CheezWizHed

Hunter's college production and pre-draft testing (RAS) don't line up... I'd guess that his visit was to vet out the discrepancy (Not sure if they can test on a visit or not?). Whatever the result of that visit is probably what will determine if the Packers go after Hunter or not.

It would be really funny to put out 4 runs on back-to-back Cy Young winners with a lineup missing 3 of our best hitters! Bunt them into submission!

Two words: Brice Turang I'm not going to say that Pratt will become Brice with the bat, but I think their profiles/potential is very similar (save for Pratt being taller). Brice went through most of his minors without hitting very well at all (at least not for someone considered a "top prospect"): 270/363/378/740. That was while Brice was ages 18-22. Cooper is about to turn 22 at AAA (so the same ages at the same levels). His 253/349/363/712 is behind Brice overall, but not terribly. And Brice had a really nice AAA year to boost his numbers where Cooper's above average production (104 OPS+) at AA that still lowered his overall OPS. A full season at AAA might close that gap (though he is pretty cold right now). Somewhere on here, I did a cost-benefit estimate for given Pratt the contract now. The only way this really "fails" for the Brewers is if Pratt is a zero or negative WAR player (someone you wouldn't take to Arbitration). If Pratt becomes Joey Ortiz (~2 WAR player), the Brewers are paying the "typical" cost of that player as they go through arbitration and FA. The Brewers don't normally pay FA prices for that type of player, but it isn't a massive anchor on their necks either. If Pratt reaches Adames or Turang levels (or higher...) this contract starts to pay off very well. I think it is a very safe bet to say Pratt's floor is Joey Ortiz. Can his ceiling be Turang? It isn't that big of a stretch. Edit: found the link to my Cost-Benefit analysis of the contract:

Pretty much the same development spot as Chourio (except Chourio was younger). There was a lot of speculation that Chourio needed time at AAA too... even a couple of months into the MLB season. They took the same path by signing both prior to any AAA ABs. Both had the risk of needing time at AAA and Chourio got a lot of debate by starting his rookie year very slowly for the first 2 months. If Pratt heats up at AAA and Ortiz doesn't, I don't think it will take much to switch. But for Made, I don't think they were going to give him an MLB contract with zero ABs at AA. Come Aug/Sept... that might change if they want him to come up for the stretch run and playoffs. He is certainly making AA look like cake right now.

Banks was generally seen as a 1st round talent with risk due to injuries. Based on boards, I was kind of hoping he'd slide to the Packers, I've never understood why people are so in love with "the board"... as if that was absolute truth. People that aren't good enough to be the GM of an NFL team make up the boards. (Granted some GMs in the NFL aren't good enough to be GMs either, but... ). But GMs do get more access to medical records than the media does, so I suspect they vetted out the risk before taking him, but we can still hope it was a dumb pick. 😉

@patrickgpe this news coming on the cusp of the NFL draft and at the end of a very 🤢Bucks season is probably why there isn't much discussion. Frankly, I don't know much about the coach to know if this is a good hire or not... But I think you make a good point about this being an indicator of running it back with Giannis. So what sort of coach is Jenkins? Is he going to be able to change Giannis at all? I think the point-forward offense really needs to go bye-bye (at least not the default). KPJ and Rollins are good distributors. Let them (and ball movement in general) free up Giannis instead of the "GA-takes-on-all-defenders" offense we normally see.

It is quite possible the trade was motivation for Contreras to improve as a catcher.

Certainly it will be more than Chourio just for inflation. I suspect the Brewers have had talks with Made and his representation, but I doubt they made any offer with zero AA ABs. Like I said before, if he is on Chourio's "schedule", the offer would come this fall (which is pretty similar to Pratt's schedule too).

Dugger just sounds like a ST demon to me. JVDB too. Both have potential upside/depth abilities at LB/DT, but a high RAS, 30 visit inclusion, and ST potential just seems to align as a Packer Pick.

I will say that there are a lot of players in the 40 range that seem like Packer targets: Edge: Lawrence, Young DT: Hunter, Miller, Banks CB: Cisse But then again... listening to a GM talk before the draft seems kind of pointless. 😂 If one of those don't fall, I'm hoping for a trade back to grab Orange and then build depth in the mid rounds at CB and OL.

I figured we could use a new thread to discuss the Packers' picks and other interesting happenings. Got any predictions? Any favorite players? I suspect that the 2nd round pick (if we stay there) won't be a DT or CB that everyone is hoping for (like my hope of getting DT Christian Miller). I'll predict an EDGE like Dani Dennis-Sutton or Gabe Jacas Later in the draft, I'll guess we add Jordan van den Berg, Trey Zuhn III, and Jaden Dugger. All three seem like Packer stereotypical picks.

I think this conversation might heat up quickly in the second half of the season if Ortiz can't approach a 700 OPS and Made is hitting well at AA. But like BF said... probably not without a Pratt/Chourio extension. If Made follows in Chourio's footsteps that would come this fall (in age and development stage). Perhaps if signing a long-term contract means Made comes up in Aug/Sept, it will be the carrot he needs?

I think you could say this was a stupid trade for Atlanta too. They traded away the better catcher plus 4 other players (though it didn't look like much was there). Murphy had 7.7 WAR vs Contreras' 12.6 in the last three years. Murphy is three years older, and more expensive. For Oakland, this was a complete disaster. Only one player of the five they received remains with the club and he is struggling in the minors (Royber Salinas). Kyle Muller, Manny Pina, Esteury Ruiz, and Freddy Tarnok all played MLB games for Oakland for a sum total of -1.1 WAR. Seriously, Rachel Phelps would be proud!

Pena also doesn't strike me as the type of trade the Brewers make either - paying for current production. When trading for a veteran, they typically look for someone that isn't producing - blocked, struggling - where they can unlock the person's potential - Adames and Vaughn are examples. Or you are trading for an average producing player (2 WAR) to fill a short term gap - Eduardo Escobar, Renfroe, Contreras would be the counter example... but that trade was so silly-stupid on both the Braves and the As, I count that more as highway robbery instead of a "typical" trade.

I kind of hope that there is a list of 3-4 guys the Packers are targeting for #52 and if they don't make it... trade back. Pick up Orange and another 4th/5th.

Kyron Jones is a much less interesting QB visit than I expected.... Why keep this a "secret"? Packers hosted Virginia Tech QB Kyron Drones on official pre-draft visit

It seems natural to want #52 at #52, right?

Banks improved as the year went on. Historically, he is an average starting G. His main problem is that we paid him to be more and he gets injured often. Belton is going to be good. He was drafted with the label of "needing technique work" and by the end of the year, he was a monster in the run game (and decent in pass). I think he will be a break-out player this year. Morgan will surprise a lot of people this year I think. He certainly played better at T then he ever did at G. Put that on the coaches instead of Morgan. A healthy Morgan-Banks-Rhyan-Belton-Tom will be a very good OL. I imagine Jacobs running to the right side a LOT.

Yeah, I know this isn't you doing the "scouting". I just poke a little fun at the "I can't believe they drafted him 10 picks over the consensus board! What a waste! Trade down and get him then!" sillyness.

Do you ever go back post-draft and compare what actually happened to your board? And if you see big discrepancies, do you blame the drafter or your board? 😉

I like to think that the Brewer's broke him in the playoffs. 😏

I meant required 2-year contracts. They had a very high bar (sitting out one year) to transfer and now it is wide open (even switching in the same year after giving a commitment). Just balancing between the two for a bit more stability.

A few thoughts on what I expect from the draft: I don't expect them taking a 2-down DT high in the draft. Banks or Miller - grab and go. Maybe Orange in the third round if they think they can squeeze a bit more pass rush juice out of him (sorry, I had to...). Otherwise, JVDB later in the draft and a clogging DT in the 7th/UFDA. If a few key DTs/DEs are gone in the 2nd, I wouldn't hate trading back. Double dip on CBs in rounds 3-5. Double dip on OL, but probably later rounds of the draft (4+). The QB mystery has me curious. I was leaning towards Taylen Green who has a very boom/bust profile due to his athletic freakishness. Thus, I could see his draft slot be very volatile - leading the Packers to be hush-hush about meeting with him. But I also wonder if we could be shocked with very high pick on Beck or Allar...

I only have one ask to change NIL: 2 year contracts. If you commit to a team, you are there for 2 years unless the coach leaves. A hybrid between the previous and current systems.