Changes are Coming in Green Bay

The Green Bay Packers feel like a franchise moving in a different direction.  Despite a 13-3 season that ended in the NFC Championship game the Packers have continued to move forward with their plan to rebuild the organization’s infrastructure.  This year’s draft came with a lot off scrutiny but, in my opinion, it supports the idea that the team had a very structured rebuild plan that started when the McCarthy era ended.  Phase 1 was addressing premier positions of need, by signing young free agents that were approaching their prime years and could continue to grow and flourish in the years to come.  The Packers also supplemented their moves in free agency by completing the back end of their secondary (Darnell Savage) and adding to their front seven (Rashan Gary). 

This season, the Packers continued this same plan by adding potential future starters to their offensive line, quarterback, and running back positions.  The infrastructure of the Packer organization looks solid for the foreseeable future, but the question remains, when will time run out on the old guard?

It is safe to assume that the Packers are going to run it back one more year with the majority of their cornerstone players intact.  The team will continue to adopt their run first mentality, dominate time of possession, and lean on one of the most clutch defensive units (of 2019) to make plays in crunch time and hope there is one more playoff run left.

2021 however, will be interesting…as many big names will be up for new contracts…and in a league dominated by the salary cap, it is simply unrealistic to expect to re-sign everyone. 

The next question becomes, who among the pending free agents and players due for a contract extension is a safe bet to be a member of the Packers in 2021? Surprisingly, only two names jump out to me (and it is not the two names you are probably thinking):

  1.  David Bakhtiari
  2.  Kenny Clark
  3. (2b. Aaron Rodgers)

Now before everyone loses their collective minds, Aaron Rodgers is pretty much (2b) on this list to be a Packer in 2021 but there could be a small window for him to be traded under the right circumstances just prior to the start of the 2021 season.  Just remember, Jordan Love is under an incredibly team friendly contract for the next four years and it behooves the Packers to move on from Rodgers in the next 2 years so they could essentially have at least 3 years (including the option) of team control. I am just saying that it is not impossible that the Packers in the next year and a half to two years, decide to pay off the cap penalty associated with trading Rodgers and move towards the era of Love.  

Another player that could still be a Packer in 2021 could be Kevin King:  

Just think about it, if Kevin King has another solid season and stays healthy; it would probably be easier to come to an agreement with him coming off of another solid year than with Aaron Jones who with a year identical to 2019, could demand $10-12 million per season. 

No matter who stays or who goes, the Packers 2021 roster could and probably will look dramatically different.

Here is a short list of players who could be potentially playing their final seasons in Green Bay:

  1. Aaron Jones
  2.  Kevin King
  3. Corey Linsley 

-------------------

David Michalski is a staff writer for Cheesehead TV. He can be found on Twitter @kilbas27dave 

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Comments (72)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Hifey's picture

July 05, 2020 at 07:03 am

An unfortunate reality of football is that player effectiveness diminishes over time. Teams must make difficult business decisions to part ways with veterans and acquire unproven/younger talent which makes fans feel uncomfortable.
Who would have dreamed the Pack would be 13-3 with an appearance in the Championship game? Not me.
I was not a fan of the Pack’s 2020 draft, but I also acknowledge my knowledge is dwarfed by the professionals who run the team.
Trust the process and the leadership that we have in place that they are taking the right steps to keep this team a contender each year.

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sbransbottom's picture

July 08, 2020 at 12:32 pm

Well said!

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stockholder's picture

July 05, 2020 at 07:30 am

The packers have moved in a different direction. And it's away from Arron Rodgers. So their going make Love their QB. Ok I get it. They had to move on from Bart Starr too. Will the fans be happy? I know I won't. But teams are so much more then their QB. So I'm going to give you a better option. Keep are all-Pro Left Tackle. IF Bahk gives the packers a home discount, you get rid of Linsley and Turner. This frees up his salary. Next is Clark. Either you Keep Rodgers or Trade Adams. Yes, Trading Adams brings in new Wrs and you Keep Clarke. I'd pay Clarke before Adams. The draft is the fix and Rodgers did better when Adams was out of the Line-up. Next King. They have the money! Yes, enough money left to sign both king and Jones. I believe Jones is worth more to the packers then Adams. Making these moves Keeps Rodgers. But the reality is, Gutey gets his salary as planned. Still it's time to move on from Linsley, Turner and Adams.

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Bure9620's picture

July 05, 2020 at 08:41 am

It is going to be interesting to see how they handle Bahk. I have been saying for a while I think there is a real possibility the Packers move on. He will still want big money and the Packers are unlikely to shell it out for a Lineman on the wrong side of 30. In addition his calling card is pass blocking, he fit McCarthy's offense well as Tackles were always left on a island. Lefleur want to run more and use TEs more. I think this is Bahktiari's last year in GB. The O-line in particular could look significantly different in 2021 outside of Jenkins.

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stockholder's picture

July 05, 2020 at 09:13 am

As Long as Rodgers is QB. He'll stay. ( Rodgers is the Key to Bahk staying or going.) linsley has had back issues. And Turner's status, is still a wait and see. The packers must make sure their OK at RT first.

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Oppy's picture

July 05, 2020 at 03:20 pm

Bure, David Bakhtiari is only 28 years old, my man.

He's literally in his prime years for an OL.

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Bure9620's picture

July 05, 2020 at 07:16 pm

Yes, he will be 29 in September, and if he were resigned after this season, this being his last year on this contract he will be entering the first year of his new contract the following season turning 30 in September.....therefore he would be on the wrong side of 30 on his next contract....

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Stroh's picture

July 05, 2020 at 09:17 pm

He's still on the right side of 30 yrs old. That 30 yrs old is a good one for RB and LB among others. It doesn't really fit for OL who routinely, in fact more often than not player very well into the 30's. The main issue is his compensation, but that said its pretty easy to pay a 3 time All Pro who isn't yet 30 yrs old.

He'll get paid by the Packers and probably get a couple more All Pro nods before the Packers let him leave at the age of 34, give or take a year.

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Bure9620's picture

July 05, 2020 at 10:35 pm

Who was the last OL the Packers awarded a 3rd contract to??

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

July 06, 2020 at 01:28 am

Chad Clifton comes to mind. I can't tell and don't remember, but I think Clifton signed a fourth deal in 2010, for 3 years and almost $20M, but no signing bonus. In 2004, he signed an extension. Tauscher, but not for big money and the circumstances were different.

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dobber's picture

July 06, 2020 at 05:36 am

Technically...Ricky Wagner?

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

July 07, 2020 at 09:35 pm

It was Jahri Evans' seventh contract.
Lewis is on his sixth or seventh contract.

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jannes bjornson's picture

July 05, 2020 at 07:54 pm

All Pro status as a LT gets a guy signed for another deal, or do you want Light covering the Blind side?

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murf7777's picture

July 05, 2020 at 09:42 am

Stockholder, Adams is an interesting take and one I haven’t thought of. Also, many other warranted thoughts posted on this subject. I’ve been watching the Packers for 40+ years And I don’t recall an off season that will be harder for the Packers and us fans to determine what changes to make. You could make an Strong point on letting go or keeping any of the Upcoming FA. Throw in a possible Trade of Rodgers and there lies another wrench.

Since some big names are going to be gone, One thing I’m certain about is that some fans will be very unhappy with who they let go. Gutey and company will have some very tough decisions to make.

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dobber's picture

July 05, 2020 at 03:28 pm

I think it's a safer bet that they extend Adams to cut down his hit in the short term, but that's all dependent on what BGs vision for the future actually looks like.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

July 06, 2020 at 01:45 am

Adams would turn 30 in December of the first year of new money, 2022. Interesting and plausible. GB would probably need to be able to cut him after the 2023 or at worst the 2024 season, though one hopes he is still playing great then.

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Guam's picture

July 05, 2020 at 08:25 am

I think Linsley, Turner and likely Bakhtiari are all gone at the end of this season. The Packers have been historically averse to signing offensive linemen to third contracts and that makes Linsley an obvious candidate to cut, particularly with the depth at center/guard (Taylor, Patrick, three 6th round picks). Turner has played adequately but is vulnerable to the depth at center/guard mentioned before. If one or more of the 6th round picks works out, Turner will be an easy cut due to his contract and replaceable level of play. Bakhtiari is much less obvious because he is younger than most third contract OL and he is playing so well, but I think the choice is going to be Bakh versus Clarke and King and both Clarke and King are younger and going into their second contracts. Tough choice required by the salary cap, but I think youth wins.

Replacing Bakh on the OL will be the big question and require a top pick devoted to LT next year. Going to be a tough salary cap year and some hard decisions are coming.

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Leatherhead's picture

July 05, 2020 at 12:17 pm

Guam... if we’re a running team, do we really need a $15 million a year dancing bear at left tackle?

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Oppy's picture

July 05, 2020 at 12:35 pm

Regardless of if you are run first, pass first, or balanced offense, the sure fire way to guarantee your QB, no matter how talented, will never reach his potential is to fail to protect him during his early development.

Reference: David Carr

LT is still the second most important position on a football team.

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Leatherhead's picture

July 05, 2020 at 01:00 pm

We protected Rodgers with a 4th round rookie. Remember?

I think there’s a lot of space between “failing to protect “ and spending $15 million.

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Oppy's picture

July 05, 2020 at 01:28 pm

That's fair.. but you still don't let one of the top 2 or 3 players at the second most important position in football go, who is in his prime.. especially when you're probably about to transition to a new QB.

Rebuid 101, stack the OL, build a respectable D that keeps you in games, give a young QB outlet targets and backfield weapons to help take weight off his shoulders.

Again, the caveat is being able to afford him.. This is why Rodgers' contract is a problem. We have a lot of talent to build around on this team outside of Rodgers coming into their own. We're going to have to let some walk. That's a shame, because they could be the kernel of the next Packers decade-plus long dominance in the NFC.

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Leatherhead's picture

July 05, 2020 at 03:17 pm

Oppy.....every single move by the GM signals that we won’t resign Bakhtiari. We didn’t resign any other vets. We replaced Bulaga with a cheaper vet, and I’d bet we do the same with Bakhtiari.

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Oppy's picture

July 05, 2020 at 03:29 pm

Bulaga has a severe injury history and is three years older than Bakhtiari.

That alone makes him a horse of a different color than Bakhtiari. He's also a RT not a LT, and while important, is not the premium position that LT is.

On the note of dumping veterans.. what about all the Veteran FA's that are being brought in under Gutekunst's watch? Including on the OL...

I think you should re-evaluate this situation. I only see cap space as a possible factor that would dissuade the Packers from resigning Bakhtiari.

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Bure9620's picture

July 05, 2020 at 07:19 pm

He would not be in his prime on his next contract......

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

July 05, 2020 at 02:13 pm

When AR became the starter, old veteran/slowly breaking down Chad Clifton was the LT. Oppy said how to destroy a young QB. Bakh became the LT in 2013, in AR's 6th season as the starting QB and after an MVP season and a super bowl win. He was probably confident by 2013.

It isn't $15M, BTW. It is $22M AAV, and a $13M to $15M first-year cap hit. That's the real gorilla in the room.

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Oppy's picture

July 05, 2020 at 03:30 pm

Yeah.. what TGR said! :)

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splitpea1's picture

July 05, 2020 at 02:50 pm

Also, Chad Clifton became the starter halfway through his first season, and prior to that, we won a Super Bowl with a revolving door at LT. I recall Wilkerson doing a pretty good job in the big game.

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dobber's picture

July 05, 2020 at 03:42 pm

He wasn't drafted to start. Bulaga was going to start on the left side and got hurt mid-camp. The Packers benefitted from having an underdrafted gem waiting in the wings. There are plenty of highly drafted guys who don't make it. Finding the right guy isn't easy.

The Packers for the last several years have been first or second in the league in cap attributed to the OL. I agree: the changing of the dynamics of the team and retooling the roster would benefit from an influx of cash and that can come from replacing Bakhtiari and/or Linsley...but be right when you do it. Playing with a shitty OL is a recipe for disaster.

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jannes bjornson's picture

July 05, 2020 at 07:57 pm

How did a shaky oO line work out for Andrew Luck?

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

July 06, 2020 at 01:57 am

Or arguably Cousins in MN and Sam Bradford in St. Louis, and a host of other QBs.

That said, Old School might mean that GB should find a good run blocking LT even if his pass pro isn't good. Pass pro is where the money is, like sacks are where the money is for DL. If LaFleur is more than an imitator, or even just a good imitator with his scheme, it might work.

And I think watching Bakh walk next year is a definite possibility. In truth, I am having a hard time finding the cap space to keep Bakh and Clark for 2021.

GB might have to make necessity into a virtue.

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stockholder's picture

July 05, 2020 at 01:08 pm

Do we really need a 15 million dollar Wr? The Trench is where games are won and lost. The Lions had Mega Tron and Suh. They elected to stay with Mega-Tron and let Suh go. Suh still is playing. We cannot make the same mistake the Lions made. If Rodgers is to be traded. Where does Adams Fit? Adams chemistry is with Rodgers. Yet Rodgers, and the Offense played better when Adams wasn't on the Field. IMO. Rodgers is being judged on salary, not performance. Does Adams still fit the LeFluer offense? Based on salary, No.

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Oppy's picture

July 05, 2020 at 01:34 pm

You almost got it.

Rodgers played better when Adams wasn't on the field. You're 100% correct.

It was not because Adams isn't worth his salt. it was because Rodgers has a serious problem with executing the offense as it is designed unless he has no other option.

There were two games where we saw LeFleur's offense how it should look, and they were both without Adams on the field.. and The Packers looked unstoppable during long stretches of those games.

When Rodgers force feeds the ball to the one of two guys he thinks are "trust worthy", when he holds the ball and ignores the early open read.. this team is being held back. That's what you're missing.

The scheme is bigger than the player. We need 100% buy in from 12. Honestly, that's the best thing about the presence of Love. Rodgers buys in, or the crook might just get brought in to drag Rodgers off stage for an actor who sticks to the lines, for better or for worse.

This offense, and Rodgers by extension, could be devestating if he just fell in with the scheme. It should be a clock control, unstoppable march down the field punctuated with occasional, deadly strikes down field off play action.

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Bearmeat's picture

July 05, 2020 at 02:16 pm

You've been stomping on ARod's nuts for a long time, Oppy. I hate to say it, but you've been right. He needs to step it up by stepping in line. Or he will step out. That makes a helluva lot of sense from MLF's and Gute's POV.

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Guam's picture

July 05, 2020 at 04:35 pm

LH - That's one of the reasons I think Bakh won't be here next year. The other reason is the size of the contract he will command. If the Packers pay Bakh, they aren't keeping much else (Clarke, King, Jones). I believe TGR has opined that Bakh could well be $15 million in the first year and more in succeeding years.

If MLF does get the Packer running game established, there will be less need for a premium pass blocking LT both from a run perspective and because the play action fake will slow pass rushers and keep QB1 fairly clean as long as he breaks his habit of holding the ball forever.

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splitpea1's picture

July 05, 2020 at 02:37 pm

I hope you're right about youth winning, especially when it comes to Clark; we can't afford not to sign this guy given our lack of quality depth (we'll see about Keke, though) in this area.

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Oppy's picture

July 05, 2020 at 03:43 pm

Clark is not just youth, he's rare talent.

If he doesn't stay a packer.. still check in on his career over the years. Barring injury, he's on trajectory to be one of the great DT/NTs

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splitpea1's picture

July 05, 2020 at 07:52 pm

Not to make idle threats, but he'd better stay a Packer! Talent + durability = a keeper.

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PackerGold's picture

July 05, 2020 at 08:28 am

I agree the Packers are moving a direction. The question remaining is, what direction is that? If drafting Rashan who never realized or exhibited his full potential in college, a No 12 RB and No 18 TE this years draft are the tools of moving the direction, I fear that direction is backwards to the Packers era of 8-8 seasons. I have seen the poorest draft "value" the last two seasons. Free agency was better than the drafts. Packer management should remember the "cost" of building teams Via free agency vs developing talent via the draft.

What is going on now reminds me of 2011 San Francisco 49ers. And LaFluer reminds me of Jim Harbaugh. Three good seasons before the bust. What the Packer nation needs to remember that two years after Jim Harbaugh left, the 49ers franchise was $2 Billion in debt.

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Bure9620's picture

July 05, 2020 at 09:11 am

I can absolutely assure you AJ Dillion was not the number 12 running back. Watch his tape, he faced more stacked boxes than ANY back in college football including JT23 and still averaged 5 per tote.

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Oppy's picture

July 05, 2020 at 12:36 pm

AJ really is a beast.

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dobber's picture

July 05, 2020 at 04:18 pm

So was Ron Dayne. Dillon and Dayne are different backs, but here's hoping Dillon has a long and productive career.

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Bearmeat's picture

July 05, 2020 at 06:25 pm

Dayne was slow though.

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Coldworld's picture

July 05, 2020 at 02:56 pm

And the other guy was openly drafted as a Hback.

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dobber's picture

July 05, 2020 at 04:01 pm

That's fine, and I agree that they have a Kyle Juszczyk role in mind, remember that Juszczyk only played about 35% of the offensive snaps in SF last season. He missed time due to injury, but was on track to play less than 50% of SF's snaps. If Deguara is going to make the kind of impact people want him to make, he's going to have to be more Jay Novacek or Delanie Walker and less Kyle Juszczyk.

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Stroh's picture

July 05, 2020 at 11:16 pm

People what people? Im just curious cuz I know Ron Wolf once drafted a little used FB from N Carolina in the 3rd rd and he worked out famously. Do you remember Williams Henderson? I sure do. He did very little on offense, except the things Deguara does, probably as well, some better than Will did them.

I'm pretty sure I can accept that kinda production. Deguara doesn't have to be anything other than a great teammate and productive player. Screw all the fantasy stats bs!

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Oppy's picture

July 05, 2020 at 12:51 pm

There is zero question that Gutekunst is on the opposite side of the spectrum from his mentor- where TT valued a football player's fundamental understanding, technical aptitude, and love for the game of football, and allowed that criteria to often tip a decision on a pick in one direction or another, BG is clearly apt to make those "this guy or that guy" decisions based on metrics (particularly SPARQ scores and other athleticism composites) over a player's pure football acumen.

That being said.. I feel that what you are seeing, and perhaps why you are judging the recent drafts as being poor, could be because the hiring of LeFleur brings in an offensive system that bucks the current NFL trends of QB/WR "skill" position , spread em out offense.

When 28 of the 32 teams are doing one thing, and only 3 or 4 are doing the other- the way the draft pundits look at the boards are going to be skewed towards the player types that drive the offenses of the 28 teams. This is going to make the other 3 or 4 teams look like they are drafting out of place.

It's entirely similiar to the original rise of the 3-4 defense back in PIT under capers and lebeau, and to a limited extent, when the Packers hopped on board towards the start of its resurgence. Those "tweener" body type DE's that had a home in college defenses but were neither large enough for typical 4-3 or 5-2 NFL line play, nor atheltic enough to suit those defenses' requirements for LB play, suddenly had great value in these 3-4 defenses that used them as OLBs/two point stance Ends who were specialized in rushing the passer and dropping back in zone blitz plays. They were low value players- mismatch body types, to the great majority of NFL teams, but were highly valued by Dick and Dom.

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dobber's picture

July 05, 2020 at 04:48 pm

"This is going to make the other 3 or 4 teams look like they are drafting out of place."

The NFL is a copycat league. If you're going to copy, be on the front end of the trend and do it better than the teams you're copying. Otherwise you're just late to the party.

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PhantomII's picture

July 05, 2020 at 09:22 pm

I think it was more of a huge lack of defensive talent from past drafts, injuries and older veterans no longer being major difference makers on the field. We also let 2 starting WR's walk on offense which helped afford the "D" influx of talent. It looks like ML wants to go pure smash mouth football as those RB's are what we picked up. I don't mind it to a degree because an O-line who imposes it's will on another team followed by a RB downhill at 250 lbs will literally be a headache. Our current OL is not yet what ML wants/ needs to fully implement his system.
Our team needs a bit of attitude on offense and defense. Changing the O-line will move money off of it and into Gutes hand to keep younger guys or FA's that fit the new scheme. I see what you're saying and all this change coming quickly will lead to most of the OL due contracts at nearly the same time, which will also coincide with Loves contract timeframe. Going to really need to draft well here on out. Not sure what the run/pass ratio will get to. May be game to game strength/ weaknesses. ML supposedly wants 50/50. We will see which one is more effective. The DL is what I'm worried about this year.

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Lphill's picture

July 05, 2020 at 09:28 am

The Packers are going in the wrong direction ,now that they wasted the best of Rodgers years by not surrounding him with talent , now they want to blame him and his play for their struggles or short comings. And let’s not forget Rodgers has 1 TD pass to a first round receiver which is Mercedes Lewis.

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Oppy's picture

July 05, 2020 at 12:55 pm

I feel like I heard all this before.
Maybe back in 2006/2007.
But it was "Favre" back then.

Not quite the same situation, but time stands still for no man. Teams eventually have to move on to the next chapter, or else they make sentimental decisions with no appreciation for the long term health of a franchise.

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Coldworld's picture

July 05, 2020 at 03:01 pm

Neither Gute nor LaFleur had a time machine. The state of the roster they inherited is not the fault of those two. Despite FA acquisitions, did you see Rodgers carrying us single handily last year?

It’s just possible the Packers now believe that the damage was already done given Rodgers’ timeline. As to the new direction, it clearly can work, but can LaFleur make his version of it shine? That remains to be seen.

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PeteK's picture

July 05, 2020 at 10:46 am

The bottom line is that the Packers and Rodgers are much better when run versus pass percentages are more balanced. He had two of his best seasons when Lacy was on the team(44% run) and should have been in the SB if it wasn't for that comedy of errors in 2014. I got a little paranoid about spelling the names correctly after reading the comments in Cory's article.

7 points
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gkarl's picture

July 06, 2020 at 09:36 am

you should have mis-spelled Rogers just to poke the bare.

1 points
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marpag1's picture

July 05, 2020 at 11:14 am

" it supports the idea that the team had a very structured rebuild plan that started when the McCarthy era ended. Phase 1 was addressing premier positions of need, by signing young free agents that were approaching their prime years and could continue to grow and flourish in the years to come."

I seriously doubt it. If they had this plan all laid out in their minds they would have been CUTTING salary and stockpiling draft picks, not adding high priced vets and bumping up against the cap. They would be keeping powder dry for when the "QB of the future" comes online. You can't turn a tight salary cap around in one offseason, especially when you have massive cap hits like ARod's to contend with.

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Oppy's picture

July 05, 2020 at 12:59 pm

Correct.

If anything, it may signal the hiring of LeFleur was not expected and the team has had to pivot greatly from a personnel perspective in an attempt to adjust to the new talent requirements of his offense.

To that end, I would also submit it may show a dedication to the system over the QB. Maybe not. Maybe it's just a desperate attempt to fit the pieces of the puzzle together.

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splitpea1's picture

July 05, 2020 at 02:28 pm

Phase 1 started with the end of the McCarthy era, and Phase 2 started with the current draft of MLF-type players. The FO couldn't have had the whole plan in place before they hired the head coach.

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Coldworld's picture

July 05, 2020 at 03:04 pm

I think they had one or developed one early? One we are now seeing. I think they wanted to give Rodgers time in his old system first. But ultimately, they are now coaching for the new approach.

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Harold Drake's picture

July 05, 2020 at 11:23 am

This is probably the most misguided and preposterous article that CHTV has printed in recent memory. The Packers are NOT going to try to trade Rodgers in 2021 or 2022 in order to slot Jordan Love into the starting QB position. It is not a matter of cap hit, it is strictly a matter of Rodgers being a supremely talented QB and the chances of Love demonstrating that he is able to beat out Rodgers are remote in the extreme. It would also be ludicrous for the Packers NOT to sign Aaron Jones to a new contract since he has begun demonstrating that he is a top RB and is also an extremely positive presence in the locker room and an upstanding young man. I am not sure why Mr Michalski has abandoned all logic and written this purely inflammatory and dubious article.

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Duneslick's picture

July 05, 2020 at 11:54 am

I agree on rodgers. Do not sign Aaron Jones to a 10 million plus multi year contract. RB's dont last - he gets injured they cant afford it. Whom do you lose to sign jones clark Bak. You cant sign everyone. Lastly their 2nd rd pick may be better.

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13TimeChamps's picture

July 05, 2020 at 01:06 pm

Misguided...preposterous...inflammatory...dubious

You Sir....are a hoot. Lol

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dobber's picture

July 05, 2020 at 04:15 pm

"It is not a matter of cap hit, it is strictly a matter of Rodgers being a supremely talented QB and the chances of Love demonstrating that he is able to beat out Rodgers are remote in the extreme."

It's not so simple as "when can another QB (maybe not even Love) outplay #12?" or "how much cap do you get back?" or "what can you get in trade in return for ARod?" or "how many games is QB1 likely to be able to play this year?" All those pieces are constantly in motion and it's not likely to be any one of those things by itself that's going to determine when ARod is no longer the QB of the Packers. Management has to figure out that equation and when all the parts add up, they need to act on it. Maybe ARod retires first...but I think it's likely that he doesn't.

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TheVOR's picture

July 05, 2020 at 11:49 am

I think GB had a plan to get rid of MM, and rightfully so. I also think they have a vision of what they want to do for MLF. That said, you can have amazing plans that seem to make sense, but if you don't execute on the draft piece of it, or select the right players, it's the best made plans of mice and men?

The draft I'll always believe they really screwed themselves was the 2019 draft. Selecting Gary, rather than dropping back 6-8 slots and still selecting Savage (a player they loved, and rightfully so) would have simply transformed the team, and depth. And then they followed if up with the 2020 draft which at least to draft pundits, was unanimously the worst draft in the league. They'd better pray that the 2020 draft actually produces, because if it doesn't, they've started the serious decline in the franchise.

If Love actually develops and is serviceable, they'll be OK. If he's a bust, or an average talent, it might in fact mark the first serious decline we've seen in the franchise in nearly 3 decades. Lets face it, the QB position is it, period. You either have one or you don't. The more you look at the Love selection, you almost can't come to any other conclusion than that Rodgers days in GB are short lived. His 2020 cap number alone seems to say that. You don't reach in the first round for a QB to have him sit. You just can't. This team isn't good enough to simply continue "not stocking the shelves with significant starters and depth via the draft".

They're either going to look like geniuses if Love and Gary (and others) actually develop, or they're going to seriously flounder, and if they they flounder, it's going to look like (as was a perfectly stated comparison) like the 49ers rebuild.

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Oppy's picture

July 05, 2020 at 12:22 pm

Drafting Savage is better than drafting Gary AND Savage?
This is why the 2019 draft was bad?

I get it, you think they should have netted more picks. But you know what they say about a bird in the hand and how its value stands up to the ones left in the bush.

For what it's worth, Gary looked pretty good when he was actually on the field in 2019. He shows some real promise. Only time will tell if he works out in the long run.. but that's true of all draft picks.

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Coldworld's picture

July 05, 2020 at 03:10 pm

Agree. In the scheme of things too early to be so certain anyway.

That said, when you look back, it sure looks like the old system had a shelf life and the ‘19 draft was as much about shooting for future excellence in round one as this year.

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Oppy's picture

July 05, 2020 at 12:18 pm

Ron Wolf told us that when it comes to moving on from a good player, he suscribed to the addage that "It's better a to cut a player a year too early, than a year too late."

Don't think for a second this isn't going to weigh into the way things are unfolding in Green Bay, in real time.

Anyone who says anything remotely close to "so-and-so player has earned the right to leave on his own terms" should be summarily slapped and chastised, and never allowed a seat in the front office of a professional sports team. Ever.

We can be a team about warm-and-fuzzies and fantasies about "packer people", or we can be a team about being a good employer who's ultimate goal is making football decisions in the best interests of sustained success. It's not always easy choices to be made.

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dobber's picture

July 05, 2020 at 04:27 pm

"Anyone who says anything remotely close to "so-and-so player has earned the right to leave on his own terms" should be summarily slapped and chastised, and never allowed a seat in the front office of a professional sports team. Ever."

^^^THIS^^^

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PhantomII's picture

July 05, 2020 at 01:52 pm

I see a movement in egressing the OL for age and salary cap reasons. Bak is 50/50 to move on. If he goes team friendly he could possibly stay. He has no sure replacement level player on the team though. Personally I don't think Clark is retained due to enormous salary he will command for 1 player for a very long time. Even though he's young you could get 2 above average DT's for his coming salary and I believe Keke will be one still on the cheap and we pick up a street FA to take Clarks spot. If GB was going to resign him they should have 2 yrs ago and made it team friendly. I believe they offer to resign King and possibly A. Jones to contracts if they are financially doable. D. Adams is due a new contract the following year. Most of the money is still in the Defense. The Offense is mostly draft picks. Next year like this one we are going to have a handful of comp picks. That's what I see. This is our year to get it done...if not it's going to be a few more years to compete for a championship. Green Bay will lose a ton of money from stadium sales and don't have Billionaire deep pockets. They will trim to survive as we all would.

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fish's picture

July 05, 2020 at 05:00 pm

This will be Aaron Jones' last year in GB. He could be the league MVP and they still will let him go. His roster replacement (not as a starter) may already be on the team in Patrick Taylor Jr. There simply isn't enough cap room to keep him when RBs are cheaper than Jones.

Clark will be re-signed. Hopefully at some sort of home discount.

Bakhtiari will probably be allowed to walk. Someone here said he's top 2 or 3 LT, but I think he's no longer in the top 5. This prediction of mine is assuming that there are no major injuries by the reserves. LT candidates for the future are Nijman, Runyan and maybe even Madison. Will they be as good that first season? -- Probably not. But, in 2 years, the offense will be running more, Love will probably be running the offense, and there will be 2 more drafts to add another stud lineman. I think there is enough depth on the OL that some savings could be had by letting Bakhtiari go before his play diminishes.

King is all about health. If he stays healthy and plays like last year, he will get re-signed.

I like the offense now more than I did right after the draft. I like the defensive backfield and the linebackers (assuming Kirksey stays healthy). They need one more huge DL to make it all work well enough to get to the Super Bowl in my opinion. Hopefully Keke can step up, but they need another big guy like Howard Green in 2010.

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oceanstrength's picture

July 05, 2020 at 08:47 pm

Just like every single year. Only difference? Journalists desperate for stories speculating further into the unknown.
This I will say: Packers will keep the people they think give them the best chance to win every week, every month, every year. Therefore, you will be watching Rodgers play for GB until a) he no longer wants to b) he no longer plays well enough.
This does not require clairvoyance.

4 points
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Bure9620's picture

July 05, 2020 at 09:30 pm

Clark will be extended, he is wrecking ball entering his prime and Big guys like that are hard to find.

Clark-resigned
Lindsley-walks
Turner-released
Bahk-walks
King resigns as I think we will be able to get him at the number we want due to the injuries
Lewis retires
Taylor walks
Lowry released
Funchess walks
Jamal William's walks

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gkarl's picture

July 06, 2020 at 09:56 am

Dave M,

This is just a horrible article, your speculation on who the GBP sign and release is no better than the rest of the CHTV commentors on this site, who are you trying to fool. :)

1 points
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Nate-1980's picture

July 10, 2020 at 01:30 pm

It’ll be a huge mistake if they trade Rodgers next year, and FO will pay with their jobs.. To me this article is off base at best with that talk..

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