Packers 2024 Off-Season Thread

[Joseph Zarr]

4 minutes ago, HarryDoyle said:

Why shouldn't they do all this?

I mean, it seems as though they should right? That's a lot of open cheddar for the off-season buffet. AND, every move makes quite a bit of sense from the roster construction POV. 

[vandy54]

36 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

I mean, it seems as though they should right? That's a lot of open cheddar for the off-season buffet. AND, every move makes quite a bit of sense from the roster construction POV. 

I would assume they would not want to do the max void restructure on every player possible, as that just kicks the can further down the road where the bill will eventually come due. And I would assume that Love's new contract will have bigger cap hits in the future as well compared to what it will be in 2024.

[mrn1ceguy]

1 hour ago, HarryDoyle said:

Why shouldn't they do all this?

That would make later years worse and in theory, we will wanting to hand out a lot of high dollar receiver/TE extensions.  But if we did the Bakhtiari, Newman, Campbell cuts that still gets us an extra ~$35 million.  That alone should be enough to get us a safety and extend Love.  Maybe add a 3 year extension to Clark or 2 year extension to Jones clearing a little more space and that should be sufficient for a productive offseason without burdening future years.

[Joseph Zarr]

You both bring up astute points. Whereas I saw all that cap space and lost composure 😂 

[BrewerFan]

8 hours ago, bjkrautk said:

Has anyone actually confirmed whether the team is moving to a 4-3 under Hafley?  I actually think the transition would be fairly natural if Gary moves to DE, with Clark, Slayton & Wyatt making up the rest of the line.  McDuffie actually moved to MLB at BC under Halfey, so I assume Campbell will be a cap casualty.  The real questions are how Smith and Walker would fare as 4-3 OLBs.

Smith's not a 4-3 OLB. He's just a DE in a 43. I think it benefits Wyatt the most, but...I also don't think it really matters. 

I would assume though that Walker would be the MLBer, McDuffie the SLBer and then we'd draft a bigger safety to be the weakside backer. 

Campbell could also easily play any of those three positions...IF he's playing well. Walker on the weak side would give him an opportunity to make a lot of plays.

But I'd guess we're staying in a 3-4. 

[BrewerFan]

2 hours ago, HarryDoyle said:

Why shouldn't they do all this?

There's no need to and it just causes more issues down the road. 

Kenny Clark, as it stands, will have a ~14M dead cap in '25. If you do this and split that 27M up with 4 MORE void years, you're making that dead cap over 30 in '25. 

Gary...you lose leverage in future negotiations(and again, really no need).

Jones-He's 30. I think it's more likely he takes a pay cut(not much but 3-4M) than an extension. 

Jaire-He's 27. I wouldn't move off him(unless you get a big-time offer) but I also wouldn't want to make the potential to move off him on the future that much more expensive.

Preston Smith...same thing. He's nearing the end of his career. It's not hard to envision the Packers using their 1st rd pick on ANOTHER edge rusher(hypothetically, don't think they'll do it, but if an edge is their #1 rated player...).

 

I don't want Ted Thompson type conservative spending, but you also don't want to be back where we were last year with the dead cap and void years...if you can avoid it, and you can.

 

Quote

@mrn1ceguyThat would make later years worse and in theory, we will wanting to hand out a lot of high dollar receiver/TE extensions.  But if we did the Bakhtiari, Newman, Campbell cuts that still gets us an extra ~$35 million.  That alone should be enough to get us a safety and extend Love.  Maybe add a 3 year extension to Clark or 2 year extension to Jones clearing a little more space and that should be sufficient for a productive offseason without burdening future years.

Right. Even if you went and signed a FA for 80M, it'd make more sense to backload that deal than to deal with more void years. The void years also mean you get no draft pick compensation(which was why I thought it weird they did it with Nijman, but it likely means they'll be active in free agency). 

[BrewerFan]

https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2024/2/2/24059800/green-bay-packers-news-rumors-report-offered-zach-orr-defensive-coordinator-job-baltimore-ravens

 

Not sure if this has been posted here yet, but apparently we went after Zach Orr first. Don't like that. Doesn't really mean much, but it does mean we once again didn't get the young guy we apparently really wanted.

Makes sense he'd pass up the job as he was already in Baltimore and it'd be a lateral move. 

Still excited about the hire, the more aggressive concepts, but...anyway, just thought I'd mention it.

[homer]

4 hours ago, BrewerFan said:

https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2024/2/2/24059800/green-bay-packers-news-rumors-report-offered-zach-orr-defensive-coordinator-job-baltimore-ravens

 

Not sure if this has been posted here yet, but apparently we went after Zach Orr first. Don't like that. Doesn't really mean much, but it does mean we once again didn't get the young guy we apparently really wanted.

Makes sense he'd pass up the job as he was already in Baltimore and it'd be a lateral move. 

Still excited about the hire, the more aggressive concepts, but...anyway, just thought I'd mention it.

I think that story is BS leaked by Orr's agent. It's possible the agent told the Ravens Orr had an offer from GB  to get leverage and then someone in their front office leaked it to press. 

edit: also this

 

 

[HarveysWBs]

22 minutes ago, homer said:

I think that story is BS leaked by Orr's agent. It's possible the agent told the Ravens Orr had an offer from GB  to get leverage and then someone in their front office leaked it to press. 

edit: also this

 

 

Yeah, the timing alone makes that hard to believe. Like we would have offered him the job before he could even get in for an interview? I’m not buying it.

I don’t follow the transaction rumors for other teams, but it certainly feels like we’re the subject of more than our fair share of these “oh, the Packers were/are interested in my guy” bs rumors. Seems like agents just constantly throw the Packers out there for any even remotely plausible fit as part of their effort to squeeze a few more points out of negotiations with the real suitors.

[BrewerFan]

3 hours ago, homer said:

I think that story is BS leaked by Orr's agent. It's possible the agent told the Ravens Orr had an offer from GB  to get leverage and then someone in their front office leaked it to press. 

edit: also this

 

 

Eh, fair enough! I don't particularly care if it's true or not because I like the guy that we did get. It'd just leave a bit of a sour taste if that was the case. But, it sounds like it may not be, so all the better. 

[HarryDoyle]

6 hours ago, HarveysWBs said:

Yeah, the timing alone makes that hard to believe. Like we would have offered him the job before he could even get in for an interview? I’m not buying it.

I don’t follow the transaction rumors for other teams, but it certainly feels like we’re the subject of more than our fair share of these “oh, the Packers were/are interested in my guy” bs rumors. Seems like agents just constantly throw the Packers out there for any even remotely plausible fit as part of their effort to squeeze a few more points out of negotiations with the real suitors.

The Packers DC position is a high profile job as it's widely believed that it is the final piece of the puzzle to this Love era Packer team becoming a Super Bowl contender. Time will tell if Hafley is the right choice. I'll still be skeptical until I see it with my own two eyes.

[BrewerFan]

1 hour ago, HarryDoyle said:

The Packers DC position is a high profile job as it's widely believed that it is the final piece of the puzzle to this Love era Packer team becoming a Super Bowl contender. Time will tell if Hafley is the right choice. I'll still be skeptical until I see it with my own two eyes.

He plays aggressively, he plays single high with an extra man in the box. He covers the middle of the field and he blitzes the QB.

What DC would you feel good about? It'd almost have to be someone you've seen call plays...and that usually means they were fired. IDK, he wasn't my first choice(or a choice)...but the guy left a stable job in College and took a big pay cut because he wanted to get back to coaching and he has enough of a history with players. 

 

You never know until you know, but...there's not much you could be too much more excited about than what he's done at this point.

[Joseph Zarr]

Some very important and significant Packer staff moves today. Of note here, first, is the understanding all of the relevant parties on GB's defensive staff have been given the go ahead to seek employment elsewhere in 2024:

1) Ol' QB Sean Mannion has officially hung up the cleats (was on Seattle's PS this past season) and is headed to the Packers offensive staff:

2) Former 'Defensive Quality Control' coach, Justin Hood, is already moving on.

3) As is lonnnnng time Defensive Line and Run game coordinator/coach, Jerry Montgomery:

 

[Joseph Zarr]

 

[LouisEly]

Richard Sherman on Hafley, who he played for in SF:

“His preparation is some of the best I’ve seen,” said cornerback Richard Sherman who was coached by Hafley in San Francisco. “I’ve had some great defensive back coaches, some great defensive coaches, great defensive minds, and he’s right up there with his preparation and how he breaks down film and how easy and simple he makes the gameplan sound. How easy he makes it for guys to understand. He paints a very vivid picture of what you’re going to see and it’s all about executing on it.”

https://packerswire.usatoday.com/2024/02/02/solid-draft-and-free-agency-classes-give-packers-opportunity-to-add-to-safety/

[Joseph Zarr]

 

[Joseph Zarr]

Barry heads to Miami to be their LB coach and run game coordinator. Hafley and Packers grab former Miami LB coach Anthony Campanile - a name linked to several D-Coordinator positions recently.

 

[bjkrautk]

I was looking for confirmation of a shift to the 4-3...this is pretty much that.

[homer]

Or as I like to call it "Da Four - Tree"

[Joseph Zarr]

 

[BrewerFan]

8 hours ago, bjkrautk said:

I was looking for confirmation of a shift to the 4-3...this is pretty much that.

That could be interesting...as long as he's not too rigid about it. A good DC should play multiple fronts. A 5-2, 4-3, 3-4. 

A 4-3 will certainly help guys like Wyatt, Brooks, Wooden. It plays to their strengths. They don't have to play two gaps and can get into the backfield. As for concerns about Slaton not being a fit...Vita Vea plays in a 4-3. Big, physical run stuffers are required to play a 3-4. They're more of a bonus in a 43. 

The main difference will be the DL and then I guess we need another MLBer if we move on from Campbell. Quay's role will probably not change too much. I'd guess he plays MLBer, maybe WLB. Gives him a little more freedom. McDuffie the SLB

More likely they'll take a big safety or sign a guy like Jeremy Chinn, he could fill in at WLBer while helping cover the middle of the field. 

 

[Joseph Zarr]

Another staff add. This time an assistant to Jason Vrable in the WR room:

Some of you may recognize that name. This is indeed the Myles White who suited up for the Green and Gold for a hot minute some years back.

[homer]

We don't have a 2024 NFL thread yet but this seems ok here since he is a WI guy and some thought GB might show interest:

 

 

[CheezWizHed]

The more I read about new DC Hafley, the more I think we should bring Savage back as a FA.

• Savage was clearly our best safety last year.  He wasn't outstanding (and he still missed tackles), but overall he was solid. 
• Savage started out strong the first couple years in the league.  He regressed mightily the last few.  Not surprisingly that coincided with Joe Barry's hiring as DC. 
• Hafley (at least in college) played a lot of single high safety.  Savage's speed fits that defensive plan pretty well. 
• Hafley has been lauded for his work with DBs.  If anyone can unlock Savage's capabilities, it will be him.

I'm assuming Savage will be reasonably priced given his down years and we will need 2-3 safeties this year.  I think Savage could very well bounce back (or break out?) under Hafley. 

[Joseph Zarr]

Hafleys first presser today. Boy, it sure seems like we got a good one. He has been fantastic. Just fantastic.

If anyone is interested, the recorded presser 'should' be here: