If the Pack was truly willing to make Taylor the highest paid RB, then it really doesn't make sense to give up draft capital now, in an evaluation year, to get him. What does make sense IMO, is going out and getting him next offseason as a free agent. We get the best of both worlds, keeping our draft pick and then signing the player. This current teams locker room, from all reports, seems to have gelled into something we haven't seen in a long time. I wouldn't mess with that on a young team by trading what I would assume would be a popular locker room guy.

I'd be OK with spending that second 1st round pick the Packers are going to get from the Jets on a running back who's in his prime.

AJo's been a great Packer, but his window's closing, no matter how much fans want to ignore reality. And it would allow Dillon to go and get second contract money without the Packers overspending on a fan favorite, but not a bell cow RB.

Rodgers' dead cap hit will be off the books. Trading Bakh would clear the way for the dead money from the last drunk sailor contract to be eaten, so they'd have the cap means to be able to pay Taylor and Love.

Probably far more likely this is just one of the many conversations that Gute has all the time with a team looking to move an unhappy player rather than a serious attempt to acquire Taylor. Unless the Colts are willing to accept a bargain basement price, the Packers have other needs for their draft choices next year (safety, OL, ILB).

Gute inquires about EVERYBODY. But to inquire on a player doesn't really mean anything...Not really. I mean common folks, we've been here before. Beckham (more than once), Darren Waller, and Chase Claypool are a few players that come to mind when the Packers "Inquire" about a player. But Gute and the Packers do very little other than to inquire. Hell, I wonder if it's even Gute who does the "Inquiring".

This isn't a knock on Gute. Other than the 2019 FA spending spree and a few offensive tackles he's added in 2020 and 2021, he's built this team through the draft. Exactly like one of the men who helped mold him, Ted Thompson.

This is the youngest team in the NFL. But it's also a team that is LOADED with young good talent. Once all the GOOD young talent plays together for a year, the hope is the become GREAT young players who all grew together.

2023 is ALL about building a chemistry and improving TOGETHER. Adding a 24 year old RB with the mileage Taylor has on his body, goes against the grain with what the Packers and Gute are doing. NO WAY would Gute trade one of his first rounders next year (Hopefully we have two) for a RB.

MAYBE if Rodgers AND Adams were still here and they were on the cusp. But the Packers won't be on the "Cusp" until next year at the earliest. Until then just sit back and enjoy because THIS season will be fun. A roller coaster but still fun. Lets just grow and get better and then use ALL those picks to put us over the top NEXT year and NOT trade away assets.

Our greatest depth right now is at edge.
How about trading Enagbare for Taylor?

Really though, I'm not a fan of paying a lot of money to a "disgruntled player." How often has that worked out for teams? Those guys last one or two years before they become disgruntled again.

I'd rather go with our three this year and draft a new one (or two) next year.

Why give up draft capitol or player/s for a high priced rb ? If we want a great Wis rb just draft bralin Allen and get a cheap rookie contract. He should make it to our second rd pick

I like the try. But this still reeks of Praise.
1. How can we afford him?
The rumor is they would make him the
top paid running back in the NFL.
2. Somebody behind him would be upset
or demand to be traded.

I just can't see the Packers operating this way.
The can down the road has to end.
There is No spending money, to make money.
And who wants the packers to be the best team
money can buy?
If we're after the best in the NFL.
It should have started at QB.
So it must be about Gutey.

Keep "re-imagining" the team. Just stay away from the "feel good" contracts that paint the team in the cap hell corner. Like trading stock, buy low and sell high. Its bidness. Like players don't fall in love with them cuz they live across the street. Be smart.

"Just Keeping Making The Team Better"

What? Just wanting to understanding more.

All other things being equal, I'd be quite happy to replace a much older Aaron Jones with a much younger Jonathan Taylor, but there's no way I'd give up significant capital to do it. The whole freaking offseason was one story followed by another about how top level RBs couldn't find a team to pay them. You don't give up big time draft picks and market setting contracts when other plus-level players are practically crawling out of the woodwork.

According to reports, Irsay actually thinks he's going to get a Jaylen Waddle type player in return for Taylor?? Ain't no way in hell. The problem here is that Irsay is the only person in the league who would be dumb enough to consider a trade like that, and Irsay can't make a trade with himself. Hell, even doddering, old Jerry Jones refused to pay big money for Elliot.

There will be capable players out there. Don't reach.

Do the Packers have the cap space to give Taylor the contract he is seeking? And is it a good idea to invest heavily in a running back? Aaron Jones was a fifth round pick. He is also a "team first" player who took a pay cut after having his best year as a Packer. There is a reason that RB's are not getting paid. They have short careers, are much more likely to get injured, and, in a league that is so pass happy, are an afterthought. There are always more RB's that are viable coming out of college, ready to play on a rookie contract for three or four years. Rinse and repeat. As Tony Stark would say, "Not a great plan."

While MM has usurped Gutey of a good portion of his GM duties (just a GM of Player Personnel), he still continues to fulfill his personnel duties with breadth and depth. I would consider it out of character if he did not listen intently to his field scouts and consider options and possible action plans.

Based on where the Packer O seems to be refocusing under Love with more IOC, run plays, middle of field strikes, TE focus and 3 RBs on the roster...JT fits the strategy, but the cost "may" be too high.

The Colts may lower the price as the weeks pass. Packers are simply telling them "talk to us but don't abuse us in discussions." Gtuey already said he is not interested being played for "leverage" in JT's unhappiness with the Colts mgmt.

The caveat is his he can't play until week 5, if then due to his ankle injury. This season he could be acquired for a bit of a discount. And the Colts are not just rebuilding, they are backordered on materials. Packers have a lot of building materials they need. OL, WR, Edge, and RB (sans JT).

If the Packers, by week 4 are 4-0, 3-1, even 2-2, JT would make a lot of sense for this year and especially next when AJ, AJD band will break up.

“The Packers had Brett Favre and Rodgers and still looked to get better.”…
Did they really… I think not…

We get to see what we really having for 2023 in the 4 weeks JT is on PUP.

All kinds of machinations with our cap and extensions have yet to occur. Our RBs include the best player the Packers have on O in Aaron Jones, and a bulldozer in a contract year looking to make his mark. Gary, Bakhtiari, Love extensions are foreseeable. Anything could happen. The Packers, if they have a real interest, can wait that thing out past the PUP through Week 9's game v. MIN, with the trade deadline on Oct. 31st.

None of us has seen more than a handful of series with our 1s, running anything but vanilla being preseason. I'm really just looking forward to seeing this team in action, fully engaged in the direction of this new era to start the season.

Many questions to be answered.

I still don’t understand how we can call wide receiver a strength? We have two guys coming off of decent to promising rookie years, but both have struggled with injuries. The rest are completely unknown, except for three pre-season games against vanilla defenses, and perhaps against second and third stringers. I love the excitement and the possibilities, but we can’t know if this is a strength until we see it happen on the field with some kind of consistency. Same with tight end.

Count me among those who've loved Taylor since his days in Madison, but if GB is going to make a trade I'd be happier to see it not on a RB. A veteran safety maybe, but better still, at least to me, would be to play out this season and learn how all these younger guys turn out. See what we've really got, and then start filling the holes.

I would like to see moves like this when we will be much closer to Super Bowl competition and a bit worse at RB position.
1. Like some say - what is the point of spending 1st rounder and a lot of money for (elite) RB in his prime now? We will need a RB in his prime in a season or two. If we would like to spend 1st round pick for RB, better grab the best from draft and you save money with his rookie deal.
2. Our RB duo may be a little underrated. They lead the league in total rushing yards from 2021. They are not perfect but really, this is not the top position to improve.

I appreciate that Gutekunst is not afraid to look around and ask. That is great. But at this moment and in our situation if you need to invest it may be better to find young safety with elite upside.

Wow! The peanut gallery is really negative with all the thumbs down. Virtually every post has at least some good points. Obviously opinions and perspectives differ. I guess some just like pretending they are like the emperors of Rome. Now back to the topic. In fairness to Gute: it is is job to keep all options open. My take is he has done a heluva good job. The first exam comes Sunday. Grades will be posted after the game.