Packers 2025 offseason

[Joseph Zarr]

3 minutes ago, DR28 said:

Seeing online that numerous people around the league believe we will end up trading for Metcalf and may already have a deal in place.

Can you share any of these 'people around the League' thoughts or sources? To this point, admittedly I'm not hyper-focused on this, I've merely seen hints and suggestions the Packers should consider trading for him.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I wanted Metcalf right out of the draft. He is an animal. It is going to be pretty funny if that happens, handing Love that kind of physical freak that Rodgers probably would have burned down his house for.

I won't hold my breath though. I am sure the next report coming out is about how that report is completely made up.

[Joseph Zarr]

Nevermind. Took me two minutes. There are whispers indeed:

 

[JosephC]

On 2/24/2025 at 8:19 AM, CheezWizHed said:

I'm oddly warming to bringing back Stokes.  That is assuming a vet min contract or not much more.  

Assuming Jaire is out and a few of our backup CBs are FAs, there is room for a high upside CB that has been struggling the last couple of years.  Perhaps another year removed from his major injuries would also help him bounce back also. 

He can compete in TC with a draft pick or two, some UDFAs and perhaps another vet min CB to be on the depth chart. 

Carlton Davis was my top free agent target, but a NFL writer (Gregg Rosenthal) just published a top free agent list and he had Davis #10.  If that's the way the rest of the league sees Davis, then I would likely be priced out on him...as I had been looking at something like 3 years, 39-42 million.  So this has gotten me thinking about Stokes.  IMO the Packers need to do something with the position on the veteran market.  If not, I think they are looking at a situation where they almost must spend a first round pick or a second round pick on a cornerback and then follow that up with another cornerback in round 3 or 4.  Definitely would like to head into the draft with a bit more flexibility than that.

Next veteran cornerback I'm looking at is Kristian Fulton.  Late second round pick by the Titans, did end up as a three year starter there but apparently was not great.  Went to the Chargers last year and by all accounts had a good season.  Those "one-year" guys scare me, although admittedly every single draft pick is a zero-year guy when they step onto an NFL field.  If it gets past Fulton, Stokes is probably as attractive as any other cheap cornerback out there.

[DR28]

Seahawks want #23 in this year's draft and Doubs or Wick for Metcalf.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

If Metcalf is getting a 1st and a promising player times have really changed. There was a time players like that got traded for 4ths.

Doubs is better than Wicks but I'd rather keep Wicks with the concussions and possible malcontent stuff. I can't see the Packers agreeing to a trade like that. He's under contract for only this season. I have seen "high pick" but I haven't seen that it's 23. I can't believe it is.

[DR28]

3 minutes ago, OldSchoolSnapper said:

If Metcalf is getting a 1st and a promising player times have really changed. There was a time players like that got traded for 4ths.

Doubs is better than Wicks but I'd rather keep Wicks with the concussions and possible malcontent stuff. I can't see the Packers agreeing to a trade like that. He's under contract for only this season. I have seen "high pick" but I haven't seen that it's 23. I can't believe it is.

A legit name posted the #23 pick, let me see if I can find it.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Ah, I am seeing SEA would be sending a pick back, which does make more sense. Looks like a 4th.

[DR28]

Corbin K Smith, Seahawks reporter posted about #23 pick and WR.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I'd personally be happy to get rid of one our vastly overrated WRs for Metcalf.

Like I get it, people aren't wrong when they say we have good WRs. But that's just it, we have a bunch of OK WRs and the fanbase has drastically overstated their abilities. But getting Metcalf and getting to keep Reed, who I think is the best one we have, is good. The first still sounds really steep to me. He's 28, you've gotta pay him $30 million AAV for the trade to even make sense. I'd do a third in a heartbeat, and some soul-searching over a 2nd. 

But you could use the pick on a WR for a lot less.

[Joseph Zarr]

 

😅

[SeaBass]

3 minutes ago, Joseph Zarr said:

 

😅

That Corbin guy should stick to baseball.

[DR28]

Stuff is all over the place with this now.... Give up the cost to get Metcalf, we'd just draft a pass rusher that flames out like Van Ness anyway.

[CheezWizHed]

5 hours ago, JosephC said:

Carlton Davis was my top free agent target, but a NFL writer (Gregg Rosenthal) just published a top free agent list and he had Davis #10.  If that's the way the rest of the league sees Davis, then I would likely be priced out on him...as I had been looking at something like 3 years, 39-42 million.  So this has gotten me thinking about Stokes.  IMO the Packers need to do something with the position on the veteran market.  If not, I think they are looking at a situation where they almost must spend a first round pick or a second round pick on a cornerback and then follow that up with another cornerback in round 3 or 4.  Definitely would like to head into the draft with a bit more flexibility than that.

Next veteran cornerback I'm looking at is Kristian Fulton.  Late second round pick by the Titans, did end up as a three year starter there but apparently was not great.  Went to the Chargers last year and by all accounts had a good season.  Those "one-year" guys scare me, although admittedly every single draft pick is a zero-year guy when they step onto an NFL field.  If it gets past Fulton, Stokes is probably as attractive as any other cheap cornerback out there.

I think we need NFL capable CBs this offseason... perhaps three:

• One should be a top 3 round draft pick (basically replacing Jaire)
• One should be a decent vet with maybe untapped upside (basically replacing Stokes)
• One could be a filled with by picking the best of some UDFAs/fringe vets (replacing Ballentine)

I was ready to be done with Stokes, but in reality, he still has some good upside.  He just had one healthy season after several injury prone ones, so perhaps second year back can start to regain form? He is still young.  As long as the cost is pretty low, I think he would be ok as your 4th CB. 

[JosephC]

8 hours ago, DR28 said:

Stuff is all over the place with this now.... Give up the cost to get Metcalf, we'd just draft a pass rusher that flames out like Van Ness anyway.

But it isn't just giving up the pick, it's giving up the pick for 1 year of a player...or giving up the pick and a contract that probably has at least three seasons of 35 million dollar cap numbers involved with it.   

[JosephC]

Is Metcalf truly an elite receiver?  Seriously.

2019

Tyler Lockett = 82 catches/1057 yards/8 touchdowns

DK Metcalf = 58/900/7

2020

Metcalf = 83/1303/10

Lockett = 100/1054/10

2021

Lockett = 73/1175/8

Metcalf = 75/967/12

2022

Metcalf = 90/1048/6

Lockett = 84/1033/9

2023

Metcalf = 66/1114/8

Lockett = 79/894/5

2024

Jaxon Smith-Njigba = 100/1130/6

Metcalf = 66/992/5

[HarryDoyle]

22 hours ago, OldSchoolSnapper said:

I wanted Metcalf right out of the draft. He is an animal. It is going to be pretty funny if that happens, handing Love that kind of physical freak that Rodgers probably would have burned down his house for.

I won't hold my breath though. I am sure the next report coming out is about how that report is completely made up.

I wanted him out of the draft too but I don't want him now. Attitude problem and a legit pass rusher like Garrett is a priority over receiver, even more so now since Alexander is most likely done in Green Bay.

[endaround]

15 hours ago, JosephC said:

Is Metcalf truly an elite receiver?  Seriously.

2019

Tyler Lockett = 82 catches/1057 yards/8 touchdowns

DK Metcalf = 58/900/7

2020

Metcalf = 83/1303/10

Lockett = 100/1054/10

2021

Lockett = 73/1175/8

Metcalf = 75/967/12

2022

Metcalf = 90/1048/6

Lockett = 84/1033/9

2023

Metcalf = 66/1114/8

Lockett = 79/894/5

2024

Jaxon Smith-Njigba = 100/1130/6

Metcalf = 66/992/5

Yep, Metcalf looks like he could be done. No way a 1st should even be in discussion at this point.

[GAME05]

If two years of Davante can be had for a 2nd, I don't know why you'd pay 1st+player for one year of Metcalf. I'd rather just overpay for a guy like Godwin and keep the valuable draft pick.

Little talk on Malik Willis. I keep thinking he'd be perfect for Cleveland. 1+4+Malik+LVN and we'll take Garrett.

[homer]

DK also played a big chunk of his career under Pete "Establish the Run" Carroll as head coach and Shane Fraudron as 0C.

[HarryDoyle]

Reports are that the Niners are trading Deebo Samuel to Washington for a fifth-round pick. If that's the case, Gute would be a fool to give up the package Seattle is asking for.

[BrewerFan]

11 hours ago, GAME05 said:

If two years of Davante can be had for a 2nd, I don't know why you'd pay 1st+player for one year of Metcalf. I'd rather just overpay for a guy like Godwin and keep the valuable draft pick.

Little talk on Malik Willis. I keep thinking he'd be perfect for Cleveland. 1+4+Malik+LVN and we'll take Garrett.

Cleveland is in a bad place right now, but the smart thing for them to do...IMO, just suck it up, waive the white flat the next couple years. Take what the Packers did by trading players who still had some value and taking on those cap hits. Newsome they can save 14M on, Garrett and Ward they can move and clear a LOT of cap space for next year.

They have 13 picks this year. I'd trade out of the 2nd spot with a team like the Giants. A bad team that wants Sanders(or Ward). You add a 1st next year(plus). At that point, you know you're going to be bad this year. No sense in trading for a guy like Willis. Even if he's as good as he was for GB and I don't know if he can be a good starter so much as a great backup, but they should tank for Arch Manning.

Use the picks this year, they could trade from #2 down to #3, grab a future 1st, then trade down again and still get a guy like Will Campbell, heck, maybe even pick up a 1st this year and a 1st next. Rebuild that OL, build that DL with younger talent.

Then next year they could easily have the #1 pick, a top 4-5 pick IF they trade with a team desperate for Sanders and another top 10-15 by moving down again to that #8-10 range. Also, you're taking the Packers #23 pick in this case or whatever 1st you get for Garrett leaving you with 15-16 picks. Denzel Ward,  Newsome, I don't know what they're worth. Ward is a really good CB. Newsome has been good, had a bad year last year(he has no dead cap in a trade).

Next year, Arch Manning is going to be there. 6'4, 4.60 40, he's an athletic Manning. Use the draft capital, go get him. You already started building your OL. Guys like Campbell, Zabel, maybe even another OL since you'd be so stacked.

They would still have a HUGE ugly cap hit on the books and you'd have to restructure Watson in order to do this, but make him a Post June 1 cut.

It'd suck, but they'll suck either way . Might as well do a complete tear down and in 3 years, you'll have a TON of cap space, you could end up with several 1st, a good OL, Arch, a guy who'd bring excitement to the franchise(if he pans out, we've only seen him behind Ewers, but still he seems legit) and turn it around, end up like the Bears right now with Caleb, cap space except you'd have a lot more picks and be a younger team.

 

That's what I'd do. But the Browns will probably try and be competitive this year with a bad roster that's in cap hell and in 3 years still be a terrible team.

 

As for your Trade, I'd like to keep LVN. I think he's going to break out and turn into a good player. Not what Gary is(or was becoming before last year) but a good anchor, good vs the run and and ~8 sacks. I'd trade him if it meant getting Garrett, but I'd rather keep him. The perfect deal would be Garrett+Ward for a 1st and a 1st/2nd next year. Probably unrealistic. Newsome is more likely, but either one works. (and neither will happen).

 

I'd just LOVE to see this team go in this year. I think they're close. If we don't lead the league in drops next year and can improve on the OL a bit and Myles Garrett? That window opens up a lot wider! Be even better if we could get a pick in the mid rounds for Jaire. . But this team badly needs a difference maker on the DL like Garrett. That'd take our Def to the next level and it could work out for both teams...if Cleveland is smart.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

12 hours ago, homer said:

DK also played a big chunk of his career under Pete "Establish the Run" Carroll as head coach and Shane Fraudron as 0C.

Exactly. And just some mediocre teams in general with "eh" QB play. 

[BrewerFan]

12 hours ago, HarryDoyle said:

Reports are that the Niners are trading Deebo Samuel to Washington for a fifth-round pick. If that's the case, Gute would be a fool to give up the package Seattle is asking for.

I was completely with you until I looked at what Deebo has done since his one big year. He's been on a decline since he signed that extension and was used out of the backfield and such a big part of their offense. With McCaffery, Kittle, Ayiuk coming back and Pearsall...that seems like a salary dump as much as anything.

Saves them the 16M base.

DK is 2 years younger and a different type of player and has that speed we're losing with Watson.

I don't know what this WRing core is yet though. As a rookie, it looked like Musgrave was going to be a stud. He's so smooth, had some bad luck. Then last year, just got hurt early and Kraft broke out. Still hoping they can be a great duo.

More than anything, if our WRing core can just catch the ball, we're fine. But we had so many drops. Wicks in particular was such a reliable 3rd down target and last year he looked like Davante his first two years.

 

I'm definitely not giving up a 1st. A 2nd is a lot but if we could make it a 3rd and a future 5th...that'd probably be worth it. Throw in Doubs and I'd do that deal. You're also gonna have to pay Metcalf as he is in his final year of his deal.

If you have to sign Metcalf for 25, probably close to 30M a year and sign Tom...that's going to eat into a LOT of salary cap both this yeare and in the future.

[BrewerFan]

28 minutes ago, OldSchoolSnapper said:

Exactly. And just some mediocre teams in general with "eh" QB play. 

He hasn't had elite play, but the one thing both Wilson and Geno Smith have been great at is throwing the deep ball.

And they were actually surprisingly good when you go look at the numbers they put up. Wilson was an AP(2nd team behind Rodgers I think) in '19 and of his 6 years, his QBs have been named to the PB 5 of them(and not like Drake Maye just because nobody wanted to play and they made it as the 14th alternate).

 

A lot of that could have been DK. They've also had Lockett and JSN.

He would be such a good fit for us. The dude is so physical all the time. Blocking, it seems like he enjoys it, beating up on CBs and just throwing them around. Kinda fits what the Packers are trying to do with guys like Jacobs and Kraft. Become a more physical team.

I would also think IF a deal was made, it'd be contingent on signing an extension. I imagine both sides would want that. He would want to get paid and the Packers wouldn't give up premium draft picks for a one year rental who they'd have to tag or let go next year.

27 years old though, he should have 4 prime years left.

 

Metcalf, Garrett, sign Adebo, and then go into the draft and use the picks that are left on OL/DT. That'd be a Madden type off-season.