BrewerFan

I didn't think we needed to do much this off-season...and I didn't expect much, but Moncada would have been a very nice signing to pair with Dunn. As for him having more power than any of our IFers...I keep hearing people speak very highly of Dunn, I just don't see why. He had a big year in AA for Philly at 25. Pretty similar to Ortiz in AA/AAA at 23 . He really project to have that much more power than Ortiz?

That's possible, I just took the Bills actions last year trading back to acquire more picks, dealing Diggs and having so little cap space(probably have to cut Von and restructure Allen just to be able to sign their draft picks)...and having good young WRs, I'm just think they're open to a WR, but not a 30M AAV WR who they have to trade a 1st for. Especially after trading back and adding picks last year and the needs at WR. DK with that speed and size would be a great fit with Josh Allen. Plus, you can pretty much always play with the salary cap if you really want to.

I don't think Buffalo is that desperate. They have to keep building around Allen, but not sacrificing that much on one WR. I think Metcalf is pretty safe, but a 1st and a 3rd? Yeah...I agree. I'm also not giving up a 2nd and a 3rd. I just don't believe a WR like Metcalf can make a big enough difference. Love had green in his face all day vs the Eagles...and the WRs we've invested a lot in dropped a LOT of passes last year. I'd keep building like we have for the most part. 54+Doubs ....or even maybe Wicks(I guess it'd depend on how confident you are on Wicks bouncing back) would be the highest I'd go. I think we're on the right path, but if we trade a 1st and a 3rd...I'd just prefer we go after Garrett...or an elite LT but they're available even less.

Ah, you get him for a 3rd, you still trade the 2-2nds and then...maybe you trade a future pick and don't take the 5th back. Don't want to give up the 4th pick that year as it was Lang, but...the point is, a great TE was traded for "just" a 2nd, Moss a 3rd or 4th(I thought the Pats had the higher 4th and that's why they got him). Even Lynch. I thought we were in on him.

Yeah, teams value those draft picks so much...which I get, you have to build out your team and you can't trade for a bunch of guys who'll make 20-30M a year, but so many Pro-Bowlers end up getting traded for mid or late round picks. I'm sure in retrospect it makes sense to give up a 1st for more players, but that 5 years of cheap team control...it takes a special player to give up one or more of those(like we tried to with 27 year old Khalil Mack but the Raiders thought the Bears picks would be higher). The two that sucked the worst for the Packers was losing Randy Moss and then Tony Gonzalez. Something happened with Gonzalez where I thought the Chiefs agreed to trading him for a 3rd and then backed out at the last minute. -They actually were asking for a 3rd all week before the deadline, the Packers finally agreed and then KC, back when they were poorly ran changed it to a 2nd. TonyG thought he was a Packer, they had the Paperwork filled out...and we missed out on 5 years of a pretty dominant TE. I remember one game, NE vs ATL and Tony G was the guy Belichick was determined to take away in the red-zone and they had three guys on him. Just following him around down there. Tight End Tony Gonzalez Nearly Traded to Packers in 2008

Gary was and is a more talented pass rusher...even though he had more limited pass rush repertoire than you'd like. He's developed. I don't think LVN can be the type of pass rusher Gary is. Gary was really looking like a superstar for a while. Not always getting the sacks but getting to the QB. LVN is pretty much just a bull rusher and then he switches it up with a speed rush and he can't really bend well enough to rely on that. He has to get better with his hands. BUT...he plays hard and he's really good vs the run. I agree though, he's definitely not where Gary was as a pass rusher and he's just not as talented, but his all around game...if he has another year where he's not making any real impact, I'll agree he's flamed out. One guy who...we'll never draft, but we should consider is that guy from Michigan. Josaiah Stewart. He's 6'1 245, so you know it's a long shot, but he is explosive and can win right now with his speed. I definitely wouldn't be mad at another edge just because they're so important and rotating them and keeping them fresh is huge for them.

You ever think we...maybe call these guys a bust a biit too quickly? LVN seems to be progressing similar to Gary and everyone said Gary was a bust. He's a 23 year old DE. Not saying he's a superstar, but I wouldn't say he's flamed out," just yet.

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.

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.

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.

Yeah, I love those Bears picks. Hopefully there is someone the Bears really want at 23. 39+41 would be great(probably a bit of an overpay). I liked last years class a lot more...and even then Mitchell nearly fell to us(in hindsight, that would have been a time to trade up). I'd say at 40 as well with DeJean, but I think the Cooper we got is going to be a monster.

You write for the Packers Wire? LOL...they just had a write up on him calling him an ascending player. Projected salary 4/66M...so right in that Za'Darius Smith range. I'd be on board as long as the guarantees aren't too much. Spending could get stupid this off-season with a lot of teams improving their cap situation and the Cap jumping up more than projected(though it pretty much always does outside Covid). Gutey's comments were interesting as well. I'm paraphrasing, but he essentially said he doesn't like going into the draft with just 7 picks, that despite the draft being held in GB, he'd still consider moving back. When asked about trading for an edge, he said it'd have to be "the right edge," which...no kidding. I don't think he's just itching to trade away a 1st for Sam Hubbard.

I think a lot of the pressure has been taken off NVDA to have these 10-15% beats. Especially this quarter. It'll be more about guidance with Blackwell. The tech sector has been getting hammered all week, SMCI didn't help waiting until 4 minutes before to file their 10-K. That was dragging NVDA down. AGain~40-41B, 11B fom Blackwell and if the Margins stay closer to what management said vs expectations(~74 vs 71) then I think the strong demand for Blackwell could push it back near ATHs in the next week or two(and then probably back down). I think the next couple quarters are going to be bigger catalysts. NVDA now makes up 70% of TSMs CoWoS. Up from 40 two years ago to 60% last year. And that is really the main thing holding NVDA back right now. Not being able to meet the demand... I'm just just in awe of SMCI. I invested too heavily after ChatCCP came along...and then didn't sell at 66 or yesterday. They said nothing about the 10-K all day while they released these stupid tutorials...and then 4 minutes before the deadline. No release, 'the 10-K is on schedule,' just...letting people freak out about it. I know SMCI has a great product and I know based on their revenue(and projected revenue) they're undervalued and could easily see 100+ in the next few months, but it also seems like they need some better leadership. I was also stupid to hold...but I'll take stupid and lucky on this one.

Markets bounce back tomorrow...I think. NVDA and COST earnings are going to be big. I think the prior will be good, better guidance, the later is...well, if you like options, I'm betting it's not a good reaction. PE of 60, low margins, susceptible to the tariffs. All these rotations out of big tech, I think with the confidence index, a good NVDA earning...~41B, 10-12B on Blackwell(SMCI filing the 10-K by Tuesday Morning) and you'll see them carrying the markets again. Not saying I feel real confident we're still in the throws of a bull market, but...I don't think we're entering a bear market just yet. I also think the market has priced in 2 cuts whereas I think 3 or at least a sooner one is possible if there's any weakening in the job market(which seems inevitable with the slowing growth).

If you believe the Mavs GM...it actually sounds like they think this is their best chance to win a title. Kyrie has been pretty locked in and pretty good. And that team is more well rounded now. I'm still definitely going for the haul than the short term and unlikely title run. I just can't imagine what OKC would have given up for him(there is a suggestion in a link below). I think he's a little too similar to SGA, but worry about that later. They suggest Ant Edwards for Luka. That's one I don't know if Minnesota does. He's such a fun dude to watch, but I bet they think about it. Or Houston(though I don't know if Dallas would deal with their rivals). Both Houston and OKC include a lot of picks and young stars. Seguin could have been thrown in there. OKC, Jalen Williams stud and they have all those picks. Or Chet? It kinda feels like the possibilities seem outrageous now, but at the time only Anthony Edwards would have been a debate. It'll be interesting to revisit this in a year, two or more and see which team is better off, but as you alluded to, there's no shot this was the best Dallas could do. https://fansided.com/constructing-3-better-luka-doncic-trade-packages-mavs-easily-made-happen

Dallas probably gets more back in return for Luka after he signs that extension. Any team in the league would have given that to him...but with it signed, it just guarantees you have a 25(soon to be 26) year old Superstar who JUST took your team to the NBA Finals putting up ~34PPG and...by the way, the injuries...you better be right about that as Dallas....otherwise you just gave up a historic player who was playing a LOT of minutes and staying healthy for a player who is historically unreliable and injury prone and 6 years older. And I'd be shocked if they don't give AD that same extension after all of this. Comparing him to Zion...he consistently plays more minutes than Giannis. You gave up the potential of injuries for the guarantee of injuries. And the Beer thing, that was Michael Finley, it was after they won the West(or at least in the WCFs) and I don't know the context. Maybe something comes out...I'd just think you better try everything before you take this type of step. I'm thinking this deal would be on the table in a year from now. I think the Mavs actually made the argument(maybe believe it also) that they're closer with Kyrie as the primary ball handler and AD as their big. As for LeBron...I think a retirement this year would be shocking. He's still probably a top 10 player. Having Luka next to him, that may extend his career 2-3 more seasons(not to mention his son). I don't think he's going one and done with Bronnie....no matter how worthy he is of a roster spot. Hell, I expect Thanasis back next year. I get it with Luka, but you'd think at his age and coming off a finals run, you'd exhaust all other options. He could definitely become a Zion type of a Derek Rose type(more fluke than anything) type. At the moment though, he's one of the greatest offensive players in NBA history and just 25 years old. I'd be sick as a Mavs fan...even if this ends up being the right move.

Ah....I didn't realize that. I guess I was getting his timeline and Simmons mixed up. Tom and Jenkins can play there, but they leave behind massive holes. Tom more so than Jenkins, but you'd just be creative a massive hole at RT(or potentially LT as I think Tom ends up there). I think putting Monk in that conversation is putting a lot on Monk. I think this OL needs to get better. They graded out much better it seems the 2nd half of the season, but I don't trust the OL to hold up against good DLs. So taking Tom leaves you vulnerable to the more athletic edge rushers on the outside. Rhyan doesn't really fit the scheme at at Center. He's a bigger, slower, more physical guard. Hopefully Morgan can step up in his 2nd year and they can add another player via the draft or FA, but I'd be uncomfortable losing Myers and going into next year with the OL that finished the season(plus Morgan). I don't think that's the type of team that can hold up vs the Lions with Hutchinson, McNiel or as we saw, the Eagles.

I think the Center class looks bad because most of the guys who'll likely play Center from this class played OT in College. Mbow is a guy who could step in and be an immediate starter at center. Zabel can play probably anywhere, but could also be a Center. Charles Grant is another guy who looks like an NFL Center, though...probably not someone you'd want to start year one. It's certainly not a great class, but I think there are more options there when you look at smaller, mobile OTs. Dalman would be a great guy to give a 2/18M type deal, but the lack of guys who actually played Center in College or FAs could push his price up. I've seen some scouts really high on McLaughlin, the C from OSU. There's also the fact the Packers seemed to have a different opinion of Myers than most of us, so maybe he's brought back(though I think we'd be best served looking elsewhere). WR is tough, but Slaton could be a guy who just needs a better fit. BJ Hill is a really nice player who I would have thought was older. And again, if Calais Campbell is going to play for a few million dollars again next year, I'd like the Packers to bring him in. #1 graded DT vs the run by PFF and he'd have been by far our highest graded DL. Great locker room guy. Obviously not part of the future, but he just keeps playing well.

I think that's exactly what they need at WR and what they should be looking at. Not MVS, but they have a well rounded WR core. Watson taking that extra safety with him was why the offense opened up so much more with him on the field. A lot more room for Doubs, Reed, Wicks and the TEs to work. Obviously Higgins would be a great addition, but I'd prefer you put that money toward...Trey Smith or Ronnie Stanley(and I don't think we'll sign either).

Barron is also by most accounts a safety who can cover in the slot. A Brian Branch. An oustanding player, but after putting so many resources into safety last yer with a ~18M AAV signing in McKinney, a 2nd rd pick, a 4th and a 5th rd pick to move up for Williams, Oladapo...he's not the type of guy the Packers should be targeting at CB. Even if Barron can play CB...he'd be more of a Ronde Barber type. He's a zone corner. Texas dropped 7 and rushed 4 most of the year. They had a coulple of studs on that DL who were Freshmen and another a Soph. So they got pressure, but I don't think he's as good of a corner as Cooper DeJean and many didn't want DeJean as an outside CB. Safety, Star/Nickel, yeah, but not boundary CB. Press corners make more sense. Until we know what the actual cap is...which should be announced in the next week or so(maybe 2 weeks) and I'm guessing will be ~280 but could come in around 285...leaving a LOT of teams with a LOT of cap room, I still think it makes the most sense to keep Jaire one more year while adding a couple CBs. Thomas from FSU reminds me the most of Mitchell from last year. Revel, if he tests as expected has a Antonio Cromartie type profile. Morrison was on track to be a top 10 pick. Assuming we don't get a big upgrade long the DL, we're still going to need a vet. Doubt we'd go from Jaire to Asante Samuel Jr, Paulson Adebo, or get a vet and go with Stephon Gilmore. I don't think 17M is all that much to pay for a CB, especially as you have no depth there. At the very least, see how the market develops. You're in no rush to cut Jaire. If you can trade him, that's different, but I don't see anyone taking on that deal knowing he'll likely become a FA. Best case Rd1 Revel, Morrison, Trade down Rd2-Deon Walker, Zabel, Azareye'h Thomas Rd3-Mbow, Zy Alexander, Collins(DT Texas). A CB, DL and someone who can slide in and start at Guard or Center would be perfect. I think Revel will test great and Morrison will also be gone before us(and I don't think we trade up this year).. So I'm going with option B. Trade up and try and attack it with numbers. Easy to trade down in mocks, but these seemed like good deals(probably too good and one extra pick. Either 93 or 111 if not more, but that's what was offered. I don't like Amos. Should have just taken Thomas, but...it's an outline from a fansite, so...and then Kobe King. I think he could be a base 2-down starter. Not Yr1, but in another year. Combine changes all of this. Savion Williams runs a 4.4, he's an early 2nd. I really like Isiah Bond from UT. He's Jayden Reed, but with 4.3 speed IMO(And just not as tough, but a willing blocker). Deone Walker and Grey Zabel could make or break a draft. You could get a couple of 1st division starters, Zabel an AP at C/OG or a PB at OT. Change the names and I'm good, just...fine an impact starter on the OL, a high upside guy on the DL(both dominated the Sr Bowl) and at CB, wouldn't be surprised if Alexander is the better CB than Amos, but I'm going off projected draft status. Thoughts Louis? Any favorites?

Yeah, it looked like it was probably during Covid if at all, but...I just don't see the point in changing things up with him either way. Maybe if you have bad luck and you want to start stretching him out and having him go 3-4 innings once a week later in the year, fine, but I'd love to see him just get back to where he was last year coming in that huge role for us.

I don't know that it's better for your arm to get up and down and throw back to back days in the pen vs a scheduled start with 4-5 days of rest... I just don't know where this is coming from. Has anyone suggested he may be to the rotation from the Brewers? Not real worried about the fatigue from last year. They ued him a lot. I don't remember or know when he had TJ. You have a time frame for that?

There's definitely a profile over-production trend with him...and then you talk about fans being upset...they're going to be upset almost no matter what. Three of the players who are very viable picks in Rd1, Revel, Morrioson and Simmons, all guys who could have been top10(may still be) if not for injuries...well, they had injuries and missed much of the year. So if they don't come out of the gates strong, it'll be how Gute picks guys with injury histories(another issue with Gary). I'm certainly with you on the DL for reasons I've gone into. They impact the other 10 players more than any other defender if they're elite. No, I particularly dislike Tuimolau. I think he'll be a bust. Ivey is stiff and we've already got LVN who is more of an elephant in the 4-3, good vs the run, but doesn't have the best bend around the edge. I love Barron if he can be a boundary CB and I don't think he can. Revel, Simmons and Morrison, lets see how they test, but I'm good with those three, but if they test well, they're likely gone. Walker is one of my favorite players, but I'd look at moving down to 40 and pick him up. He has upside, OL, Zabel could be a day 1 starter and a Travis Frederick type Center(just in that he's moving to Center and a big of a surprise to go Rd 1). I see you have Scourton on there but no Stewart. DL-Kenneth Grant is another guy who could be available. I see a lot of Kenny Clark similarities.

1-This was the year that Bakh was going to be back at LT. He was "progressing well," and started week 1 at LT. Tom was the fill in at LT as a rookie the year before, so I think it was just timing. So Tom was getting all the reps at RT(actually battling for the job...which is a bit amusing) and they were using NIjman as the backup...and then even when Bakh got hurt, they kept playing both until Walker took the job and ran with it. There's LITTLE doubt Tom can play LT, but I think they just thought by that time, it better to leave Nijman/Walker at LT rather than flip them for positional value. 2-Yeah, you're right of course. But RT is becoming as important. The best DL are starting to line up on their left(So over the RT)...more and more. Josh Simmons would be an unpopular pick given the Josh Morgan pick(which I still think was a good pick, but when a guy doesn't perform Yr1...fans get anxious) but I'd be more than find with it. Unless something fluky happens and a guy like Jeanty is available, I'd take the best OL/DL/CB available. Looking at this draft waay too early, moving down 15 spots and adding two seconds or even moving down to the end of the 1st and adding a 2nd/3rd would be ideal. Josh Simmons did look really good at times. Revel, Morrison, there are a few guys in this draft with enormous upside who were potential top 10 picks but missed the past year due to injury. The combine will play as big of a role as ever this year...and many Packers fans will likely be upset as we drft a long lanky CB who was injured, another extremely talented edge who is raw and didn't have great college stats or an a OL who...may not step in and start year 1.

Yeah, it wasn't about him being a bust so much as...just several comments about our last 3 first and no mention of him. AV isn't a very good way to evaluate players either. I don't think it really shows how great Garrett has been. If this was Baseball I suspect it'd be ~60WAR or more and of the rest, maybe Stokes has 2.5 or so as a rookie, Stokes, Quay was best as a rookie, but in MLB terms, I think you have about 6-7 WAR combined. In fairness, Garrett was the 1st overall pick and we normally pick late and you have a pretty good chance to get a star early. Bosa, Hutch, Jevon Carter, all players who went in the top 10 for the 3 most physical teams in the NFC(Sewell is another) who changed their front. I still believe the Eagles make a move for one of the two(or three with Trey Hendrickson, but I'm not giving up a 2nd 1st for him). Gutey's comments. And remember, they were in on Mack and lost because the Raiders thought the Bears picks would be better; “When you trade a high pick for a veteran player, you’re trading a young, really good contract for a player who’s proven but is probably expensive,” Gutekunst mentioned. “I think you’ve got to weigh that. And if it’s the right player, if you feel like he can be a dynamic player who can change your football team, I think you’ve got to consider that because there’s not many of those guys out there. But I think you have to also understand what you’re giving up. They mention Josh Sweat, Mack among others as FA optins and then again, Garrett, Crosby and Hendrickson as trade options. Also worth noting, Myles Garrett, 92.5 PFF grade. #92.4 Pass Rush 2/211 Run D 78.4 #11/211(really well rounded). Maxx Crosby 74.1 35/211 overall, 70.1 43/211 73.0 Run Grade 24/211 Crosby was banged up and had his worst rated grades in a few years and a 1.5 years yonger than Garrett and over 3 years younger than Hendrickson. Trey Hendrickson 88.1 overall(8 of 211), 90.4 pass rush #5/211 Run D 65.9 67/211 And one last note, Packers DL was graded 11th coming into last season. Gary, Clark, Preston Smith, Wyatt, LVN, Preston Smith, Enagbare...should have been one of the ~10 best DLs. With one of these three, they almost certainly would be.