Team Changes for Next Season

[Sanguine camper]

I get the importance of a solid returner...but eating an entire roster spot for one that is worthless elsewhere I likely personally won't ever be able to plant my flag there unless they are Hester or Patterson type level.

Bo Melton was a factor in 95 offensive snaps and had some monumental drops in pivotal games. #6WR

We had how many returns...

26 punt returns and 60 kickoff returns...86.

I still think Savion could be a real solid (not Hester) but solid type returner.

The bigger guys like Savion Williams tend to be better kick off returners but that aspect of the NFL game has diminished.

The Packers only returned 26 punts last year. When the team has a dismal 5.6 yards per return average, some of the punt opportunities get turned into fair catches or let the ball hit the turf. Raising the returns to 34 or 2 per game is a reasonable scenario if the team has a talented returner.

Special teams in general and a dismal punt return game in particular can't be made the lowest priority any more. We've seen the disastrous results that happen when special teams aren't important enough to convert a barely used WR#6 into a guy whose biggest talent is returning punts.

 

[gopkrs]

Jenkins got old and his injuries caught up to him. Going to IR was just the nail in the coffin.

Tom did dominate, Banks started to find a groove by the end of the year, the rest of our top 6 (Walker, Rhyan, Belton, and Morgan) are all on rookie deals.

We definitely need to improve the Online imho. It looks like in the second round there might be a center, a guard and a nose tackle. Any of those positions I'd be happy with. Granted, I don't do much homework on the draft. I can't help thinking trenches before cornerback.

 

[gopkrs]

The bigger guys like Savion Williams tend to be better kick off returners but that aspect of the NFL game has diminished.

The Packers only returned 26 punts last year. When the team has a dismal 5.6 yards per return average, some of the punt opportunities get turned into fair catches or let the ball hit the turf. Raising the returns to 34 or 2 per game is a reasonable scenario if the team has a talented returner.

Special teams in general and a dismal punt return game in particular can't be made the lowest priority any more. We've seen the disastrous results that happen when special teams aren't important enough to convert a barely used WR#6 into a guy whose biggest talent is returning punts.

We've mulled over the additional yards you get with a good punt returner but the big kicker is when he runs back a big one. Can change the game points wise and in momentum.

 

[mradtke66]

We definitely need to improve the Online imho. It looks like in the second round there might be a center, a guard and a nose tackle. Any of those positions I'd be happy with. Granted, I don't do much homework on the draft. I can't help thinking trenches before cornerback.

I’m reasonably okay with our oline, pending whatever happens with Rhyan.

Dline could use some bodies, but that doesn’t mean a 2nd is worth it.

“Our biggest weakness” doesn’t mean it’s appropriate to spend a high pick there.

 

[GreenBaySlacker]

Getting Belton last year was a big win. Morgan continuing to get better is also key. Without those two we would be in a tough spot on the oline.

I'd like to see rhyan come back. Just not sure he is a starter. Good depth guy for sure. Wonder what he will get valued at by the league?

 

[tynimiller]

Getting Belton last year was a big win. Morgan continuing to get better is also key. Without those two we would be in a tough spot on the oline.

I'd like to see rhyan come back. Just not sure he is a starter. Good depth guy for sure. Wonder what he will get valued at by the league?

Yeah Rhyan is that perfect swing interior guy with immense value but not because he's a banger starter but because he is serviceable to good at any of them any given Sunday.

Especially if we think good chance we draft a center to potentially justify paying Rhyan for one or two year structured deal (even if a three year deal but structured like a two)

 

[GreenBaySlacker]

Yeah Rhyan is that perfect swing interior guy with immense value but not because he's a banger starter but because he is serviceable to good at any of them any given Sunday.

Especially if we think good chance we draft a center to potentially justify paying Rhyan for one or two year structured deal (even if a three year deal but structured like a two)

Rhyan, and LB Walker are the two home grown free agents of like to see stay. Doubs too, but I think he will get too much from the league. And GB drafting Golden/Williams last year gives GB the depth to allow him to leave. Unfortunately...

Someone said Walker will make $10-12mil..... And Rhyan, I could see making $7mil a year, for those 3 years. Anything more and I'm guessing he prices himself out of town too.

What do you think Rhyans value will be?

 

[tynimiller]

Rhyan, and LB Walker are the two home grown free agents of like to see stay. Doubs too, but I think he will get too much from the league. And GB drafting Golden/Williams last year gives GB the depth to allow him to leave. Unfortunately...

Someone said Walker will make $10-12mil..... And Rhyan, I could see making $7mil a year, for those 3 years. Anything more and I'm guessing he prices himself out of town too.

What do you think Rhyans value will be?

I think Rhyan likely gets in that $5-8M a year deal....the amount of guaranteed is going to be the factor for him OR he may take a one year deal to play into a bigger contract. Which in truth I think might be his path to staying in GB...with so many things opening up and needs elsewhere - he might be able to convince Gute and Co lets do a $5M single year deal and let future work itself out. If he could show to be a starter level Center he'd likely pull a Connor McGovern or Robert Hainsey level contract then after 2026.

 

[GreenBaySlacker]

I think Rhyan likely gets in that $5-8M a year deal....the amount of guaranteed is going to be the factor for him OR he may take a one year deal to play into a bigger contract. Which in truth I think might be his path to staying in GB...with so many things opening up and needs elsewhere - he might be able to convince Gute and Co lets do a $5M single year deal and let future work itself out. If he could show to be a starter level Center he'd likely pull a Connor McGovern or Robert Hainsey level contract then after 2026.

2027 is going to be a tight year,with all the big home grown names needing extensions.

 

[milani]

2027 is going to be a tight year,with all the big home grown names needing extensions.

I am of the mindset IN GUTE WE TRUST.

 

[tynimiller]

2027 is going to be a tight year,with all the big home grown names needing extensions.

When you say 2027, are you meaning after the 2026 season heading into the 2027 or do you mean after the 2027 season?

 

[GreenBaySlacker]

I am of the mindset IN GUTE WE TRUST.

Keeping Gary this year. Cutting Gary, and say Jacob's next year. That clears up like $35 mil for next years off season. That fixes our LVN, Kraft, Cooper problem. And keeps the dead cap for both (Gary/Jacob's 2027) at only like $14 mil for 2027.

So Gleutes has options, for sure.

The fact we are comfortable keeping Gary at $28mil for 2026, shows he has good trade value. We just need a team who is a contender, who has cap space, and wants a proven plug in player at DE. He is young, has 2 years left on his deal.... Gary is a great asset... And I think we could get a late 1st round pick for him.... That would help compensate for the dead cap, and loss of a great DE. We get some free cap, and a good value draft pick on a rookie deal.

I don't know... I think sod be shopping him to the list of playoff teams with lots of cap. Patriots, rams, Seahawks all have huge cap surplus.... And late 1st round picks to trade.... See how they value Gary.

 

[GreenBaySlacker]

When you say 2027, are you meaning after the 2026 season heading into the 2027 or do you mean after the 2027 season?

After the 2026 season. Getting contracts done before 2027 when they become ufa

 

[tynimiller]

After the 2026 season. Getting contracts done before 2027 when they become ufa

So I might be on an island but atleast presently I don't see it much harder than this year but only because to me it is much clearer what to do:

Watson, Wyatt and Kraft have to be extended and honestly I wouldn't be shocked if GB tries to get one or more of these done before the 2026 season starts or during it even.

Nixon / Wicks / Brooks / Valentine / Musgrave / McDuffie / Wooden all are guys I like but you can easily justify letting walk if needed.

Jayden Reed to me is the coin toss of this group and a lot of that likely is driven by what he does and what we do otherwise.

 

[OldSchool101]

We definitely need to improve the Online imho. It looks like in the second round there might be a center, a guard and a nose tackle. Any of those positions I'd be happy with

Good thoughts @gopkrs
One thing to keep in mind about OL is the GB 2022 draft class will likely lose 1 or 2 OL (Sean/Rasheed).

All that in mind, GB actually skipped OL altogether in the 2023 draft. We have since refocused by drafting 3 players in 2024 and 2 more in 2025. I think we forget for the most part (myself included) that we have 5 OL sitting in the wings. Likely because we lost multiples of OL to IR.

RD1 LT Jordan Morgan
RD5 C Jacob Monk
RD6 OT/OG Travis Glover
RD2 OT/OG Anthony Belton
RD7 OR/OG John Williams

We also have 2 years invested in
RFA (GB) OG Donovan Jennings
RD5 (KC)OG Darian Kinnard
RD6 OC (Arizona) Lecitus Smith

Then we have our probable Returning players at LG/RT

LG Aaron Banks (2025-2028)
RT Zack Tom (2026-2029)

As of this moment. We have
-7 OL locked under contract.

-3 more starter caliber w/expiring Rookie Deals (Rasheed/Elgton/Sean)
-ANOTHER 3 more players with significant in-house experience
(Jennings/Kinnard/Smith)

So as I looked a little closer, we have to be a little careful not to cover up “our own rising talent” (MLF quote last camp regarding losing Travis Glover to a Lat’ injury) Now I 100% agree on going after an OC if the FO thinks Monk or Smith or Rhyan for that matter are not a feasible answer.

If we do go Center (that’s fine). We now have 8 players locked on contract and we generally keep 9 on the 53 Which means we have roughly 6 internal, departing prospects in play for 1 potential roster spot. One of these guys has to peak out interest imo and Rasheed and Elgton are likely gone because of financial constraints. Yet that still leaves 3 or 4 players fighting for 1 contract (depending on those draft ambitions)

I say all this verbosely to express a point we all need to grasp imo. We each need to clearly understand this = walking 5 or 6 players that have multiple years invested here in GB.

 

[gopkrs]

If we keep Rhyan, which I imagine we will; I believe it should be as a backup. I'm hoping we can draft early Love's center for the future. Obviously we have to choose the right guy this time. But the best or 2nd best center in the draft should be a plug and play. And then to insure Rhyan will be a backup; we will need to draft a bonafide guard.

 

[OldSchool101]

If we keep Rhyan, which I imagine we will; I believe it should be as a backup. I'm hoping we can draft early Love's center for the future. Obviously we have to choose the right guy this time. But the best or 2nd best center in the draft should be a plug and play. And then to insure Rhyan will be a backup; we will need to draft a bonafide guard.

It’ll all come down to $$ on Sean. For myself personally, I’m not signing Sean to anything past OL6 $$. We have too many other good players to cut. We could likely function just fine without Sean.
Like you said, we also have the draft to fall back on. There’s not much in the Day1 category at Center, so it’ll be interesting to see if that creates a run in Day 2. The others I see that could probably Win as a Starter in a Rookie season are not blue chip players. However there is a nice grouping of Centers you’d feel very good about competing at Starter.
Brailsford, Lew, Slaughter, Parker II, Logan Jones, etc. My guess is they’ll all be picked around our RD2-RD4 selection.

 

[gopkrs]

It’ll all come down to $$ on Sean. For myself personally, I’m not signing Sean to anything past OL6 $$. We have too many other good players to cut. We could likely function just fine without Sean.
Like you said, we also have the draft to fall back on. There’s not much in the Day1 category at Center, so it’ll be interesting to see if that creates a run in Day 2. The others I see that could probably Win as a Starter in a Rookie season are not blue chip players. However there is a nice grouping of Centers you’d feel very good about competing at Starter.
Brailsford, Lew, Slaughter, Parker II, Logan Jones, etc. My guess is they’ll all be picked around our RD2-RD4 selection.

It comes down to our scouts doing a good job. And Gute choosing correctly. We still need backups. I'm thinking Rhyan is one unless he can get more money than we think he's worth

 

[milani]

Keeping Gary this year. Cutting Gary, and say Jacob's next year. That clears up like $35 mil for next years off season. That fixes our LVN, Kraft, Cooper problem. And keeps the dead cap for both (Gary/Jacob's 2027) at only like $14 mil for 2027.

So Gleutes has options, for sure.

The fact we are comfortable keeping Gary at $28mil for 2026, shows he has good trade value. We just need a team who is a contender, who has cap space, and wants a proven plug in player at DE. He is young, has 2 years left on his deal.... Gary is a great asset... And I think we could get a late 1st round pick for him.... That would help compensate for the dead cap, and loss of a great DE. We get some free cap, and a good value draft pick on a rookie deal.

I don't know... I think sod be shopping him to the list of playoff teams with lots of cap. Patriots, rams, Seahawks all have huge cap surplus.... And late 1st round picks to trade.... See how they value Gary.

I keep thinking the Jets or Bills.

 

[GreenBaySlacker]

I keep thinking the Jets or Bills.

I doubt we would be able to convince Gary to go to a bottom of the barrel team. We would have to find a contender I'm guessing.

Buffalo for sure. They're in transition. Could be a great fit for their new coaches.

 

[tynimiller]

One small potential move would be if GB decides they want Quay to stay and be here is sign him but move Isaiah McDuffie to Hafley/Miami and save about $3.7M

Small move...but I could see that happening because Hafley and McDuffie have a lot of football together from college and in GB...and if we commit to Quay for a couple years, it'd might be easier to build our depth behind him than expect to replace Quay.

 

[GreenBaySlacker]

One small potential move would be if GB decides they want Quay to stay and be here is sign him but move Isaiah McDuffie to Hafley/Miami and save about $3.7M

Small move...but I could see that happening because Hafley and McDuffie have a lot of football together from college and in GB...and if we commit to Quay for a couple years, it'd might be easier to build our depth behind him than expect to replace Quay.

Mcduffie is solid player. I'd hate to see him go. But this is definitely a good option to clear some space to help keep walker here. I like this idea.

 

[OldSchool101]

It comes down to our scouts doing a good job. And Gute choosing correctly. We still need backups. I'm thinking Rhyan is one unless he can get more money than we think he's worth

I’m actually leaning more toward our Coaching Staff. I don’t think we were anywhere close to getting the most out of the talent we drafted or signed via FA. I do think the Penn State coach as our WR coach was smart. Also Babich is super talented as a Passing D coach. Can’t do better than #1 in the NFL.
How Edgerrin Cooper was not used was criminal imo. He’s one of our better Downhill disruptive guys and he was primarily used in a passive role. Now maybe he was covering for deficiencies in our pass coverage, but in doing so he literally did a heavy regression instead of increasing his presence. I would’ve preferred sending him downhill more like his Rookie season.

 

[OldSchool101]

One small potential move would be if GB decides they want Quay to stay and be here is sign him but move Isaiah McDuffie to Hafley/Miami and save about $3.7M

Small move...but I could see that happening because Hafley and McDuffie have a lot of football together from college and in GB...and if we commit to Quay for a couple years, it'd might be easier to build our depth behind him than expect to replace Quay.

That’s actually a great idea. Especially if Q is floating around $8-9mil per and we can cover 45% of that cost to retain him.

 

[tynimiller]

That’s actually a great idea. Especially if Q is floating around $8-9mil per and we can cover 45% of that cost to retain him.

In all honesty I'd ask for a fifth not expecting it and hope to land on a 7th or maybe their 2026 6th for our 2026 7th. It makes sense especially if you're committing to Quay with money...you hope Hopper and others can step up or add a vet low cost that is athletically limited but smart like McDuffie. Do it a year early losing him for little to no return but this way get something for sure (comp formula in future could return nothing) and a touch of cash back in the pool.