Team Changes for Next Season

[GreenBaySlacker]

Since Jacobs is the current topic and Emanuel Wilson was dogged on before....folks might find it really curious to see that IF Wilson was as bad of a back as he is being claimed his yards per carry would not be what they are:

2025
Jacobs 4.0
Wilson 4.0

2024
Jacobs 4.4
Wilson 4.9

Yea , it would be interesting to see how Brooks ranks on that chart. I'll look.

Edit: Brooks 2024 5.1 ypc.... 2025 3.9ypc....

Ever since I watched the Marshawn Lloyd highlight reel from college, a few months ago. I've been quietly hopeful to see him come back.....again. He was quick... Dang quick.

 

[tynimiller]

Yea , it would be interesting to see how Brooks ranks on that chart. I'll look.

Ever since I watched the Marshawn Lloyd highlight reel from college, a few months ago. I've been quietly hopeful to see him come back.....again. He was quick... Dang quick.

Brooks number of attempts are very small sample size - which is why I didn't go to 2023 because Wilson has so few. He's had 100+ attempts last two years.

 

[Magooch]

The Lloyd injury has made things really tough. I really think that the plan was never really to have Jacobs "replace" Jones because stylistically they're just so different. Jacobs has never really been a "home run" guy and in some ways you could argue is less "versatile" than Jones was (and I'm not meaning that to say "worse," just "different"). He has generally been more of a volume-based guy, that sort of bell-cow back that you can just give carry after carry after carry and he will generally be pretty reliable for you. But when it comes to "rate-based" numbers, his are not great. And I don't mean that as a criticism, but I strongly suspect the "plan" wasn't to bring in Jacobs in place of Jones and feed him a ton of carries usually for 3-4 yards per. I have to think the intention was to have a 1A/1B room between Jacobs and Lloyd, the "thunder and lightning" type of thing, probably with the intention of Lloyd taking over as the "1A" for Jacobs after a few years. Now that plan is pretty obviously out the window and Lloyd is a total unknown quantity so we have more or less been forced into leaning heavy on Jacobs.

And I liked Wilson for sure, but my gut says his "ceiling" is probably about what we saw out of Jacobs 2025. I don't think he gets much better than that. Of course, you could certainly take that and say you'd rather pay 1m per year for Wilson than 15m per year for Jacobs, yeah. I don't know if Wilson maintains that level given the same volume but like with McManus/Havrisik I have to wonder why we had another situation where the starter was seemingly less-than-100% yet continued to be given starter's reps when the backup was seemingly providing similar production...

AND I have to wonder as well how much Jacobs was hurt by relatively "vanilla" run play calling. I don't know if some of that can be accounted for Matt feeling rather hamstrung by the OL play. But as much as we all repeatedly decried the 3rd/4th down slow developing runs out of shotgun, that stuff hurts Jacobs as well. I mean look at him vs Philly. He knows the play sucks, he's stuck trying to make the most of it.

But, looking forward... all that said I would note two things:

1. I think that we would benefit more from (hypothetically) putting more resources towards fixing OL play and continuing with Jacobs than we would investing those resources at RB and trotting out largely the same OL play.
2. But that being said, I also think you generally don't need a ton of super-premium investment to find a decent player at RB. For instance just recently we saw Croskey-Merritt and Monangai drafted in the 7th but they have been quite effective.

But, we also did manage to get Jones to take a meaningful paycut to stay longer for a time too, so I dunno. But it wouldn't surprise me if this coming season is the last for Jacobs in GB. And like I said, that's a bit of a bummer. I really like the guy, he's a 100% every down type of player and I think that benefits the guys around him. Overall we need more players like that in the building, not less. But for the money and the production at this point, I don't know how much longer you can justify paying that kind of salary for those kind of "intangible" benefits.

 

[Magooch]

The Wilson thing is interesting because yeah... many would suspect Jacobs was "down" this past season due to injury, but Wilson compared pretty favorably to "healthy" Jacobs the season prior, too. Yes the volume isn't quite there but Wilson has at least a respectable enough sample to draw from that it's not something you can just immediately discard.

With Brooks it's harder for me to say. Brooks is pretty clearly the better "blocking back" of the group IMO, and - I haven't looked at the specifics, just going off my memory of it - I feel like he is getting a big percentage of his touches on 3rd down. So he's coming into these situations where he is presumably first going to be a blocking back, and on top of that teams are keyed in on the pass in general, so when the ball is coming his way in those situations its probably a fairly favorable matchup for him on those snaps. Combined with the relatively low count to begin with and I could imagine those numbers get a bit inflated due to the situational usage and low volume

The whole situation is kinda weird though because it feels like we really tried to make a move towards having more "power" blockers on the OL, the "road grader" type of guys. And in the same way with Lloyd not really a serious option (yet?) we have leaned towards these kind of power-backs rather than speed backs. We don't really have a ton of shiftiness or "wiggle" in the RB room right now so it's just kind of a mismatch IMO. I don't really think the line has often performed in the way you want them to for that kind of power run scheme and then the backs don't really have the speed or shiftiness to compensate for the small (or nonexistent) holes they are facing at times. I know I'm kind of jumping around here but at times I guess it's felt like with this current line we'd be better off with a quicker or more shifty back who can find windows when the OL isn't doing a great job at making them. Right now we just see a lot of reps where our OL isn't opening much up but we're calling relatively "straight" runs where the back's basically going straight into the scrum and there's not a ton of opportunity to come away with much. And at times LaFleur still seems to want to lean towards "run to open up the pass" but when we have a (relatively) healthy WR room it really feels like the whole operation would benefit from going more "pass to open up the run" IMO

 

[Sanguine camper]

He would be wise to lock GB into a team friendly extension now then.

Would you take a 2 year , $10 mil extension? Spread his $30 mil out he has coming, over two more years? It over 4 averaging $10 a year? Until he is 31 years old?

Just curious? If he were to come to the brass with that team friendly offer? And they accepted it. Would you be happy?

I really don't think Jacobs has 4 good years left in his legs. I sure hope I'm wrong but he's already logged a lot of carries. Would he be worth 10 million per year in year 3 or 4 of his contract?

I'm glad I'm not the GM because I would let my admiration for Jacobs bias my judgement.

I would not offer an extension now. If he looks good next year, I'd extend him one more year out to 2028. Most players are looking at longer extentions than a single season, so it might not work that way.

As we know, most players towards the end of their second contract get extended or get cut due to the cap hits. For RB's, getting cut is frequent. I think we'll see one more season of Jacobs. He'll either take a pay cut if he wants to stick around in 2027 or wind up a cap casualty.

That's why I mentioned before, the game can be cruel to RB's. I think he'll be replaced by somebody making 1 million per year on their rookie contract after 2026 or take a substantial pay cut.

 

[OldSchool101]

But, we also did manage to get Jones to take a meaningful paycut to stay longer for a time too, so I dunno. But it wouldn't surprise me if this coming season is the last for Jacobs in GB. And like I said, that's a bit of a bummer. I really like the guy, he's a 100% every down type of player and I think that benefits the guys around him. Overall we need more players like that in the building, not less. But for the money and the production at this point, I don't know how much longer you can justify paying that kind of salary for those kind of "intangible" benefits.

Good thoughts.

As far as $ you did give me thought. I totally forgot about restructuring Josh. He’s on year 3 of a 4 year deal but only had $12.5mil guaranteed. Yet he’s about to hit Our Cap for $14.6Mil. He’s one of the higher RB salaries in the league. Teetering on Kamara $ and not far behind Jonathan Taylor. I’d be reworking his deal to get that number closer to $10Mil Cap hit.

The more I consider it, GB really needs to he thinking about the future at RB. With Lloyd up in the air, I might be thinking of selecting at RB in 2026.

 

[OldSchool101]

I would not offer an extension now. If he looks good next year, I'd extend him one more year out to 2028. Most players are looking at longer extentions than a single season, so it might not work that way.

So the beauty of Jacobs contract was really a 1yr $12.5M, then 1-1-1. The Packers can move on effectively freeing up $8.4Mil off the current Cap Ledger numbers by releasing or trading him VS being slapped with $14.6Million against the Cap. Naturally anyone would part with Josh before applying $14.6Mil and rising.

My hope is that we can redo his deal to a shorter 2yr X $18-20Mil type area or more in line with his current market. We could even sweeten it with a few smaller $250K incentives This would guarantee him that he wouldn’t take his chances on open market after a down year. Look at Aaron Jones, in 2024 he took a $7Mil 1yr. Then played strong back into a $20Mil 2Yr deal 2025-2026.
It’s also freeing up around $5.6Mil in 2026 a over $7mil off his projected 2027 hit. Not to mention we could convert some bonus money as leverage to scrape a few million to add a couple guys like Niemann or Wilson and still lower our cap over $5mil+

 

[tynimiller]

So the beauty of Jacobs contract was really a 1yr $12.5M, then 1-1-1. The Packers can move on effectively freeing up $8.4Mil off the current Cap Ledger numbers by releasing or trading him VS being slapped with $14.6Million against the Cap. Naturally anyone would part with Josh before applying $14.6Mil and rising.

My hope is that we can redo his deal to a shorter 2yr X $18-20Mil type area or more in line with his current market. We could even sweeten it with a few smaller $250K incentives This would guarantee him that he wouldn’t take his chances on open market after a down year. Look at Aaron Jones, in 2024 he took a $7Mil 1yr. Then played strong back into a $20Mil 2Yr deal 2025-2026.
It’s also freeing up around $5.6Mil in 2026 a over $7mil off his projected 2027 hit. Not to mention we could convert some bonus money as leverage to scrape a few million to add a couple guys like Niemann or Wilson and still lower our cap over $5mil+

Yeah with Lloyd's health issues and no surefire replacement, I do feel Jacobs is for sure getting restructured or worked in some fashion...to free up like 2-5 on the 2026 cap.

 

[OldSchool101]

Yeah with Lloyd's health issues and no surefire replacement, I do feel Jacobs is for sure getting restructured or worked in some fashion...to free up like 2-5 on the 2026 cap.

We’re going to need to be exceptionally creative with some of the larger contracts being restructured. That said there’s $15-20mil out there just hiding under rocks. Going to be some late nights drinking Monster drinks and rolling up the fiscal sleeves and getting to contract work.

At I always thought it would be intriguing to be a fly on the wall listening to the conversations that happen when needing to restructure players. There’s an entire science in the process of plan A-B-C for each player and then its delivery and negotiating. Even the approach to which contract needs to be addressed first because it’s like dominos or peeling an egg. Sometimes there’s little chunks of shell and sometimes you get 35% of the egg shell off in one peel, but you need to peel it good or it gets a little crunchy later. Lol

 

[Heyjoe4]

Yea , it would be interesting to see how Brooks ranks on that chart. I'll look.

Edit: Brooks 2024 5.1 ypc.... 2025 3.9ypc....

Ever since I watched the Marshawn Lloyd highlight reel from college, a few months ago. I've been quietly hopeful to see him come back.....again. He was quick... Dang quick.

Hey GBS - what has been wrong with Lloyd the last two seasons. I don't think he's played a down yet in the NFL, or very, very few.

He was a 2nd round pick, and I trust Gluten - so what is going on with Lloyd?

Thanks GBS.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Since Jacobs is the current topic and Emanuel Wilson was dogged on before....folks might find it really curious to see that IF Wilson was as bad of a back as he is being claimed his yards per carry would not be what they are:

2025
Jacobs 4.0
Wilson 4.0

2024
Jacobs 4.4
Wilson 4.9

Do you think the consensus view on Wilson is negative? I haven't noticed that.

A few years ago I wasn't impressed with him. But he's used the opportunuties created by Jacobs' absence to make a name for himself. I don't know if he can be a starter, but he certainly looks like a solid backup.

I believe Gluten is going to take a RB later in the draft anyway. Lloyd's status is still unclear, Jacobs is the heart of the offense, but he's a hard-charging RB and the miles are piling up. I won't be surprised if the 2026 season is his last in GB, sad to say. He's a great Packer.

 

[Heyjoe4]

We’re going to need to be exceptionally creative with some of the larger contracts being restructured. That said there’s $15-20mil out there just hiding under rocks. Going to be some late nights drinking Monster drinks and rolling up the fiscal sleeves and getting to contract work.

At I always thought it would be intriguing to be a fly on the wall listening to the conversations that happen when needing to restructure players. There’s an entire science in the process of plan A-B-C for each player and then its delivery and negotiating. Even the approach to which contract needs to be addressed first because it’s like dominos or peeling an egg. Sometimes there’s little chunks of shell and sometimes you get 35% of the egg shell off in one peel, but you need to peel it good or it gets a little crunchy later. Lol

Good stuff OS, thanks.

Seems the consensus is that Gluten needs to find two starting CBs and a starter on the DL. That's a big ask any offseason.

He swung and missed with Hobbs. So be it. To your point, the Packers can probably free up the capital to be aggressive early in FA. Are there CBs and/or DLs who would be close to "sure things"? I haven't looked at the FA market for this offseason.

Gluten remade the S group in FA with McKinney and the draft with Williams. I hope he has the same success this offseason with CBs. Finding a solid DL should be easier, but it gets down to availability, and being aggressive. The best guys get overpaid in FA. That's life.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Right now you keep Jacobs and see if Lloyd has any chance of making it back on the football field. The Packers need experience. Jacobs does not have to be the every down back he was. And he can make crucial catches when you need them. Just get him some blocking.

Good points milani. It surprises me that MLF doesn't use Jacobs more as a receiver. He can catch the ball, we've seen that. And with just a little space, can get substantial YAC. It's amazing he has only two receiving TDs in his career. Seems he'd be very dangerous sneaking out of the backfield - in the red zone, especially.

With Doubs almost certainly gone, it will be a good season the get the ball to Golden, and to design more pass plays for Jacobs.

 

[Sanguine camper]

With Jacobs' YPC declining, drafting a RB makes some sense. That would come at the expense, however, of more O line depth or another IDL player.

I would be inclined to give it one more year with the current RB room and use the precious draft picks to try and fix bigger roster holes. Playing a rookie at RB is a more plausible fit than most other positions so if things don't work out in 2026, a RB can be a high priority in the 2027 draft.

If the Packers don't add good depth on the O line, the RB discussion may be a moot point since without good O line play, the RB's won't go anywhere. I would like to see Gute use 2 out of the 4 picks between rounds 2-5 on offensive linemen. You win in the trenches.

 

[milani]

With Jacobs' YPC declining, drafting a RB makes some sense. That would come at the expense, however, of more O line depth or another IDL player.

I would be inclined to give it one more year with the current RB room and use the precious draft picks to try and fix bigger roster holes. Playing a rookie at RB is a more plausible fit than most other positions so if things don't work out in 2026, a RB can be a high priority in the 2027 draft.

If the Packers don't add good depth on the O line, the RB discussion may be a moot point since without good O line play, the RB's won't go anywhere. I would like to see Gute use 2 out of the 4 picks between rounds 2-5 on offensive linemen. You win in the trenches.

I think you will see them give Lloyd one more chance. If he cannot be on the 45 next September that will be it. The backfield we have now can get it done in 2026 provided we fix the OL and design some better blocking schemes instead of leaving Jacobs on an island and telling the defense " Here, he is getting the ball on 3rd and 1." Maybe we need to learn the Tush Push until it gets outlawed.

 

[OldSchool101]

I suspect with THREE 7th Rounders this draft, GB goes looking for their next Khylin Hill type (hopefully without the bad injury luck). It’s even possible we go earlier and I wouldn’t be shocked to see a 4th/5th rounder applied at RB.

Our MO is to churn that 3rd or 4th RB hoping to hit gold. Chris Brooks regressed this season and while I like he’s well rounded, I could see him get passed on.

Wilson is a ERFA so it makes it more likely he’d back on a 1yr vet minimum, which is fine as it’s good to have a nice stable of RB’s.

 

[GreenBaySlacker]

Hey GBS - what has been wrong with Lloyd the last two seasons. I don't think he's played a down yet in the NFL, or very, very few.

He was a 2nd round pick, and I trust Gluten - so what is going on with Lloyd?

Thanks GBS.

Pretty sure we stole him after he slipped to the 3rd round...

He has had a lot of "soft tissue" issues. Hamstrings and muscle strains in lower body. Think early on there was a shoulder tweak thrown in there.

Honestly it's bizarre. The odds of that many injuries in a row. Barely making it to the field, and he is out again. Back to back to back for two years ... Crazy.

If I had to guess. There could be a possible psychological glitch he needs to work on....

Like trying too hard... as weird as that sounds. Rookie, trying to impress...2nd year comeback, trying harder to impress....Coming in too hard too fast. His body never getting the proper tempering, you could say.... "Mid season form" doesn't happen over night. That's why the old school gave everyone 4 preseason games. To get acclimated to the abuse, and tune up the tiny muscles that supports the body when moving with the intensity Lloyd is capable of....

Next thing you know, he pulls a hammy looking like flash gordon coming off the bench... Now that we know there's a problem. There can be a conscious effort to slow down in training camp, and preseason. And build up to opening day slowly....

That and there is probably a hydration problem. ph imbalance. Missing some micronutrients, creating a hormone imbalance. Stress can trigger things like that. Pressures to perform up to the standard he knows he is capable of.

I'd definitely check his ph, and put him on a regiment of water and electrolytes. Have him tested for micronutrient deficiencies, or hormone imbalances... He might have to get a chef to teach him how to cook gluten free, if he does have those deficiencies or imbalances. And that means 100% no cheating, no contamination, for a year, so the gut can heal. Even trace amounts from gluten contamination can stop the healing process for weeks....once the gut is healed it will start absorbing the nutrients on its own again. I assume that's the type of stuff his gurus are telling him now..... I doubt GB coaches are telling him to take it slow and easy and use the entire time given, to slowly work up to flash gordon on opening day..... but he needs to take precautions, before he opens up the afterburners next training camp.

 

[OldSchool101]

Seems the consensus is that Gluten needs to find two starting CBs and a starter on the DL.

Interesting if that’s the case overall because it’s not my personal choice. I think the best application of resources is to land 1 true CB1. I think I saw where both CBs ranked in the top 50% from many metrics. Sure we all want better play from nearly everyone, but both replaced? Give me 1 boundary CB that is consistently in top 20 consideration and get Nixon in the Slot, that’s where he’s ideal. The guy led the league at PD at one point and he’s always been a highly graded Run Defender. That scrappy “flag drawing” type should be harassing a ln angling TE out of the backfield where he plays inside 4.999 yards with physicality.

In my opinion it’s like we have a pair of CB2’s level guys. Just not one who can pull a McKinney or Rasul and steal a couple games away into the W column.

Are there CBs and/or DLs who would be close to "sure things"?

Yes. Not sure if you are looking for a list or just desiring to understand the condition of the league at these positions? If you need a good player bad enough, then dangle a draft pick swap while people are thinking about draft needs. Activity breeds activity. I’d be lifting Rocks looking to upgrade I’d put a 4th RD in play IF it meant getting back a 6th rounder and a really good player. It’s essentially duplicating what we did with Rasul. Now you lose long term rookie contract $, but what’s to say we wouldn’t still find another great prospect in RD6 + still receive the quick benefit of a seasoned veteran lifting a young room.
I think many of us would be glad if we had 2023 Rasul type + drafted a 6th Round CB for depth.

 

[milani]

I suspect with THREE 7th Rounders this draft, GB goes looking for their next Khylin Hill type (hopefully without the bad injury luck). It’s even possible we go earlier and I wouldn’t be shocked to see a 4th/5th rounder applied at RB.

Our MO is to churn that 3rd or 4th RB hoping to hit gold. Chris Brooks regressed this season and while I like he’s well rounded, I could see him get passed on.

Wilson is a ERFA so it makes it more likely he’d back on a 1yr vet minimum, which is fine as it’s good to have a nice stable of RB’s.

Chris Brooks name was virtually non-existent this season. The other Brooks got more air time it seemed.

 

[OldSchool101]

Chris Brooks name was virtually non-existent this season. The other Brooks got more air time it seemed.

Yes. Chris has been a nice depth piece.

We can still sign Brooks to PS. The more I look around the more I’d like to resign Wilson to another $1mil deal. It gives us security in a win now and God knows he’s deserved it (Emannual means “God with us”)

 

[OldSchool101]

I’m in agreement with others though. Give me an upgrade at OL before really anything on Offense. Preferably a legit upper echelon Center.

Sean Rhyan PFF grade at Center was 31 of 40. His Run grade was good at 11 of 40. His Pass grade ranked dead LAST. That’s unacceptable as a whole and unacceptable in Pass Protect.

I’d offer Sean a lower $$ contract to compete at RG or just walk away. Green Bay deserves better than bottom 25% at Center. That position needs to be Top 25% in 2026 and Sean was nothing more than an emergency place filler.

 

[tynimiller]

Chris Brooks is a capable back that many forget about - and he is still our best pass pro back on our roster. While he didn't have a ton of rush attempts he still had 203 offensive snaps which to put in perspective Emanuel Wilson had 326.

I still feel good about our RB room if we hit 2026 and nothing changes:

Josh Jacobs
Emanuel Wilson (He is a ERFA)
Chris Brooks (He is a RFA)
Marshawn Lloyd
Pierre Strong
Damien Martinez

But I concur with others thinking that it could be a good time to nab a LATE Day 3. Or for sure a priority UDFA

 

[milani]

I’m in agreement with others though. Give me an upgrade at OL before really anything on Offense. Preferably a legit upper echelon Center.

Sean Rhyan PFF grade at Center was 31 of 40. His Run grade was good at 11 of 40. His Pass grade ranked dead LAST. That’s unacceptable as a whole and unacceptable in Pass Protect.

I’d offer Sean a lower $$ contract to compete at RG or just walk away. Green Bay deserves better than bottom 25% at Center. That position needs to be Top 25% in 2026 and Sean was nothing more than an emergency place filler.

This week there has been some social media posting about the late Jim Ringo. And plenty of footage of the Packer run game in the years he was in Green Bay. Not the biggest center in the league but he exploded off the ball. He was the best in the game at the time and the Packers were fortunate to have him. I still am astounded when I see the film of simple run plays with him leading the charge.

 

[Heyjoe4]

With Jacobs' YPC declining, drafting a RB makes some sense. That would come at the expense, however, of more O line depth or another IDL player.

I would be inclined to give it one more year with the current RB room and use the precious draft picks to try and fix bigger roster holes. Playing a rookie at RB is a more plausible fit than most other positions so if things don't work out in 2026, a RB can be a high priority in the 2027 draft.

If the Packers don't add good depth on the O line, the RB discussion may be a moot point since without good O line play, the RB's won't go anywhere. I would like to see Gute use 2 out of the 4 picks between rounds 2-5 on offensive linemen. You win in the trenches.

All good points Sanguine and you've changed my mind about taking a RB this year. Among your points, an OL that can open gaps is necessary for any RB to thrive. The starters now look to be, from left to right - Morgan, Banks, Rhyan. Belton, and Tom. That's a pretty solid lineup, but depth is not there. And Tom's injury - torn or partially torn patellar ligament - is very serious. That use to be a career-ending injury but surgical advances have been made - hope so.......

Add to that the immediate needs at CB and iDL and no first round draft, and RB becomes a luxury that the team just can't afford.

Thanks for the solid comments.

 

[tynimiller]

All good points Sanguine and you've changed my mind about taking a RB this year. Among your points, an OL that can open gaps is necessary for any RB to thrive. The starters now look to be, from left to right - Morgan, Banks, Rhyan. Belton, and Tom. That's a pretty solid lineup, but depth is not there. And Tom's injury - torn or partially torn patellar ligament - is very serious. That use to be a career-ending injury but surgical advances have been made - hope so.......

Add to that the immediate needs at CB and iDL and no first round draft, and RB becomes a luxury that the team just can't afford.

Thanks for the solid comments.

Rhyan as of now not on the team next year. He might end up here but anyone’s best guess