TJV
Lifelong Packers Fanatic
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2011
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Obviously Rodgers and Matthews are at the top of the list and #3, probably Raji, is significantly behind.
I don't think Raji is as indispensable as I once considered him to be. He was supposed to be that very rare big man who could stand up to double teams on run downs and get consistent pass rush from the interior on passing downs. We haven't seen much of the latter for a couple of years now, but he does seem to be coming-on this season. Perhaps playing through his pre-season ankle injury has affected his play more than we know. With Pickett near the end of his career and the other "pure" run stopper being Wilson, Raji's return is preferable - but not at "break the bank, great vs. run and pass NT" prices. How they view Neal may factor into this as well, but lately he's been in on passing downs so in spite of his strength they don't seem to view him as the run stopper Raji is. Worthy has been surprisingly good vs. the run but he's not a NT and certainly not in Raji's class vs. the run IMO. The Packers have two DL very good vs. the run IMO: Pickett and Raji. Their only true NTs IMO and Thompson has said many times how he values big talented men so my guess is they'll try hard to extend BJ.
I don't know about Jennings - love to keep him but he'll probably be too expensive. However, IMO if they can afford to franchise him, they can better afford to sign him long term.
The most interesting aspect of this topic IMO is whether Thompson and Ball will get anything done this salary cap year. How much cap room do they currently have? It'd be great if they could use up cap space this season on an extension. Maybe one of the "lesser" players/contracts?
BTW, got a laugh at the idea of paying for Newhouse's plane ticket out of Green Bay - he's not the least of the problems on the OL currently (Sitton is) but he's closer to that end of the spectrum than the other. And if Sherrod can play LT (no guarantee of that) Newhouse would be a GREAT backup OT. And he may turn out to be an adequate starting LT if the rest of the OL is good.
I don't think Raji is as indispensable as I once considered him to be. He was supposed to be that very rare big man who could stand up to double teams on run downs and get consistent pass rush from the interior on passing downs. We haven't seen much of the latter for a couple of years now, but he does seem to be coming-on this season. Perhaps playing through his pre-season ankle injury has affected his play more than we know. With Pickett near the end of his career and the other "pure" run stopper being Wilson, Raji's return is preferable - but not at "break the bank, great vs. run and pass NT" prices. How they view Neal may factor into this as well, but lately he's been in on passing downs so in spite of his strength they don't seem to view him as the run stopper Raji is. Worthy has been surprisingly good vs. the run but he's not a NT and certainly not in Raji's class vs. the run IMO. The Packers have two DL very good vs. the run IMO: Pickett and Raji. Their only true NTs IMO and Thompson has said many times how he values big talented men so my guess is they'll try hard to extend BJ.
I don't know about Jennings - love to keep him but he'll probably be too expensive. However, IMO if they can afford to franchise him, they can better afford to sign him long term.
The most interesting aspect of this topic IMO is whether Thompson and Ball will get anything done this salary cap year. How much cap room do they currently have? It'd be great if they could use up cap space this season on an extension. Maybe one of the "lesser" players/contracts?
BTW, got a laugh at the idea of paying for Newhouse's plane ticket out of Green Bay - he's not the least of the problems on the OL currently (Sitton is) but he's closer to that end of the spectrum than the other. And if Sherrod can play LT (no guarantee of that) Newhouse would be a GREAT backup OT. And he may turn out to be an adequate starting LT if the rest of the OL is good.