Free Agents you would like to see sign with Green Bay in 2019?

[Dantés]

As some of the cap casualties have started to roll in, I thought I would highlight some of the more interesting names that could potentially be let go this offseason. Keep in mind, I'm not saying that all of these guys necessarily will get cut, or that the Packers should pursue all of them, but they're guys to keep an eye on.

• Lesean McCoy, RB, BUF, 30: 6.4M
• Lamar Miller, RB, HOU, 27: 6.2M
• Emmanuel Sanders, WR, DEN, 31: 10M
• Nelson Agholor, WR, PHI, 25: 9.4M
• Allen Hurns, WR, DAL, 27: 5M
• Travis Benjamin, WR, LAC, 29: 5M
• Devante Parker, WR, MIA, 26: 9.4M
• Dwayne Allen, TE, NE, 28: 7.4M
• Cameron Brate, TE, TB, 27: 7M
• Kelechi Osemele, G, OAK, 29: 10.2M
• T.J. Lang, G, DET, 31: 9M
• Timmy Jernigan, DL, PHI, 26: 7M
• Malik Jackson, DL, JAC, 29: 11M
• Marcell Dareus, DL, JAC, 29: 10.5M
• Michael Brockers, DL, LAR, 28: 10M
• Gerald McCoy, DL, TB, 30: 13M
• Jason Pierre-Paul, ED, TB, 29: 14.7M
• Robert Quinn, ED, MIA, 29: 13M
• Justin Houston, ED, KC, 30: 14M
• Jabaal Sheard, ED, IND, 29: 8M
• Vic Beasley, ED, ATL, 26: 12.8M
• Jamie Collins, LB, CLE, 29: 9.25M
• Sean Lee, LB, DAL, 32:7M
• Jimmy Smith, CB, BAL, 30: 9.5M
• Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, CIN, 29: 6.7M
• Kevin Johnson, CB, HOU, 26: 9.1M
• Eric Weddle, S, BAL, 34: 6.5M

Some of the players who are more interesting to me on that list:

• Emmanuel Sanders: He can definitely still ball and wins in ways that would be fairly unique to the receiving corps.
• Kelechi Osemele: As @JanisJubilee pointed out, the new market inefficiency is signing the OL that Tom Cable has ruined.
• Malik Jackson: I think platooning Jackson and Daniels at the 3T could be pretty deadly.
• Justin Houston: Houston bounced back to form in 2018 under OLB coach Mike Smith, who now coaches that position for the Packers.
• Vic Beasley: I would definitely try out Beasley's freakish athleticism in Pettine's defense.
• Eric Weddle: Weddle is old, but he can still play; he might be the smartest safety in the game right now. I could see him being a great bridge player who brings some stability.

 

[Dantés]

There's no doubt Graham had some terrible plays as well. Overall he didn't perform up to expectations but aside of touchdowns nevertheless put up decent numbers.

Plus it's hard to judge his season considering the broken thumb.

I was never a fan of signing him and it hasn't worked out, but there's still a chance he returns a little value before they move on.

 

[PackerDNA]

I definitely expect to see more TE usage in LaFleur's offense.

Been reading some stuff lately on LaFluer's extensive use of 2 TE sets, and how creative and successful he was with them in keeping opponents off balance.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

Plus it's hard to judge his season considering the broken thumb.

I was never a fan of signing him and it hasn't worked out, but there's still a chance he returns a little value before they move on.

To be fair, Graham didn't break his thumb until week 11 though.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

From a numbers standpoint I agree completely. It was a decent enough season. BUT, there were more than a couple times he just didn't seem that aggressive to the ball, or the ball went right thru his hands on what should have been a trademark Graham play and another 1st down for us. Or TD's where he just couldn't out jump, out position or out muscle a smaller defender for the ball.

Agree with you on this and while I wouldn't use the word "quit", it seemed that as the season started to spin out, there was a definite shift in some players mindset as to just how important every play of every game was.

 

[GleefulGary]

Sure his numbers were ok, because Rodgers forced him the ball a lot.

His effort was crap. And that's what really bothers me. His effort was just bad.

 

[Dantés]

To be fair, Graham didn't break his thumb until week 11 though.

I seem to remember an uptick in him failing to come down with catchable passes from that point. His yds/game did go down from about 45 to 30.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

I seem to remember an uptick in him failing to come down with catchable passes from that point. His yds/game did go down from about 45 to 30.

While that's true Graham didn't catch a lot of contested balls before the injury either.

 

[Dantés]

While that's true Graham didn't catch a lot of contested balls before the injury either.

Basically all we can do is try to dress up a bad season and hope he improves because they paid a declining, aging veteran way too much money.

 

[GleefulGary]

Basically all we can do is try to dress up a bad season and hope he improves because they paid a declining, aging veteran way too much money.

Which is why paying aging veterans typically doesn't work out well.

 

[HardRightEdge]

Actually Graham wasn't even as bad in 2018 as some Packers fans want us to believe.

We wasn't bad. He just wasn't and isn't a $10 mil per year player.

 

[Jerellh528]

Graham played nowhere close to his contract and that’s what matters. He put up decent raw numbers as far as tight ends are concerned, but he showed a lack of effort plenty, especially in the blocking department, hardly had any effect whatsoever on the offense as a whole, and his catch rate was 8th worst in the league amongst Tight ends with at least 25 catches(49 TEs). Advanced stats such as DYAR and DVOA also paint him as well below average, ranked 28 and 30 out of TEs with at least 25 catches(49 tes).

If we had graham for half his salary, I’d be like, okay he’s playing decent for his salary but we definitely need to look to find his replacement soon because he’s lost a step and isn’t above replacement level. But as the highest paid Te in the nfl, he needs to improve in many areas because he’s not close to worth it.

Hopefully Lafleur can maximize what Jimmy brings to the table because I like Jimmy and am rooting for him.

 

[brandon2348]

Graham played nowhere close to his contract and that’s what matters. He put up decent raw numbers as far as tight ends are concerned, but he showed a lack of effort plenty, especially in the blocking department, hardly had any effect whatsoever on the offense as a whole, and his catch rate was 8th worst in the league amongst Tight ends with at least 25 catches(49 TEs). Advanced stats such as DYAR and DVOA also paint him as well below average, ranked 28 and 30 out of TEs with at least 25 catches(49 tes).

If we had graham for half his salary, I’d be like, okay he’s playing decent for his salary but we definitely need to look to find his replacement soon because he’s lost a step and isn’t above replacement level. But as the highest paid Te in the nfl, he needs to improve in many areas because he’s not close to worth it.

Hopefully Lafleur can maximize what Jimmy brings to the table because I like Jimmy and am rooting for him.

Graham will be fine if he has the right players around him to help keep him clean. If we can get a speed type slot guy it will work wonders freeing up Graham more. Kind of like T. HILL does for Kelce.

Graham is no longer gonna just dominate on his pure size and athleticism.

 

[Jerellh528]

Graham will be fine if he has the right players around him to help keep him clean. If we can get a speed type slot guy it will work wonders freeing up Graham more. Kind of like T. HILL does for Kelce.

Graham is no longer gonna just dominate on his pure size and athleticism.

But he’s getting paid like he will, and that’s the problem. I have no issues with graham and his shortcomings, the only issue is his contract relative to what he puts on the field. Not his fault, but he does need to step it up.

 

[brandon2348]

But he’s getting paid like he will, and that’s the problem. I have no issues with graham and his shortcomings, the only issue is his contract relative to what he puts on the field. Not his fault, but he does need to step it up.

We have several guys getting paid "like they will." Probably a poor signing by Gute as Graham has never had the same explosion since his significant leg injury. I never even thought he would come back after the leg injury so to me its a miracle he is still even playing.

So with the Packers having significant dead $ to get rid of him we should probably manage expectations of what he is now which is what I described above.

He can be productive with the right guys around him so I suggest we get those or that guy.

 

[Jerellh528]

We have several guys getting paid "like they will." Probably a poor signing by Gute as Graham has never had the same explosion since his significant leg injury. I never even thought he would come back after the leg injury so to me its a miracle he is still even playing.

So with the Packers having significant dead $ to get rid of him we should probably manage expectations of what he is now which is what I described above.

He can be productive with the right guys around him so I suggest we get those or that guy.

Yeah and I think we should cut them all lol. But I agree, poor signing by Gute. It sucks having to “manage expectations” for a guy being paid the highest salary at his position, but yet here we are.

 

[Mondio]

I'd like Emmanuel Sanders

 

[Dantés]

We have several guys getting paid "like they will." Probably a poor signing by Gute as Graham has never had the same explosion since his significant leg injury. I never even thought he would come back after the leg injury so to me its a miracle he is still even playing.

So with the Packers having significant dead $ to get rid of him we should probably manage expectations of what he is now which is what I described above.

He can be productive with the right guys around him so I suggest we get those or that guy.

We're lucky we pried Graham from the Saints and time will show that.

I know your butt hurt they didn't sign Burton but that doesn't mean that Gute didn't get good Value for Jimmie Graham. Lastly, if we win the Super Bowl are you really gonna sit here and question the contract?

As far as Graham he was the best available receiving TE with production to back it up so not quite sure how the value isn't right.

People need to understand that when getting a free agent they need to understand the player in a scheme specific situation. I firmly believe the Packers know what Graham is and are gonna use him scheme specific to what he does well that matches the Packers offense. He is basically another WR and IMO a huge upgrade over an aging Nelson. I'm hearing he is slow and while he isn't the burner he was in maybe 2012 He is far from slow like Marty B was. This was a good signing for the Packers.

 

[brandon2348]

And I have stated several times I was wrong about Graham. I'm really flattered I rent so much space in your head Dante

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I'm not saying that Graham earned his salary last season, but one thing people need to keep in mind when bashing Gute too much on the signing, there were a few factors in play.

• Packers were in desperate need of a TE
• Graham at the time was considered the best FA TE by most
• Gronk signed a 6 year deal, 5 years ago, not really fair to compare his money.
• Kelce signed his 5 year $46.842M deal in 2017
• Zack Ertz signed his 5 year $42.5M deal in 2016

Basically, if you are comparing what Graham makes to some of the other Top TE's in the league, you need to do so on "what would that TE have been paid when Graham signed his deal."

Probably a more fair comparison are guys signed at the same time.

• Delanie Walker (2 yr $17M)
• Trey Burton (4 yrs $32M)

Walker ended up playing in one game and suffered an injury, season lost. Burton had 4 more TD's (6) than Graham, but less catches, yds/catch and total yards than JG.

So while Graham so far hasn't been the greatest thing since sliced bread, given the Packers situation and the available talent, Gute paid what he felt it would take to get the best available TE at the time and whether that investment was a good one or a bad one, is still not fully known.

 

[brandon2348]

I'm not saying that Graham earned his salary last season, but one thing people need to keep in mind when bashing Gute too much on the signing, there were a few factors in play.

• Packers were in desperate need of a TE
• Graham at the time was considered the best FA TE by most
• Gronk signed a 6 year deal, 5 years ago, not really fair to compare his money.
• Kelce signed his 5 year $46.842M deal in 2017
• Zack Ertz signed his 5 year $42.5M deal in 2016

Basically, if you are comparing what Graham makes to some of the other Top TE's in the league, you need to do so on "what would that TE have been paid when Graham signed his deal."

Probably a more fair comparison are guys signed at the same time.

• Delanie Walker (2 yr $17M)
• Trey Burton (4 yrs $32M)

Walker ended up playing in one game and suffered an injury, season lost. Burton had 4 more TD's (6) than Graham, but less catches, yds/catch and total yards than JG.

So while Graham so far hasn't been the greatest thing since sliced bread, given the Packers situation and the available talent, Gute paid what he felt it would take to get the best available TE at the time and whether that investment was a good one or a bad one, is still not fully known.

The bottom line is we need some more short area speed to free all these possession receivers up more and give them more space.

 

[HardRightEdge]

Graham will be fine if he has the right players around him to help keep him clean. If we can get a speed type slot guy it will work wonders freeing up Graham more. Kind of like T. HILL does for Kelce.

Graham is no longer gonna just dominate on his pure size and athleticism.

I would also help if he ran the route his QB expects. We expect route issues with rookies, not this guy.

 

[Dantés]

And I have stated several times I was wrong about Graham. I'm really flattered I rent so much space in your head Dante

The phrase is "I live rent free in your head."

 

[A-aron Rodgerz]

To some extent I think its important to weigh how much of an influence McCarthy's offense had to do with some of the offensive struggles including Jimmy's. He was just so exposed I believe that it made everyone's job harder and took everyone out of their flow. I said the same thing about Capers defense. We couldn't really see how talented guys like Hyde and Hayward were until the got put into a different system. And maybe basketball isn't the best reference but if you follow the Bucks look what kind of difference a new coach and system made. An offense that looked constipated in the playoffs last year looks so synergized now. I'm hopeful a new system will revitalize everyone. Basically my point is that maybe we didn't get a fair opportunity to evaluate what kind of game Graham still has.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

To some extent I think its important to weigh how much of an influence McCarthy's offense had to do with some of the offensive struggles including Jimmy's. He was just so exposed I believe that it made everyone's job harder and took everyone out of their flow. I said the same thing about Capers defense. We couldn't really see how talented guys like Hyde and Hayward were until the got put into a different system. And maybe basketball isn't the best reference but if you follow the Bucks look what kind of difference a new coach and system made. An offense that looked constipated in the playoffs last year looks so synergized now. I'm hopeful a new system will revitalize everyone. Basically my point is that maybe we didn't get a fair opportunity to evaluate what kind of game Graham still has.

I agree and its been referenced before, the immeasurable feature of having Graham on the field is possibly opening a throw up to another another receiver because the defense had to respect Graham.