Addressing the Packers' 2020 Offseason
Green Bay was the second-best team in the NFC after just one year with Matt LaFleur at the helm. There's less critical work to do this offseason compared to last, but with one more year closer to Aaron Rodgers' retirement and still only one ring on his finger, it's as important as ever that the Packers refurbish their areas of concern efficiently and frugally. They won't pick until #30, but top prospects at Green Bay's areas of need will still be available - especially receivers. As far as clear, identifiable areas to address, here are the top positions I've identified as needing the most attention this spring:
ILB, WR, RT, TE, and DL
Here are Green Bay's Unrestricted Free Agents, sorted by 2019 cap hit:
Bryan Bulaga, RT, 31. 2019 Cap Hit: $8.35 Million
I've wanted a new starting Right Tackle option for a few years now, but if the 2019 Bryan Bulaga is the one we're working with moving forward, I've officially changed my mind. He's always had the run blocking prowess, but Bulaga finally found a way to both stay (mostly) healthy AND not be a complete liability against good edge rushers, doing a better job than fellow Tackle David Bakhtiari at holding off the Bosa brothers, Demarcus Lawrence and more. His Spotrac estimated value is $10 Million, and the Packers will have a good chunk of money to work with this offseason, so unless they're super high on a Tackle early on in the draft or have some other way to pull a starting Tackle out of a hat, I'd give Bulaga the money to keep him around as a career Packer.
Tramon Williams, CB, 37. 2019 Cap Hit: $6.375 Million
Williams didn't have a poor season as the third corner, mostly handling reps in nickel packages. This being said, he also didn't make much of a positive impact either, and now at 37 he'll have players competing for his reps who are 15 years younger than him. There's no way I'd bring him back for a price anything close to the $6.3+ million he made this year, but if he wants one last hurrah as a Packer for a cheap, one-year deal, I wouldn't mind keeping a veteran presence familiar with Mike Pettine's defense on our bench. However, if he's looking for CB3 reps or a very similar income in 2020, he's going to have to look somewhere else - and there's a good chance he is.
Mason Crosby, K, 35. 2019 Cap Hit: $4.85 Million
Crosby went 22-for-24 on Field Goals, including a pair of walk-off efforts, so the grey-haired veteran definitely has a claim on the Kicking spot in 2020. I don't see him holding out for a ton of money, and 35 is still a somewhat-in-their-prime age for kickers, so I'd be surprised if anyone other than #2 is kicking for the green & gold come September. This being said, Green Bay should still be doing their full diligence scouting Kicking options and bringing in a guy like Sam Ficken again to compete in camp.
Geronimo Allison, WR, 26, 2019 Cap Hit: $2.8 Million
Allison had a very disappointing 2019 campaign, putting up significantly worse stats than in previous campaigns while seeing much more playing time as a WR2/WR3. He was simply ineffective out there, dropping easy passes, failing to get open and removing any thought of being a vertical threat straight from fans' and coaches' brains. I won't even get into his legal troubles, but there isn't much at 26 that we haven't seen from Allison, and he really shouldn't be anything more than a WR4 for a team poised to make a Super Bowl run. If Allison wants big minutes on the field in 2020, he'll have to find them with a rebuilding team over an actual contender - something he and his agent are probably already planning this offseason. His time in Green Bay should be over.
Kyler Fackrell, OLB, 2019 Cap Hit: $2.2 Million
Kyler "Sackrell" had a pair of sacks coming off the bench as a backup edge rusher, sharing bench snaps with Rashan Gary while sitting behind star signees Preston Smith and Za'Darius Smith. I'm not sure what he's looking or asking for in free agency, as he does have a double-digit sack season under his belt (10.5 Sacks in 2018), but he's 28 and has never been a full-time starter. If he's okay with being a permanent backup and not making much more than the average annual value of his rookie deal ($784K), then I'd love to bring him back. However, if he's looking for rotational snaps or money closer to his 2019 cap hit of $2.2 mil, it's time to let the career Packer walk.
Blake Martinez, ILB, 26. 2019 Cap Hit: $2.12 Million
Martinez rarely disappointed at all through the first four years of his NFL career, and finished second in Tackles in 2019 is just the icing on the cake. He knows he's going to make WAY more money on the open market, and if you watch the interview he gave during locker clean-out day, the teary-eyed Martinez knew he probably played his last snap as a Packer. It's a business, and he'll be an enforcer wherever he ends up in 2020.
Marcedes Lewis, TE, 36, 2019 Cap Hit: $2.1 Million
I was surprised when Green Bay brought Lewis back on another 1-year, $2.1 million deal in 2019, but he performed just as well (if not better) than his 2018 trial run. He's 36 and isn't going to be anything more than a TE2 moving forward, but if Lewis wants to play another year and is willing to take a pay cut, I'd keep the veteran around for at least another training camp.
Jared Veldheer, RT, 33, 2019 Cap Hit: $831K
Veldheer was retired when the 2019 season began, and he was the fill-in Right Tackle when Bulaga was out by the end of the year. He did a decent job, especially in run defense, but I have no idea if the 33-year-old wants to give the NFL another shot in 2020. It seemed like he fit well with our offense and our coaches, so bringing him back for a low-end veteran deal for solid camp competition wouldn't hurt. Again, it's more up to him if he wants to put his body through another year of NFL wear and tear.
B.J. Goodson, ILB, 26. 2019 Cap Hit: $720K
Goodson was a salary dump for the Giants at the final cut deadline, acquired with flipped seventh-round picks. He served as the second Inside Linebacker next to Blake Martinez and honestly didn't do too much, tallying 41 Tackles and a single Tackle for Loss. He was just kind of there on defense, not exactly an ideal trait, and the whole Inside Linebacker position is in need of a makeover for 2020. This includes letting Goodson walk - unless Mike Pettine suddenly has a new plan to use him more effectively.
Tyler Ervin, RB, 26. 2019 Cap Hit: $720K (full season)
Ervin wasn't too productive on special teams in Jacksonville so they waved him, and after picking him up to begin December, Green Bay found their most productive return man. He proved he was slippery, hard to track and flashed burner-level speed, three things that could very well be enough to earn him another contract in Green Bay. Returners come a dime a dozen, and there will be plenty of attractive returning options in every round of the draft and in free agency, so Ervin isn't needed by Green Bay whatsoever. This being said, I like "Swervin' Ervin" and what he could bring to trick plays and abnormal packages. Green Bay needs more speed in every facet of the game in 2020, and bringing Ervin back for camp competition would certainly fall into that plan.
Ibraheim Campbell, S, 27. 2019 Cap Hit: $645K
Campbell wasn't much of a factor, playing about half of Green Bay's games off the bench and tallying 15 Tackles and a Forced Fumble. I actually think he looked better and faster in 2018, and entering free agency as a 27-year-old fringe backup Safety, the odds of him coming back to Green Bay compared to him signing as a backup elsewhere aren't too good. With a healthy Raven Greene and a better-disciplined Will Redmond, Green Bay won't have to worry about replacing Campbell's backup safety snaps in 2020.
Ryan Grant, WR, 29. 2019 Cap Hit: $521K
I'm still not entirely sure why Gutekunst chose to sign Grant, but my best guess is to have healthy veteran competition for his young receivers in practice. He was literally inactive for every week during his Green Bay tenure, and given the revamping the Wide Receiver corps requires this offseason, I'd be HIGHLY surprised if Grant gets another shot as a Packer.
WHAT THE PACKERS NEED TO DO IN THE 2019 OFFSEASON:
Draft or sign a new, athletic Inside Linebacker
Blake Martinez finished second in the league in Tackles, and he's due for a BIG payday as one of the best Inside Linebackers in free agency. He knows he's almost certainly done in Green Bay, and the backup options of B.J. Goodson (leaving in free agency) and Oren Burks (can't stay healthy and mostly a special teams talent) aren't going to fill his void. Kenneth Murray is a hyper-athletic draft prospect who may not even be left on the board at #30, but he should be VERY high on Green Bay's draft board, if not at the top. Patrick Queen is more likely to be around at #30, and he's definitely a starter-worthy talent and a top priority at #30. Behind those two, I don't see another Inside Linebacker who could step in and start for Mike Pettine's defense, so athletic free agent options like Cory Littleton and Joe Schobert would be smart to contact.
Re-Sign Bryan Bulaga to a multi-year contract
I said it in my season recap, and I'll say it again: I don't think there's a better realistic option to start at Right Tackle than Bryan Bulaga. He stayed healthy, held his own against pass rushers like I've never seen before and his run blocking prowess hasn't disappeared. His estimated market value is around $10 million according to Spotrac, and I'd give him a 3-year, $30 million deal in a heartbeat if it means keeping him around to try and get Rodgers another ring. There aren't any free agents that would cost less and still produce at the same level, and Green Bay needs to use their key draft picks on Linebacker and offensive weapons for #12.
Cut Jimmy Graham and add another starter-level Tight End
Jimmy Graham may be one of the worst free agents signings in recent Packers history, performing well below his salary for the past two seasons. Cutting him costs $3.67 million but saves $8 million, so it's really a no-brainer. With that money, they could cash in on a new Tight End - my favorite potential free agency acquisition being Hunter Henry - or use it elsewhere for a receiver, linebacker or Right Tackle and use a Day 2 pick on a new potential starting Tight End. Cole Kmet is the best of the incoming rookie class, but I'd expect Green Bay is scouting prospects like Hunter Bryant, Brycen Hopkins, Harrison Bryant, Adam Trautman, and Albert Okwuegbunam heavily. Other potential free agency additions include Eric Ebron, Darren Fells, and Tyler Eifert.
Add two, maybe three new young targets at Wide Receiver
I gave Davante Adams the edge over Aaron Jones for team valedictorian because dear god, could you imagine how pass our passing offense would be if Davante wasn't there? He was quite literally the only consistent target for Aaron Rodgers, with Jimmy Graham, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Geronimo Allison all significantly underperforming in 2019. Allen Lazard was a pleasant surprise, but let's be honest: he's a WR4, maybe a WR3 on a Super Bowl contending team. Green Bay needs at least two new major targets for Aaron Rodgers, and I'm liking the Odell Beckham Jr. trade rumors - he definitely wants out of Cleveland and his speed and shiftiness would cause major problems when paired with Adams. A.J. Green is a frequently linked player, and now he's free to join any team. Other big free agents I'd like to see potentially wearing the green & gold include Amari Cooper, Emmanuel Sanders, Robby Anderson and possibly a Randall Cobb reunion. The 2020 draft class is STOCKED with more receiving talent than I've ever seen, and there will be plenty of options at #30, #62 and #94 come April.
Re-sign Kenny Clark long-term
Out of all players entering the last year of their contract, I'm more worried about retaining Kenny Clark than Aaron Jones. I'm not saying he's more valuable, but he's been the only consistently productive D-Lineman for three seasons now, and without him, Green Bay would have one of the worst lines in the league. He'll probably be commanding more than Grady Jarret's 4-year, $64 million deal, and the biggest deal I would hand to him would be in the ballpark of 5 years and $80 million. I'm not handing out an annual salary of more than $20 million to a D-Tackle.
Wait to extend Aaron Jones
I know how important Aaron Jones was to our offense in 2019, and he'll undoubtedly be a major factor at a playoff push in 2020, but I'm not ready to hand him a huge extension yet. Last year was his first season that didn't end with an injury, and he's had multiple knee surgeries already by the end of year 3 in the NFL. It's common knowledge the shelf life of Running Backs isn't long, and I'd wait to hand him anything substantial until at least a completed, healthy training camp.
HERE'S OUR 2020 NFL DRAFT BIG BOARD:
1. Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma
2. Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
3. Patrick Queen, LB, LSU
4. Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado
5. Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
6. Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame
7. Josh Jones, OT, Houston
8. Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
9. KJ Hamler, WR, Penn State
10. Austin Jackson, OT, USC
Any prospects you think would be a great fit for the Packers? Any additional changes you'd want to emphasize this offseason? Let me know!
