tynimiller
Cheesehead
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He came up in another thread and not to derail that specific thread's purposeful topic I'll make a specific one here to get this no doubt conversation that will be needed in the offseason.
Free Agent WRs next year came up and of course the discussion is going to be thick in Green Bay because we are set to lose all of the following:
Allen Lazard
Sammy Watkins
Randall Cobb
If we throw in TEs...we are losing:
Marcedes Lewis
Robert Tonyan
Now many have said they want us to sign someone next year, but we should not resign Lazard...
Now let's stop pretending Lazard isn't going to get paid and doesn't deserve it. This young man has consistently gotten better over the years and is on pace if healthy rest of the season to finish with around 850 yards, probably 8 TDs or so (only 15 games). That isn't found everywhere, especially from a guy that sees a TON of snaps every game he is in there and is arguably one of the best blocking WRs presently out there in the league. I 100% believe he is of more value than MVS and suspect he at minimum will get around that same figure ($10M/Year). Let's also realize Lazard isn't old truly. He will be only 27 next year. Easily Green Bay could see him as the best FA option to bring back for Rodgers if he is back or Love due to relationships, known in system and proven to have continued getting better every year.....BUT let's play the FA game below....
here is a list of the most of the WRs hitting FA known as of known in 2023:
Nelson Agholor
Sterling Shepard
DJ Chark
Randall Cobb
Olamide Zaccheaus
Deonte Harty
Marvin Jones
Julio Jones
Byron Pringle
Allen Lazard
Jakobi Meyers
JuJu
AJ Green
Mack Hollins
Sammy Watkins
Breshad Perriman
Parris Campbell
Rashard Higgins
Equanimeous St Brown
Deandre Carter
Darius Slayton
Mecole Hardman
Zach Pascal
OBJ (depends on what or if he signs this year)
Now I get it, some don't think Lazard is an answer....BUT truthfully look over that list. If you don't recognize one of them truly look them up and see their production (I know one on here that may surprise you)....how many of these FA WRs are in your opinion CLEARLY a yes over Lazard? I get to three...maybe... and it gets tough and the 4th one is OBJ who is unknown at this time.
To me here are some of my thoughts...the first three are my three before Lazard, but there are some truly thought provoking options after them.
OBJ - I'll take him over Lazard at this stage in his career far more than before. I don't feel the diva mentality as much and feel this is a move ONLY to do if Rodgers is here in 2023, I don't want him if it is Love's team however - WR like that can be hell mentally on a young QB.
Cobb - Hear me out. This is far more situational and positional than saying he is better than Lazard. IF Rodgers is back I think bringing Cobb back isn't going to cost a lot, and it offers that experienced slot guy that lets' be honest when in still 100% is a contributor in all aspects of the game. I could argue signing Cobb back cheap is a move to do prior to deciding if you can work out something with Lazard.
Darius Slayton - Yes he is a smaller receiver (194 vs Lazard's 220+) but Slayton is a receiving threat IMO with a ceiling still not quite reached. He came into the league and in his rookie and sophomore year put up 740 and 751 yards amassing 11 TDs in that two year stretch. The third year he didn't quite see the field every game and just didn't get the targets or such as normal, seeing his snap counts drop from over 80% of snaps first two years to less than 50%. This year he is back up near 60% of snaps and has 566 yards and 2 TDs right now. It's somewhat of a gamble trying to project which Darius you get...but he is not far from being a SOLID WR2 option and he has to still be or close to the 4.39 forty timed guy in the combine IMO. Some sites estimate his value to be in that $3.5M-$4.5M a year range most likely for a two or three year deal. I really like the concept of a two year deal for him, but wouldn't be against a three to pair with Doubs and Watson through their rookie deals but not beyond.
Mecole Hardman - (caveat is Cobb is not signed back for me) KC took MVS...we take back a guy this offseason to serve our slot/speedy in seams option in Hardman. There is just too many reasons I don't envision KC getting him resigned and I also don't think he is going to demand even the money Lazard gets and could be a real option for that motion small slot guy if Cobb isn't signed back especially. With a speed of 4.33 as well, I like the pairing of him with Watson and Doubs... he has a solid set of hands for a speedier guy at a career percentage of 68.6%.
JuJu - This is arguably to me the only WR on the list of guys that IMO is worth battling Lazard for spending near or above the $10M mark...but IMO comes with higher ceiling than Lazard in the yardage production field. Like Hardman I just don't know if the Chiefs will be in the game for him...and the fact Hardman is going to be cheaper I see more of a chance that they find the money for him before JuJu. JuJu this year however is proving there is still some of the JuJu that produced big stuff in Pittsburgh in his game. In Just 11 games he has 688 yards, a couple TDs and a catch percentage flirting with his highest ever at 73.2%. He has a similar body type to Lazard and has proven over the years to be a willing blocker (albeit even dirty at times). If Lazard wants out or takes a contract elsewhere...I truly think JuJu is worth serious consideration. He is still YOUNG enough to provide some prime years honestly (he is 26 and 15 days as I type this). Sign him to a three year deal or two, help bridge the year or so gap before Watson and Doubs truly are ready hopefully...but be the back up plan if they aren't.
I also am curious about what it might take on Jakobi Myers from NE if they let him leave to FA...He has been quite productive, is still younger and proven production... he is similar size but slightly smaller to Lazard...step slower, but has proven production. Parris Campbell...is 2022 when we are finally seeing what he could be after three abysmal years due to missing games for multitude of reasons? No doubt he would LOVE a one year prove it for a payday contract maybe with Rodgers.
Two guys with significant recent injury issues to consider IF healthy could have massive upside IMO - *BEFORE ANYONE FLIPS A LID, THIS IS OF COURSE COMES WITH THE LOW COST CAVEAT GIVEN ALL THIS:
Sterling Shepard - This would be a Sammy Watkins type signing gamble with injuries now two years in a row....I feel bad for this guy and I'm a toss up between he and Lazard actually. I do strongly feel Shepard is at worst a solid WR2 in the NFL for a season or two more when he comes back from injury. You're talking about a cat that even in 2019 when he only saw 10 games put up 576 yards and 3 TDs, 2017 seeing 11 games he still put up 731 yards and 2 TDs. I personally had him pegged for a big year in NY this year until his injury. I expect the NYG not to offer Sterling anything with the emergence of Darius Slayton production if they offer either it will be him.
DJ Chark MAYBE...BIG health concerns but this dude is still sub 27 years old right now...is just three seasons removed from 1,000 yards, two seasons from 700 yards in JAX. When healthy and out there this cat produces. Lions with drafting of Williams and already having St. Brown most likely are out on resigning Chark. IF Watson is fire in a bottle and Doubs is as good as Rodgers and company believes he may be adding Chark is both low risk but VERY HIGH chance you have a three headed monster when he is out there.
Free Agent WRs next year came up and of course the discussion is going to be thick in Green Bay because we are set to lose all of the following:
Allen Lazard
Sammy Watkins
Randall Cobb
If we throw in TEs...we are losing:
Marcedes Lewis
Robert Tonyan
Now many have said they want us to sign someone next year, but we should not resign Lazard...
Now let's stop pretending Lazard isn't going to get paid and doesn't deserve it. This young man has consistently gotten better over the years and is on pace if healthy rest of the season to finish with around 850 yards, probably 8 TDs or so (only 15 games). That isn't found everywhere, especially from a guy that sees a TON of snaps every game he is in there and is arguably one of the best blocking WRs presently out there in the league. I 100% believe he is of more value than MVS and suspect he at minimum will get around that same figure ($10M/Year). Let's also realize Lazard isn't old truly. He will be only 27 next year. Easily Green Bay could see him as the best FA option to bring back for Rodgers if he is back or Love due to relationships, known in system and proven to have continued getting better every year.....BUT let's play the FA game below....
here is a list of the most of the WRs hitting FA known as of known in 2023:
Nelson Agholor
Sterling Shepard
DJ Chark
Randall Cobb
Olamide Zaccheaus
Deonte Harty
Marvin Jones
Julio Jones
Byron Pringle
Allen Lazard
Jakobi Meyers
JuJu
AJ Green
Mack Hollins
Sammy Watkins
Breshad Perriman
Parris Campbell
Rashard Higgins
Equanimeous St Brown
Deandre Carter
Darius Slayton
Mecole Hardman
Zach Pascal
OBJ (depends on what or if he signs this year)
Now I get it, some don't think Lazard is an answer....BUT truthfully look over that list. If you don't recognize one of them truly look them up and see their production (I know one on here that may surprise you)....how many of these FA WRs are in your opinion CLEARLY a yes over Lazard? I get to three...maybe... and it gets tough and the 4th one is OBJ who is unknown at this time.
To me here are some of my thoughts...the first three are my three before Lazard, but there are some truly thought provoking options after them.
OBJ - I'll take him over Lazard at this stage in his career far more than before. I don't feel the diva mentality as much and feel this is a move ONLY to do if Rodgers is here in 2023, I don't want him if it is Love's team however - WR like that can be hell mentally on a young QB.
Cobb - Hear me out. This is far more situational and positional than saying he is better than Lazard. IF Rodgers is back I think bringing Cobb back isn't going to cost a lot, and it offers that experienced slot guy that lets' be honest when in still 100% is a contributor in all aspects of the game. I could argue signing Cobb back cheap is a move to do prior to deciding if you can work out something with Lazard.
Darius Slayton - Yes he is a smaller receiver (194 vs Lazard's 220+) but Slayton is a receiving threat IMO with a ceiling still not quite reached. He came into the league and in his rookie and sophomore year put up 740 and 751 yards amassing 11 TDs in that two year stretch. The third year he didn't quite see the field every game and just didn't get the targets or such as normal, seeing his snap counts drop from over 80% of snaps first two years to less than 50%. This year he is back up near 60% of snaps and has 566 yards and 2 TDs right now. It's somewhat of a gamble trying to project which Darius you get...but he is not far from being a SOLID WR2 option and he has to still be or close to the 4.39 forty timed guy in the combine IMO. Some sites estimate his value to be in that $3.5M-$4.5M a year range most likely for a two or three year deal. I really like the concept of a two year deal for him, but wouldn't be against a three to pair with Doubs and Watson through their rookie deals but not beyond.
Mecole Hardman - (caveat is Cobb is not signed back for me) KC took MVS...we take back a guy this offseason to serve our slot/speedy in seams option in Hardman. There is just too many reasons I don't envision KC getting him resigned and I also don't think he is going to demand even the money Lazard gets and could be a real option for that motion small slot guy if Cobb isn't signed back especially. With a speed of 4.33 as well, I like the pairing of him with Watson and Doubs... he has a solid set of hands for a speedier guy at a career percentage of 68.6%.
JuJu - This is arguably to me the only WR on the list of guys that IMO is worth battling Lazard for spending near or above the $10M mark...but IMO comes with higher ceiling than Lazard in the yardage production field. Like Hardman I just don't know if the Chiefs will be in the game for him...and the fact Hardman is going to be cheaper I see more of a chance that they find the money for him before JuJu. JuJu this year however is proving there is still some of the JuJu that produced big stuff in Pittsburgh in his game. In Just 11 games he has 688 yards, a couple TDs and a catch percentage flirting with his highest ever at 73.2%. He has a similar body type to Lazard and has proven over the years to be a willing blocker (albeit even dirty at times). If Lazard wants out or takes a contract elsewhere...I truly think JuJu is worth serious consideration. He is still YOUNG enough to provide some prime years honestly (he is 26 and 15 days as I type this). Sign him to a three year deal or two, help bridge the year or so gap before Watson and Doubs truly are ready hopefully...but be the back up plan if they aren't.
I also am curious about what it might take on Jakobi Myers from NE if they let him leave to FA...He has been quite productive, is still younger and proven production... he is similar size but slightly smaller to Lazard...step slower, but has proven production. Parris Campbell...is 2022 when we are finally seeing what he could be after three abysmal years due to missing games for multitude of reasons? No doubt he would LOVE a one year prove it for a payday contract maybe with Rodgers.
Two guys with significant recent injury issues to consider IF healthy could have massive upside IMO - *BEFORE ANYONE FLIPS A LID, THIS IS OF COURSE COMES WITH THE LOW COST CAVEAT GIVEN ALL THIS:
Sterling Shepard - This would be a Sammy Watkins type signing gamble with injuries now two years in a row....I feel bad for this guy and I'm a toss up between he and Lazard actually. I do strongly feel Shepard is at worst a solid WR2 in the NFL for a season or two more when he comes back from injury. You're talking about a cat that even in 2019 when he only saw 10 games put up 576 yards and 3 TDs, 2017 seeing 11 games he still put up 731 yards and 2 TDs. I personally had him pegged for a big year in NY this year until his injury. I expect the NYG not to offer Sterling anything with the emergence of Darius Slayton production if they offer either it will be him.
DJ Chark MAYBE...BIG health concerns but this dude is still sub 27 years old right now...is just three seasons removed from 1,000 yards, two seasons from 700 yards in JAX. When healthy and out there this cat produces. Lions with drafting of Williams and already having St. Brown most likely are out on resigning Chark. IF Watson is fire in a bottle and Doubs is as good as Rodgers and company believes he may be adding Chark is both low risk but VERY HIGH chance you have a three headed monster when he is out there.
