2017 Draft/FA Needs - Ranked

[PackerDNA]

Equally as baffeling is a guy that is comfortable with Matthews and Fackerell as your complete list of pass rushing specialists on the entire roster as of now.

Which goes back to 'hey, maybe it's pass rush that's the #1 priority'.
Look, we're not getting the answer at CB in the draft at #29. You draft one, but you get a top CB in FA.
A lot of people here have suggested what I'll call a game of shuffle the dollars. It goes like this;
Take Shields money, give it to a top FA CB.
Let's expand on that.
A) Perry prices himself out of here by demanding to be paid like one of the game's top LB's - which he's not.
Take his money give it to the Pat's Donte Hightower.
B)Cut Thomas, don't resign D.Jones or Peppers, take the savings and give it to Hightower.
C) Cut Matthews, give the money to Hightower.

See how it works? Ain't this fun??? And you could do it in other parts of the roster, too! You can even combine other tools like trades, getting creative with the cap through many of the tools designed to do so, waiver pickups in season, on and on!
Then, instead of a bunch of JAGS, never were's/never will be's, experiments and trying to shove round pegs into square holes, or keeping the same dead weight on the roster year after year, or rolling over $10M a year never to be used, we could actually use the money, cap and roster space to sign better players! Impact, big play type of guys instead of a bunch of JAGS and schmos and reaches in the draft.
Then - looking at you guys, TT and MM- maybe we could actually be legitimate SB contenders and- OH MY GOD!- actually win titles instead of just talking about it every year!!!

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Which goes back to 'hey, maybe it's pass rush that's the #1 priority'.
Look, we're not getting the answer at CB in the draft at #29. You draft one, but you get a top CB in FA.
A lot of people here have suggested what I'll call a game of shuffle the dollars. It goes like this;
Take Shields money, give it to a top FA CB.
Let's expand on that.
A) Perry prices himself out of here by demanding to be paid like one of the game's top LB's - which he's not.
Take his money give it to the Pat's Donte Hightower.
B)Cut Thomas, don't resign D.Jones or Peppers, take the savings and give it to Hightower.
C) Cut Matthews, give the money to Hightower.

See how it works? Ain't this fun??? And you could do it in other parts of the roster, too! You can even combine other tools like trades, getting creative with the cap through many of the tools designed to do so, waiver pickups in season, on and on!
Then, instead of a bunch of JAGS, never were's/never will be's, experiments and trying to shove round pegs into square holes, or keeping the same dead weight on the roster year after year, or rolling over $10M a year never to be used, we could actually use the money, cap and roster space to sign better players! Impact, big play type of guys instead of a bunch of JAGS and schmos and reaches in the draft.
Then - looking at you guys, TT and MM- maybe we could actually be legitimate SB contenders and- OH MY GOD!- actually win titles instead of just talking about it every year!!!

You do realize that Ted Thompson is still the GM right?

He would have a stroke reading your suggestions! Or was that your intention?

 

[PackerDNA]

You do realize that Ted Thompson is still the GM right?

Unfortunately, yeah.
Ain't reality a *****?

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Unfortunately, yeah.
Ain't reality a *****?

Just poking fun at you. Half the fun here is talking about "what we would do if we were TT", but when reality slaps us in the face and probably a good thing for the Packers, none of us are TT.

 

[PackerDNA]

It is fun though, ain't it? The good natured digs I especially enjoy.

You do realize that Ted Thompson is still the GM right?

He would have a stroke reading your suggestions! Or was that your intention?

Heh.

 

[Half Empty]

Which goes back to 'hey, maybe it's pass rush that's the #1 priority'.
Look, we're not getting the answer at CB in the draft at #29. You draft one, but you get a top CB in FA.
A lot of people here have suggested what I'll call a game of shuffle the dollars. It goes like this;
Take Shields money, give it to a top FA CB.
Let's expand on that.
A) Perry prices himself out of here by demanding to be paid like one of the game's top LB's - which he's not.
Take his money give it to the Pat's Donte Hightower.
B)Cut Thomas, don't resign D.Jones or Peppers, take the savings and give it to Hightower.
C) Cut Matthews, give the money to Hightower.

See how it works? Ain't this fun??? And you could do it in other parts of the roster, too! You can even combine other tools like trades, getting creative with the cap through many of the tools designed to do so, waiver pickups in season, on and on!
Then, instead of a bunch of JAGS, never were's/never will be's, experiments and trying to shove round pegs into square holes, or keeping the same dead weight on the roster year after year, or rolling over $10M a year never to be used, we could actually use the money, cap and roster space to sign better players! Impact, big play type of guys instead of a bunch of JAGS and schmos and reaches in the draft.
Then - looking at you guys, TT and MM- maybe we could actually be legitimate SB contenders and- OH MY GOD!- actually win titles instead of just talking about it every year!!!

Strictly a rant, or do you want us to start taking shots at this?

 

[PackerDNA]

Strictly a rant, or do you want us to start taking shots at this?

Not a rant, common sense, doable possibilities open for discussion.
You want to 'take shots', knock yourself out. If you want to dismiss out of hand as a 'rant', maybe you'd be better off not bothering.

 

[brandon2348]

Still baffled as to why anyone is suggesting any position other than a corner in the 1st rd. Corner was by far the weakest link on defense. In fact, on the entire team. The Packers don't have one complete corner on the roster. Not 1. They need a guy with size, who's not afraid to tackle, instincts, ball skills, and can run with NFL WRs. Period.

The reason being for me is by the time the Packers pick at 29 the CB position has a drop off and the next tier of talent at CB runs through the 3rd round. You cant say the same thing about edge rushers.

 

[Dantés]

I'm a little baffled as to why some are so eager to police what positions may and may not be talked about during all the free time the offseason brings.

We don't know what FA will bring and we don't know who will be there on the board at #29. But we DO know that the team can use help at more than one spot, even if corner is the biggest need, and that locking oneself in to a particular position regardless of talent available can be a recipe for total failure.

 

[7thFloorRA]

I say Watt at all costs because he is probably a 35-40 pick and TT has no pick in that area. I think he is the next clay but with a bigger frame to fill in and without the juice. At all costs for me means you draft him 10 spots early or you trade up to the top of the 2nd rd. Im a Miami fan too...not a badger homer.

 

[brandon2348]

I say Watt at all costs because he is probably a 35-40 pick and TT has no pick in that area. I think he is the next clay but with a bigger frame to fill in and without the juice. At all costs for me means you draft him 10 spots early or you trade up to the top of the 2nd rd. Im a Miami fan too...not a badger homer.

I'm a Miami fan too but I am also a fan of Badgers . I like the idea of trading up with there second. If they did that they could probably get both Haason Red**** and Watt. I would be very happy with thay scenario.

 

[7thFloorRA]

I had Stacy Coley as 1 of my late rd picks!!! hammy issues though.....

 

[brandon2348]

I like Corm Elder as a sleeper pick.

 

[Half Empty]

Which goes back to 'hey, maybe it's pass rush that's the #1 priority'.
Look, we're not getting the answer at CB in the draft at #29. You draft one, but you get a top CB in FA.
A lot of people here have suggested what I'll call a game of shuffle the dollars. It goes like this;
Take Shields money, give it to a top FA CB.
Let's expand on that.
A) Perry prices himself out of here by demanding to be paid like one of the game's top LB's - which he's not.
Take his money give it to the Pat's Donte Hightower.
B)Cut Thomas, don't resign D.Jones or Peppers, take the savings and give it to Hightower.
C) Cut Matthews, give the money to Hightower.

Since you later say this if for real, very quickly:

Which top CBs will remain FAs, and which will take Shields money? Currently, his cap hit would buy something in the #16 or below range.

If pass rush is a priority, it seems counterproductive to buy one outstanding guy in Hightower and end up with Fackrell and Elliot as your OLBs with only Daniels as any kind of a proven DL.

 

[Dantés]

Because Gilmore is so far and away the best corner in free agency (if he actually gets there), and because it's such a premium position, I am guessing he will merit around 14M/season. And honestly, I would be totally happy if all they did was keep their own important pieces and sign Gilmore. He would be overpaid at that number, but he would also be a bonafide #1 with the ability to change the whole defense by pushing everyone else down an assignment.

 

[PackerDNA]

Since you later say this if for real, very quickly:

Which top CBs will remain FAs, and which will take Shields money? Currently, his cap hit would buy something in the #16 or below range.

If pass rush is a priority, it seems counterproductive to buy one outstanding guy in Hightower and end up with Fackrell and Elliot as your OLBs with only Daniels as any kind of a proven DL.

Your first sentence I don't even have a clue as to what you mean.
The rest is the same lazy 'which ones' stuff that some posters think passes for counterpoints.
Let me be quick, and if you choose to continue to play dense, good for you.
You take Shields money, add to it whatever for the life of the contract while coming in well below the new guys average for the first couple of seasons( see Cobb's deal).
As to the rest, you don't end up there, you begin there. Again, multiple ways to clear up cap space, draft, trade, free agency.
Come on HalfEmpty, I know you know exactly what I'm saying; I don't have all day to type to spell out every last thing for you.

 

[proudsoftballdad]

AS LONG AS TT is our gm the FA list can be cut down to unrestricted free agents that have been cut its that simple TT has never and will never sign a a free agent that may interfere with his draft pick compassion. HE MAY BE MORE ACTIVE . but its still going to be a player from that small list.

 

[Arthur Squires]

The CB position in this class is deep along with RB. If you don't get someone at those positions in the 1st or 2nd, we can still get really good players at both positions in the 3rd, 4th or 5th.

 

[rodell330]

I'm a little baffled as to why some are so eager to police what positions may and may not be talked about during all the free time the offseason brings.

We don't know what FA will bring and we don't know who will be there on the board at #29. But we DO know that the team can use help at more than one spot, even if corner is the biggest need, and that locking oneself in to a particular position regardless of talent available can be a recipe for total failure.

Lol he said we don't know what FA will bring hahahaha. Uhhhh yes we do lol.

 

[rodell330]

Because Gilmore is so far and away the best corner in free agency (if he actually gets there), and because it's such a premium position, I am guessing he will merit around 14M/season. And honestly, I would be totally happy if all they did was keep their own important pieces and sign Gilmore. He would be overpaid at that number, but he would also be a bonafide #1 with the ability to change the whole defense by pushing everyone else down an assignment.

Gilmore isn't as good as some of you think he is. I have many Friends that are Bills fans and they can't stand Gilmore.

 

[PackerDNA]

The CB position in this class is deep along with RB. If you don't get someone at those positions in the 1st or 2nd, we can still get really good players at both positions in the 3rd, 4th or 5th.

That's one of the biggest problems with this team, and with Thompson's refusal to use all avenues of team building. There is too much inexperience being counted on for too much. Drafting a CB at #29 will almost certainly not address the problems there. Get veteran help.

 

[PackerDNA]

Gilmore isn't as good as some of you think he is. I have many Friends that are Bills fans and they can't stand Gilmore.

Could that at least partly be because the Bills usually suck?
Almost every scouting report I've seen on him speaks very well of him overall.

 

[Dantés]

Gilmore isn't as good as some of you think he is. I have many Friends that are Bills fans and they can't stand Gilmore.

Gilmore had some real highs and lows in 2016, but he was playing for the Ryan bros, who probably ask more of their corners than anyone else in the league (not to say that Capers' system is super corner friendly). But he's had more than one excellent season as a #1, and even if he only gave the Packers his 2016 self, that would be majorly impactful. But I think there's a good chance that he's better outside of Buffalo and that Ryan system. But the reality is that the Packers need a #1 corner, and Gilmore has far and away the best chance of being that guy of anyone on the market. There are other names, but none that rival him in terms of quality. Trumaine Johnson is probably the next best, but he's much riskier.

But weren't you just expressing your displeasure that people were talking positions other than corner? So when I do talk corner, do I need to check in with you regarding which ones I may talk about? Or are you just here do "Lol"?

 

[GreenBaySlacker]

After we sign perry. We will have nathews, perry , fackrell, elliott rfa. Not a bad line up.
At cb we need a impact #1cb in fa. If we do that. Even if hyde leaves... I think the cbs would be ok. But not much room for injury at either position.

Im still a believer that dline will be the key to our success. We need solid depth that can get push. Stop the run and force double teams. We need that so the lbs can do their job, so the secondary in turn can do their job...

 

[Arthur Squires]

My official 1st Round options!
1.Many mocks have him being a Packer and I've wanted him since early last year. He would be the weapon we've needed for Rodgers. Upgrade the position with some elite quickness RB Christian McCaffrey.
2.Just one of the most talented athletic players in the draft, with the ability to play multiple positions plus ST. Would be a terrific hybrid LB/ DB for our defense. The question is will he fall this far like analysts say Jabril Peppers.
3.The best player at his position and maybe a long shot to fall to us but I've got a gut feeling it's possible. A TE that can do it all, block and catch the ball. We drafted another Bama player that was supposed to go early, this year TE OJ Howard.
4.A LB that some doubt but I believe can flat out play, sideline 2 sideline and physical also. Reminds me of CJ Mosley who we missed on, LB Zach Cunningham.
5.Last but not least and most may think impossible but I've another feeling this Stanford player may fall into our lap. He may be small for our scheme but he's an explosive sack fiend and Dom would love him on his chalkboard, DE/OLB Solomon Thomas. Well that's where I see TT going. I know there isn't a handbook for this crap but I'm having fun so there.
The 5 McCaffrey,Peppers,Howard,
Cunningham,Thomas.