With the free agent frenzy well over Thompson once again stuck with his draft & develop philosophy and never even looked at spending big money on free agency. We all waited for the big splash McCarthy talked about and it never came. Unless you consider a no name DE B.J. McBryde, who couldn’t even make the Browns 53 man team last year!
Some fans are fed up with Thompson and want the organization to either remove him or have him retire. Personally, I like the way Ted keeps the team stocked with young talent while keeping the cap well in check, but I also think the avenues other than draft & develop should be used to fulfill needs. I’m not asking to break the bank but there are players still available who could better the team this year but Ted just sits idle.
Jared Cook came for a visit. While he is no Gronk, he could give Rodgers a big target down the seam and red zone. President Mark Murphy said the Packers will not over spend for a player, so maybe this is the strategy they’re taking with Cook. So far the only team interested in him is the Pack. So by waiting to offer a deal, they could get him at a bargain.
The same can be said about their own free agents like Mike Neal, John Kuhn and even Brett Goode who was injured late in the season with an ACL. By waiting, Thompson may be able to retain their own at veteran minimums instead of paying more than they need.
I believe when the May 12th dead line arrives they will sign Kuhn and Neal at bargain prices. And, if Cook has not got any other interests, they will offer him a one year “prove it” contract which could be in the range of 4 to 6 million with incentives. This way it won’t go against the comp picks.
The Packers have $13.2 million left in remaining cap room for 2016 with a third of that needed for signing this year’s draft choices. So Ted will stay the course about over spending too early to keep the cap manageable.
The Packers have three of their core offensive linemen entering free agency next year; David Bakhtiari, Josh Sitton and Tj Lang. All will require enough money to retain them. Not to mention, if Lacy turns things around this year, he will be asking for a long term deal as well. So all these guys have to be in Teds agenda this year as the cap works!
Well these are just a few Rants & Raves I have so let Packer nation know your thoughts in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.
Thanks Jeff
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I agree that the Packers need more than draft and develop although it is a good guideline. The Broncos, and Patriots before them, used free agency to build a Super Bowl Champ. Get the idea? The Packers do not have 22 Pro Bowlers. The Packers lost to every division rival at home last year. The Packers slid into the playoffs last year winning just 4 of their final 10 regular season games. Standing pat on the roster does say a lot for improving the team.
Who do you suggest they pick up for a reasonable price?
TT is holding onto the money the Packers have for good reason. The Packers have to look to resign 13 guys next season.
They lost Jordy and Montgomery along with their starting center and both offensive tackles. No team can have offensive rhythm without an offensive line. When you get down to 3rd and 4th string tackles and move best guard to tackle you are playing at about 40% of potential. Get injured players back and fill holes with draft picks and cast-offs from other teams and they will dominate the North again. Also home games in playoffs will help them get to another Super Bowl.
TT’s level-headedness is the reason why the Packers do so well year in and year out. Jared Cook is NOT that good. In fact, Richard Rodgers had better numbers than Jared Cook did in 2015. I understand the argument that Jared Cook was playing with worse QB’s but that doesn’t explain all the blatant drops Cook commits. Cook dropped 42% of passes sent his way and had far less TD catches than Richard Rodgers.
I dont think he is worth any more than 3 million. A number that Starks (a far more important Packer component) is getting paid that several people were bitching and whining about.
Just to summarize, people are complaining about TT not getting FA’s when the Packers have 13 of their own players to deal with next year. Furthermore, everyone is irritated that he resigned Starks for 3 mill a year and then they want to sign an older TE that drops more catches than the Packers receivers’ of 2015 for 3 million+?
It’s a good thing fans aren’t Packer general managers.
Oh plz look again I disagree TT cause they kept draft busted all years even not get fa that why got rookie injure too many time look again both are Same thing TT going loose ILB inside line block then loose other TE that why we need other TE as in case plus if we don’t FA Jared Cook and DL defense line Fa then we safe cause last time we handle without B.J. Raji when he had ACL torn we got to near to Super Bowl but we loss in nfc champ we can handle without him even need draft 1st round is MLB that bigger keys to stop everything
Exactly! Good to see an intelligent fan! I was getting pissed at all of the negative comments.
Draft and develop is fine as a basic approach. But if that’s all you do, you better be good at it. TT isn’t. Assuming he doesn’t sign a FA, here are the holes they need to fill in the draft this year…ILB, NT, OLB, DT (maybe 2), TE, OT (backup at least), Punter, Safety (backup because Richardson won’t return). That’s too many.
By the way, GB’s success isn’t a credit to Thompson’s; it’s their QB. Take him out of the equation, and you’ve got a mediocre group at best.
Point is, when you rely solely on the draft, you better hit more than you miss. Go back 6-7 years and you’ll see. Lots of busts, several average, a few good players. But nothing special.
Finally, Ted does overpay. He overpaid for Starks and Perry. That’s why they resigned. He’s overpaying for Peppers; no way he’s worth 10m at this point in his career. He overpaid for Shields. And they were about to overpay for BJ before he quit.
Just about every single GM in the NFL would disagree with you. It is well known that they believe TT is a wizard in the draft. He’s been quite successful.