AG20 Mock Offseason V2

[AlexGreen#20]

Got to give @Packerraymond credit for the inspiration on this one. 

I also toyed long and hard with the idea of cutting Linsley for AJ Green but decided against it. 

Cuts:

Cut Jimmy Graham

Cut Lane Taylor

That gets you to 45 million in cap. Take off 6 of that for draft picks and rollover (I normally take off 9 here, so this is me getting aggressive). Leaves you at 39.

Free Agency

Chris Jones (5/85/13)

The Chiefs are going to try and resign him, but he already held out for part of last offseason to get paid and they weren't able to come to an agreement. Hopefully he hits the market and the Packers are able to get it done.

Jones is everything you want from a DL in this system, he's huge and long (6'6 310) he's a great pass rusher from the spot (15.5 sacks and 49 PFR pressures in 2018). Just a genuine game wrecker for the offense. If we're going for it all. Let's go for it all.

Roy Robertson Harris (4/26/4)

Much like Chris Jones, Robertson-Harris fits the physical profile (6'6 290) and he was able to get after the passer this year (2.5 sacks 16 PFR pressures). He's only 26 and he opens up a ton of doors for us for putting 5 genuinely good pressures on a line with Smith-Jones-Clark-Harris-Smith. 

 

Nick Kwiatkoski (4/24/4.5)

The Bears are going to have to decide what they want to pay to put somebody next to Roquan Smith. They may very well decide they want to go with a rookie at that spot and let Kwiatkowski and Tevathan walk. 

I don't know if Kwiatkowski is going to be able to adequately fill in for Martinez, but he seems like he's got the best shot of doing it at a value that doesn't make me want to gag for paying an ILB. Plus he'll have the defensive line in front of him to try and make it work. 

 

These three signings leave you at 18.5 left in cap.

Resignings

Bulaga (4/44/8)

I don't think you can walk away from a stud tackle who's only 30 with a 36 year old QB. You've got to write this check, or at least a very similar check, and this seems likely to be the best value.

Crosby (3/10.5/3)

Need a Kicker, and Crosby is alright.

Tyler Ervin (2/4/1.5)

He was a great returner for us and we were starting to use him in the offense a little bit.

Marcedes Lewis (2/4/1.5)

He's a hugely important piece of our running game and one that it makes sense to bring back on the cheap. 

Veldheer (2/4/1.5)

Seemed to work out in spot duty. No way in hell do I let him start, but so long as the value shows as a backup Tackle, I'm all for keeping around for cheap.

 

Kumerow/Sullivan/Tonyan/Lancaster/Lazard (3.5 in total on EFRA extensions)

All cheap, all easy calls to bring back.

 

 

Draft:

Trade back with the Browns from 30 to get 41 and 90. We're not really looking for premiums here, so it makes sense to trade back a little bit.

41: Cameron Dantzler (CB-Mississippi State)

I don't have a great read on this guy and there are a couple of other CBs hanging around here that probably make just as much if not more sense. But I like the athleticism and the ability to play the vertical stuff.

We need a slot CB after losing Tramon.

62: Tyler Johnson (WR-Minnesota)

I love what Johnson does in the slot and his ability to seemingly always get open out of his cuts. He doesn't project quite as well to the boundary as some of the guys in a deep WR class, so he might be available here.

90: Thaddeus Moss (TE-LSU)

We'll see how he runs which will impact his stock immensely. The rest of the stuff isn't all there, but he's raw and the bloodlines are going to matter for him. the guy out of Purdue or even Albert O might be options here as well. 

If LaFleur is going to be sticking around long term, you need two good TEs and Lewis won't be able to stick around forever. I'm assuming he's got some wheels which is a trait we can use in our TEs even if Sternberger pans out.

94: Calvin Throckmorton (OL-Oregon)

Similar to Bakhtiari, Throckmorton is one of the strange Center/Left Tackle prospects that come out every once in a while. I like the athleticism and the long term upside, he just needs some time to develop.

If Lucas Patrick isn't the long term answer at Center, than Throckmorton can be while providing valuable backup reps at Guard.

126: Marlon Davidson (DE-Auburn)

I'm really confused as to what everybody doesn't like about Marlon Davidson that he's not being talked about as a high second round pick. The guy dominated in the SEC this year, led the conference in pressures. He's not of prototypical size, but he also wasn't getting pushed around either.

Keep stocking up on the DL. Can never have too many.

172: Michael Divinity (ILB-LSU)

Once again, I'm really confused why people are acting like Michael Divinity wasn't the best ILB on this LSU roster. He's a stud, and I get that he had some issues with eligibility and things this year, but man alive, he's something to watch, especially as a blitzer.

Even if he's just a Dime backer specialist. The Packers haven't had a 3rd down specialist ILB ever. He provides value just doing that and may well replace Kwiatkoski as the long term starter.

189: Justin Hill (WR-Mount Union)

Small school project at WR. I like the physical skillset, will need a year to figure everything out before having a chance to show it. Probably just camp fodder.

Another warm body to throw in at WR.

195: Case Cookus (QB-Nortern Arizona)

Heard from a guy that he was draftable. Haven't been able to find anything on him. Stats look good.

Give Boyle some competition for the backup spot.

219: Mitchell Wilcox (TE-South Florida)

Another project TE. 

Throw all these guys into the grinder and see if any of them clean up to be anything.

220: Raymond Calias (TB-Louisiana Laffayette)

Explosive undersized RB to take a flier on. Maybe he turns into something.

After Jones, our RB room is really mediocre.

 

 

 

Depth Chart

QB: Rodgers/Boyle/Cookus (3)

RB: Jones/Williams/Williams/Calias (4)

FB: Sternberger

TE: Sternberger/Moss/Lewis/Tonyan/Wilcox (5)

X WR: Adams/MVS/Kumerow (3)

Z WR: Lazard/EQ/Hill (3)

A WR: Johnson (1)

LT: Bakhtiari/Veldheer (2)

LG: Jenkins/Throckmorton (2)

C: Linsley/Patrick(2)

RG: Turner (1)

RT: Bulaga (1)

+++

0-Tech: Clark/Lancaster (2)

3-Tech: Jones/Keke/Adams (3)

5-Tech: Robertson-Harris/Lowry/Davidson (3)

ROLB: Z/Gary (2)

LOLB: Preston/Roberts (2)

ILB: Kwiatkoswki/Divinity/Burks/Summers/Bolton (5)

CB1: Alexander/Hollman (2)

CB2: King/Jackson (2)

Slot: Dantzler/Sullivan (2)

SS: Amos/Sullivan /Some UDFA (2)

FS: Savage/Greene (2)

K: Crosby (1)

P: Scott (1)

LS: Hunter (1)

Bolton, Hill, Cookus and Wilcox to the Practice Squad.

 

 

+++

ILB scares the hell out of me. 

The WR and TE group isn't THAT much better with the additions of Johnson and Moss, but with the loss of Graham. 

The big thing was the DL. This DL can now stand toe to toe with anybody in this league. 

[Packerraymond]

That DL is straight nasty. ILB I think is good enough. I think Burks plays well with a good DL in front of him.

WR/TE as you said is sacrificed for defense. EQ and Lazard show a year 2 jump, MVS plays more like the first half the season and Johnson clicks with Rodgers and that group will do.

If you're thinking trade down and grab a CB, not sure if you've watched Jeff Gladney from TCU, but he is my guy there.

[squire12]

Love Chris jones, just not sure GB would be the highest bidder when some other teams have nearly 2x the cap space.

Yes for Robertson- Harris

I am like warm on Kwiatkowski.  Think he is decent, but was it the surrounding CHI defense vs him.  With the DL additions, he could work out.

Rest of the resignings are spot on.

I like the CB as a sneaky need with king being a FA next year.  

Yes to Tyler Johnson.

Rest of the draft gets the right positions.  

Would like another WR sooner in a deep and strong class.

[Arthur Penske]

Like the defensive emphasis and players but this basically still leaves the offense effed if Adams goes down

[ReadyToThump]

The Chris Jones signing may be wishful thinking, but hey, I like it.

I really have no idea about Dantzler.

I'm really curious to see how Tyler Johnson runs. 

Overall, I love the draft and signings, good stuff AG.

[FinneasGage]

1 hour ago, AlexGreen#20 said:

Roy Robertson Harris (4/26/4)

Much like Chris Jones, Robertson-Harris fits the physical profile (6'6 290) and he was able to get after the passer this year (2.5 sacks 16 PFR pressures). He's only 26 and he opens up a ton of doors for us for putting 5 genuinely good pressures on a line with Smith-Jones-Clark-Harris-Smith. 

they're for sure gonna tender him? but if they don't he's one of my favorite targets as well. 

[Slinky]

Very unrealistic FA signings IMO.

[Packer_ESP]

I like how other mocks make even round 7 guys sound like all-pro locks and you make everyone look like a scrub with maybe some upside lol

[Leader]

1 hour ago, Packerraymond said:

That DL is straight nasty.

Seriously.

Hope we can sprinkle a bit of Fantasy Football into our offseason, cause I think we're gonna need it to make that big a FA haul.
Do we really, really, really.....need to take a CB with our (lower) #1 pick? Not questioning the talent but will be *ever* draft a WR first?  Even its a way out of the first round first?

IF we were able to build that Maginot Line of a DL....couldnt we throw the offense a bone with the top pick?

 

[beekay414]

2 hours ago, AlexGreen#20 said:

I'm really confused as to what everybody doesn't like about Marlon Davidson that he's not being talked about as a high second round pick. The guy dominated in the SEC this year, led the conference in pressures. He's not of prototypical size, but he also wasn't getting pushed around either.

Daniel Jeremiah has him going 29th to the Titans FWIW. 

[TransientTexan]

wow, that would be the mother of all DL, esp. if you include EDG in that. Probably $87m+ cap spending on defense. Would have to have like a top-4 defense for that kind of money. If Pettine can't make that work, that'll be a clear sign to get a new DC.

Still got some receiving reinforcements, though not as much as some would like I'm sure. Combining a bunch of lottery tickets like EQ/Sternberger/Lazard development and rookie production from Johnson & Moss. Hopefully one of those can be a passable #2. 

Does this take any snaps from Gary? 

[rbens06]

Would not be upset with this offseason, but I dont think we invest that much in the defensive line and think that if we got Jones that would be a huge plus to the line in and of itself. Clark in all likelihood is extended this summer for good money and Lowery got a nice bump recently, so that would be a ton of money to tie into the front seven and think we would be in an either or situation with Jones and Robertson Harris. Not a huge fan of Kwiatkoski either. as noted by others I think our ILB would work if we did have that DL, just not sure if Kwiatkoski is the guy that would capitalize best with that unit, with that said I'd be ok with him as he gives us experience and has flashed at times. Like Bulaga back, but hope we can get him cheaper, but numbers make sense in all

Draft wise, I get moving back and even taking a corner, not a huge fan of that as our first pick, but I get it. Love that middle of the draft and think that could pay huge dividends down the road. Johnson and Moss are high in my book. Johnson, even though I think they play a little different, reminds me of Adams. When a play was needed he came up with them and he always seems to find a way to create space/find holes and he goes and gets the ball. Saw a lot of him from high school up and think he could thrive with us.

[Cakeshoppe]

8 hours ago, Arthur Penske said:

Like the defensive emphasis and players but this basically still leaves the offense effed if Adams goes down

To be fair, one would be pretty tempted to say that about this year’s team but it wasn’t reflected on the field without Adams

[OneTwoSixFive]

I like the bold move for Chris Jones, though If Kenny Clark sucks up $16m pa when re-signed and Chris Jones gets his Spotrac estimated $19.2 pa there won't be much left for anyone else. My big vet FA expenditure was ILB Littleton, but I can roll with the even bigger bucks for DE Jones.

Given the Packers over-investment in DB's (from 2014 onwards) I'd hate to see yet another CB as the Packers first pick, when the neediest need is to improve the front 7 on defense. I wouldn't take a TE this high either, it being  a poor year for them. I would get a TE in the draft  if value is there (which could be said of any pick) but with a later pick

I'd like to see WR/DL/ILB as the first three picks - but given your monster Chris Jones deal, I could go with something like WR in the first, then with the next two picks WR (again)/ILB (in any order), or WR/ILB/OL. I'd get a CB, but later, in round 5/6. If I took two high WRs one would be more tailored for slot duty and the other out wide. If I hadn't taken an O lineman in round 2/3, I'd go for one in 4.

Edited January 26, 2020 by OneTwoSixFive

[Joe]

RRH may not get tendered because he kinda fell off late last season. I remember that link to the discussion about him on the Bears board awhile back. Still, I really like the signing and I'd also disagree with Kwiatkowski. I think he'd be a solid player on defense regardless of the talent or lackthereof around him as evidenced by his performance down the stretch after a slew of injuries and an offensive implosion. Jones may be a bit too ambitious, however just like when a couple other people here had us signing Armstead. I doubt KC or SF are going to break up their DL and if anything, KC would build around Jones. 

I actually like the Dantzler pick. He's a taller, bigger body but unlike Kevin King he doesn't bring speed to his game. May be better off at Safety and we could get him at pick 60. I've become lukewarm on Johnson because he's a bit finesse and we'll have to see how he runs at the combine. I think KJ Hill is the safer pick at 60 because of his footwork and physicality. Moss would be a steal in the 3rd and Throckmorton would be great at RT, though I'm not saying he can't play left.

I'm skipping over the DL prospect because I don't know much about him. I too, however, wonder why we're not talking about Michael Divinity a bit more; probably because of the meteoric rise of Patrick Queen and all the other parts of that LSU team. I question the logic of the 7th round pick though I don't mind the prospect. I'm just curious as to why you would draft a flier to join what you consider to be a mediocre RB room behind Jones; what really are you adding at that point?