy.   I strong D line rotation would take this D to the next level.

let's not all forget there is plenty of time after the draft to get a FA; there will be at least 3 cut-downs in the NFL before the season starts, TC for that matter...lots of time.

True and great point pkr north.  Ala Campbell and Douglas pickups last year.

@sschumer - Packer Fan HoF'r posted:

Guys, my current thoughts strictly on prioritized needs.  Welcome yours.  As background to this, current Packers Depth Chart:  https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/depthchart/GB

FREE AGENCY / TRADE

1 – WR:  Need at least one quality veteran to help replace loss to date of effectively the two starters from last year, Adams and MVS.  Resigning MVS and not signing another veteran or trading for one would mean relying solely on the draft to replace Adams.  That just doesn’t seem like the best strategy.  On the other hand, the Vikings did just that when they traded Diggs a couple of years ago and drafted Jefferson.  Would be nice if we could be as lucky.  Maybe we trade one of our #1 picks for someone like DK Metcalf to help replace Adams.  That would fit in more with our all-in strategy.  Or a lesser pick for a Cooks.  Or instead of MVS, we sign a better (?) FA like Landry, Fuller, etc.  My major point is if all we do is resign a guy like MVS and draft a WR even with our top pick, our WR corps will be worse in 2022 than last couple of years, which doesn’t mesh with the all-in strategy.  So expecting Gutekunst to do more than this, but not sure what.  

2 – OT:  Feels to me no one discussing, but losing Turner, Kelly and Patrick has robbed us of the majority of our OL depth.  Assuming starters left to right are Bakhtiari, Jenkins (may not be ready to open the season), Myers, Newman and Nijman, only backups then are Runyan at G, Hanson at C and Van Lanen at OT.  And if Jenkins isn’t ready to start the season, then Runyan does at LG and now you have only 2 backup OL.  Still not sure why we cut Turner in the first place.  Would like to see a veteran FA signing here, ideally bringing Turner back like the Eagles did with Fletcher Cox after cutting him.  Or bring back Kelly.  I thought both were good RTs for us.  If you do that, then you’ve got 3 good OTs and Van Lanen, and 3 good Gs.  Now you can draft some more depth.

DRAFT

1A – WR:  On paper right this minute we have the worst receiving corps (WR + TE) of 32 teams in the league.  Gutekunst just has to have a plan to provide Rodgers and this team with enough weapons to match his all-in strategy.  Thus, unless we do more via FA/Trades than I expect, I think taking two WRs, or one WR and one TE with both his #1’s would make a ton of sense.

1B – WR or TE:  See above.  Though not sure there’s a TE worth it here.  No doubt there are a few WRs worthy of going at #28.

2A – OLB:  Most important positions on defense in today’s pass-happy league are cover guys and pass rushers.  Love our CB corps of Alexander, Stokes and Douglas (and maybe Jean-Charles, a flop in his rookie season last year, develops), and happy overall with Amos and Savage at S, though Savage has yet to play up to his #1 pick status.  But after losing Z Smith and Mercilus, and considering Preston Smith is just OK as a pass rusher, our only significant threat is Gary.  Badly need another pass rusher.  Could see our 2^nd #1 pick used on one, and take the second WR or TE here, but for now will rank this need here.

2B – ILB:  Though we often only play one ILB and have Campbell, when we do play two Barnes so far is just average.  And if Campbell goes down we have nobody.  Would be nice to spend a premium pick here, put a young, talented guy next to Campbell who can run, cover and hit and the middle of our defense would be transformed.

3 – DE:  Love the pickup of Reed, and maybe the combo of him, Clark and Lowry (who had his best year last year) are a sold-enough set of starters with Slaton the key backup.  And understand we play only two DL on most plays.  Maybe we resign Lancaster, who is OK, and we’re good to go.  Heflin lukewarm on.  A 3^rd round pick to add to this group could really make this unit a strength.,

4A – PR/KR:  I think not too high to try and find a true and great PR/KR, something we’ve been lacking since the Desmond Howard days of the mid-90’s.

4B – S:  If Amos or Savage go down we’re in real trouble unless Packer coaching staff have hopes for Vernon Scott, Innis Gaines, Shawn Davis.  A 4^th round pick would add needed talent and depth to this unit.

5 – G:  Per above, when Jenkins comes back, and assuming Packers play him at LG, one of last year’s starters at G – Runyan or Newman – go to the bench.  For now I’ll assume that’s Runyan.  Good depth, but he’s it right now.  Need another G to develop.

7A – C:  Same as immediately above.  Hanson and Menet are current backup C’s.  Even a 7^th rounder could potentially be an improvement over both.

7B – HB:  A hedge against any issues with our current #3 back, Kylin Hill, being able to return 100% from torn ACL.

7C – WR:  Oh what the hell.  Maybe we find another Donald Driver who beats out one of our top WR picks!

Good analysis, sschumer.  My thoughts:

1A and B.  Totally agree.  I think the picks here can be WR or edge rusher, depending on who’s available at what spot.  This draft is loaded with good talent in both categories, so our chance of drafting a blue chipper here is fairly high.

2:  I would probably pick the best of what’s left of the ILB/defensive line prospects.  Whichever is the better choice at the time.

3:  Depending if we choose an ILB or a defensive lineman in round two, I’d probably take what we didn’t get in round 2.

4:  I really hope we decide to use starters on ST’s.  Hopefully we can get a decent returner from this group.  I think I’d decide to take an O lineman here, or a TE - best available.

5:  Here, I’d start looking for depth.  DB, WR, TE, linebacker, defensive lineman - best available.

Do we not have a six?

7:  More depth, ST players, best available

Fun topic!

It doesn’t happen too often on Draft Day, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Gute trades a pick(s) to another team for a PLAYER, possibly WR (assuming he doesn’t sign a vet prior to the draft).  I think he’ll look to see how the first 15-20 picks go, and what might be available at 22 & 28.

Also, as previously mentioned, the roster is not set. There are still good FAs available as starters at several positions, as well as plenty of “depth” FAs. And there are several “cut down” dates that will make even more players available.

Lastly, nice analysis sshumer!!

Screw sshumer. 

He thinks he's a Hall of Famer.

Oh, wait, NVM....

@Harry Manback posted:

Do we not have a six?

Harry Manback, no, we don't, traded it to the Texans for Randall Cobb.

We might need to double up on WR as MVS visited the Chiefs, today. Since Tyreek Hill left KC for Miami, I would not be surprised if KC made MVS an offer.

I wouldn't be surprised if MVS is visiting KC for financial leverage. If there's a guy they really like is on the board in the middle and later rounds I wouldn't be surprised if they draft a QB. AR is short-term and the organization pretty clearly has limited faith in what's behind him.

Is Mercilous definitely gone?

@Tavis Smiley posted:

Is Mercilous definitely gone?

Good question. I hope not. Perhaps he is in contract negotiations. I imagine that he wants more than he did before. He is not the player he used to be but I imagine that he still has skills and draws interest from other teams. He probably wants a longer contract now. I admire the fact that he was willing to come back from his injury so quickly. The coaches probably know best what his value is for the future.

Yeah, he’s a guy that will likely wait to sign. If they don’t bring him back they could (should?) double up on edge guys in the draft since it’s finally a good one for them.

Now we have to go big on WRs:

https://cheeseheadtv.com/blog/...nsas-city-chiefs-415

I think they need to sign a FA WR and everything else will be handled in the draft.  In the draft, I think they need to come away with:

-First Round: WR that can start in year 1. 

-First/Second Round: OL that can play multiple positions and start until Jenkins is back. 

-First/Second Round: DE that can contribute in year 1 and develop into a starter at the end of year 2 (replace Reed in 2023). 

-Second/Third Round: Safety that can develop into a starter in year 2 (replace Amos in 2023).

-Second/Third Round: Edge rusher that can develop into a starter in year 3 (replace P Smith in 2024). 

-Fourth Round: Inside linebacker to provide some depth behind Campbell.

Ideally it'd fall like this in the first four rounds.  After that, BPA. 

@mrtundra posted:

Now we have to go big on WRs:

https://cheeseheadtv.com/blog/...nsas-city-chiefs-415

We ain't got no WRs, we don't need no stinkin' WRs.

Is Andre Rison available?

As CBS Sports cap expert Joel Corry explained in his deep dive of the deal, nobody expected Watson to get this kind of contract considering the sexual assault and misconduct allegations he's still facing. It even looks like the Cleveland Browns adjusted the contract to help him with his looming suspension. Per NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, Watson's base salary for 2022 is just $1 million, which means if/when he's suspended, it will come out of that base.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/...five-worst-signings/

Seattle is in full tear down/rebuild mode so I am curious if they’d deal Metcalf or Lockett.  

DK is in the final year of his deal so if you’re GB would you give up a 1 for him?   He’s set to make about 5M this year, and might be a rental.

Lockett is actually a little more intriguing.  He’s signed on a long term deal but in reality it’s 2022 and 2023 as after that he and/or the team can opt out.  No way are they going to pay him 15+M per season after that but the next couple of years are more cap friendly.  If you offered both 2s for him would you do it?

It would be nice to get at least one more veteran WR to go along with Lazard and Cobb.  You add a guy like Lockett and pick a WR early that can contribute and that’s not a bad group.

I would not give up a 1 or a 2, this year, for anyone. We need to get cheap, quality players and our best bet of getting them is via the draft with our 4 picks in the first two rounds.

I want no part of Metcalf if it means serious draft capital. I think his me first attitude is going to get even worse when he's making $20 million a year.

The Packers have drafted 7 OL the past 3 years - their OL depth is good 👍

Over this time they drafted three (3)!!Centers alone - all of which are still on the roster

The Packers have drafted 1 WR the past 3 years - their WR depth is bad 👎

You get what you emphasize

— Ken Ingalls - Packers Cap 💰 (@KenIngalls) March 25, 2022

I'd like to see Gutekunst sign Landry, Fuller, or Cole. Would give them a bit more flexibility in R1/R2 for "BPA in a position of need".