Packers Have Big Needs at Safety and Tight End Heading into This Offseason

The Green Bay Packers have a lot of uncertainty as we head into this offseason. The headlines revolve around Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love but one way or the other, the Packers will settle their quarterback situation.

The two position groups that presently have the most uncertainty heading into the offseason are safety and tight end.

The safety situation is particularly challenging for the team. The only major contributor who is under contract for 2023 is Darnell Savage who is playing on his fifth-year option.

The former first round pick out of Maryland was playing his best football in the second half of the 2020 campaign but he’s never consistently matched that performance over the last two seasons.

Savage played so poorly earlier this season he was benched in Week 12. Savage struggled in coverage and had difficulty knowing when to stay with a receiver and when to pass him along to a teammate when they were in zone coverage.

Even worse was his tackling which was embarrassing at times. His attempt to stop Bills quarterback Josh Allen with a passing forearm was simply unacceptable. Savage had too many missed tackles and just seemed to lack the effort needed to play at a high level.

Savage improved his play later in the season, getting time in the slot and eventually regaining his starting job for the final two games when injuries hit. He had a 75-yard pick six against the Vikings and played more effectively when he was lining up closer to the line of scrimmage.

The other starter was Adrian Amos. The former Penn State star saw his play fall off dramatically over last season. Amos was a positionally sound player who helped other players do their job because they could rely on Amos to be in the right place at the right time.

This season, Amos lacked his typical consistency. Opposing quarterbacks completed 70.0 percent of their passes when throwing to receivers covered by Amos this season and had a quarterback rating of 107.7. That was the worst rating of any of the four seasons Amos has been with the Packers.

Amos will turn 30 in April. He is an unrestricted free agent this offseason as the four-year, free agent deal he signed with the Packers before the 2019 has expired. GM Brian Gutekunst must decide whether to re-sign Amos or look elsewhere for a starting safety.

Rookie Tariq Carpenter is still under contract, but he barely saw the field on defense and was drafted specifically for his prowess on special teams. He is not considered ready to play extended reps at safety just yet.

That leaves the team with more questions than answers at the safety position.

Tight end is also very up in the air. Matt LaFleur uses each of his tight ends in different ways. Right now, only one player with significant experience is still under contract for next year and that’s Josiah Deguara. The former University of Cincinnati star is used primarily as a blocker and often lines up at fullback or H-back. He is a possession or outlet receiver and caught only 13 passes for 114 yards in all 17 games.

Robert Tonyan was the team’s leading receiver at tight end. He caught a career-high 53 passes for 470 yards and two touchdowns.

However, Tonyan was coming off a season-ending knee injury suffered midway through the 2021 season and although he played all 17 games, he lacked the burst and quickness he had before the injury and was less of a downfield threat. His 8.9-yards per catch was the lowest average of his career.

Tonyan is an unrestricted free agent this offseason. He has indicated he would like to be back with the Packers but Gutekunst needs to determine if Tonyan can regain more of his 2020 form with another offseason to recover from the knee surgery or if the 2022 version of Tonyan is what he’s going to be. Then the Packers need to figure out if the price is right to bring Tonyan back.

Marcedes Lewis remains a great blocker and having him on the field is like adding a sixth offensive lineman to the lineup. The UCLA alum will turn 39 in May and is no longer a downfield receiving threat. He is a sure-handed outlet receiver and had six catches for 66 yards and two touchdowns this season.

Lewis is an unrestricted free agent. He already said he wants to play one more season which would set an NFL record for most seasons played by a tight end. Aaron Rodgers indicated he wants “Big Dog” back if he returns to the Packers in 2023. If Rodgers is with the team, the Packers are more likely to re-sign Lewis who also adds leadership to the locker room in addition to his blocking prowess.

Tyler Davis is a key special teams contributor with limited offensive reps. He is also a free agent who will have to be re-signed for him to return next season.

With only Deguara under contract, the Packers have to figure out their roster at tight end over the offseason. Adding a tight end in the draft is a real possibility.

None of the players on the roster can stretch the field and are much of a downfield receiving threat. The team will be looking to upgrade the tight end position this offseason even if they bring back Tonyan or Lewis or both.

Both safety and tight end are areas of need this offseason. How the Packers fill these needs will be an important factor in the team’s attempts to get back to the playoffs in 2023.

 

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6 points
 

Comments (62)

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

January 26, 2023 at 12:37 pm

We have one TE who is really an F Back that we woefully under use. Otherwise we have a void as Davis was not adequate, Big Dog us now a one year rental blocker at best and Tonyan makes no sense to resign at what he surely thinks he is worth. Draft and hope one of the PS guys adds something.

At S we have nothing and a coach with a system that seemingly requires 2 Woodsons, able to tackle like a LB and cover deep like a boundary corner. I don’t see finding one, let alone 2, of those even with an unlimited FA budget. If Amos does leave, 2 rookies is a bad prospect at S in any system or circumstances. Unless Barry evolves, that’s actually the root of a lot of his problems and I’m not sure it’s ever going to be fixed unless it changes. It’s just unrealistic, as unrealistic as splicing Ford and Savage to combine their coverage and physicality in one being.

8 points
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PackyCheese500's picture

January 26, 2023 at 12:45 pm

Davis has been good on STs, but has done nothing on offense. Austin Allen on the PS is interesting in my opinion.

Brian Branch and JL Skinner should be our targets at Safety in the first 2 rounds. Ji'Ayir Brown, Sydney Brown, Jammie Robinson, and Avery Young are a couple of names who we could get in rounds 4-5.

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stockholder's picture

January 26, 2023 at 12:50 pm

Jermey China would be a better option.
I'd inquire about a trade first,
Especially for a veteran.
Before drafting any safety.

-4 points
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PackyCheese500's picture

January 26, 2023 at 12:56 pm

We do not have the cap space to do such a move.

2 points
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BirdDogUni's picture

January 26, 2023 at 01:36 pm

Don't bother...

Just saying.

2 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

January 26, 2023 at 02:04 pm

No safeties before round four. They're stuck with Savage and Ford can be signed as a dime S. He had three picks.
They need CBs. Trice can be a CB or Safety. Douglas can go to FS. Too many holes to ponder. Make trades, move players and picks.

0 points
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stockholder's picture

January 26, 2023 at 03:14 pm

Correct. The Sb Nation should keep there opinions on Acme.

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jannes bjornson's picture

January 26, 2023 at 03:18 pm

The who? Where?

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jannes bjornson's picture

January 27, 2023 at 12:06 pm

They used to post inane videos or go off hunting Q and the ivermectin crowd...

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T7Steve's picture

January 26, 2023 at 02:58 pm

I like the Big Dog, but if they're basically just using him for blocking put Caleb Jones in there in his place and pass to your H-back out of the backfield or something. I'm really worried about our coaching. Even if we had the cap room, who would want to play for a bunch of finesse wimp guys? Must be hard to go to work in the morning.

5 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

January 26, 2023 at 03:22 pm

Kemari Averett, 6'-5" 260lbs. 15 years younger than Big Dog and you get the same results blocking the edge.
He may be moving up into the fifth round.

2 points
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KnockTheSnotOutOfYou's picture

January 26, 2023 at 12:38 pm

Definitely need one or two TE's out of this draft. Just not sure if it has to be in round 1 unless they somehow end up with two first round draft choices. I'd like to see the Packers look & take the very best player available with their 1st round pick at any one of their biggest needs (TE, Safety, WR, Edge, OL, and DL).

5 points
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PackyCheese500's picture

January 26, 2023 at 12:42 pm

Any one of Michael Mayer, Dalton Kincaid, or Tucker Kraft I'd be happy with, as well as a later guy whose primary skill set contrasts that of the early-round TE

5 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

January 26, 2023 at 02:09 pm

I would prefer two of these guys, but they will be off the board by the middle of round two. Get the complimentary TE later, like Schoonmaker, Durham or Stover to work from the inline position. Three TEs from this draft would be best.

0 points
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PackyCheese500's picture

January 26, 2023 at 12:42 pm

Quite an observation. In other news, the sky is blue.

In all actuality, though, this is correct. I would not be surprised if our first 2 picks in the 2023 draft are a TE and a Safety. Having a game changer at TE can be a huge boost to the offense (see Kelce and Kittle), and having an incredible safety can also boost the defense (like Talanoa Hufanga of the 49ers and Jalen Pitre of the Texans).

-6 points
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BirdDogUni's picture

January 26, 2023 at 01:46 pm

Kelce was a 3rd rounder and Kittle was a 5th rounder, so drafting a guy in the first round at TE seems to me like terrible value.

If there is an impact Safety, DL, OLBer, or OL, I feel we'd be much better served going that direction.

We've had absolutely terrible luck drafting TEs, I don't want to compound the failures with a 1st round mistake.

2 points
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PackyCheese500's picture

January 26, 2023 at 02:35 pm

BDU - I have read many of your posts, and I agree with essentially everything you say. However, this is one exception.

The reason we’ve had terrible luck with TEs in years past is, frankly, because we haven’t been willing to invest premium draft capital in the position. Years of 3rd, 4th, and other day 3 picks have done little to nothing, and as a result, our room is filled with a bunch of decent role players.

When Travis Kelce or George Kittle were drafted has no impact on the upside or the type of player Michael Mayer will be. While we can trace certain trends, ultimately, they are all random and dependent on the player themself. This also goes for the Packers’ TE history - other busts at TE have nothing to do with the skill of Mayer (unless it’s a coaching problem).

I do agree, though, that we should also strongly consider taking a good DB , OLB, or DL if one falls to us. Branch of Alabama looks amazing. Trading back could be an option, too. If Tyree Wilson of Texas Tech falls a little, we could use our round 3 pick to move up a couple spots and snag him.

1 points
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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

January 26, 2023 at 04:21 pm

*Yeah, I don't know. There is an incredibly long history of underwhelming TEs taken in the first round. TEs are tough to find. I, too, am reluctant to use pick 15 on any TE.

4 points
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crayzpackfan's picture

January 27, 2023 at 01:53 pm

TGR- Only way I go TE in round one is if we have 2 round one picks. Though the Notre Dame kid seems like the real deal.

1 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

January 27, 2023 at 09:36 am

If they consistently whiff on TE selections, maybe the personnel dept. needs an Upgrade. Last year taking Rhyan to sit like a lump and Buffalo takes Bellinger in the fourth. Still believe it was best to stay in round two and select Watson with the #22, thereby, McBride was available. The round four run gave the opponents players at the position while Packertown stays ossified: Otten , Kolar, Ferguson, Isaiah Likeley. Don't repeat their failed history. Get two by the end of round four, 2023. Move the ball, score more points. The high picks going to the defensive side have proven defense doesn't win championships.

-2 points
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PackyCheese500's picture

January 28, 2023 at 04:11 pm

There are many other factors that are not being considered here:

First of all, how do you think it would have affected Watson from a mental perspective to be taken in round #1 rather than round #2? That would have been a radical move that everyone wouldn't have considered warranted.

Last year's TE class was weak, McBride looks to be a bust, and Bellinger (who plays for the Giants by the way) and Likely look to be the only good players, with Otton emerging only because the Bucs' TE room is barren, and Ferguson, Woods, and Kolar I haven't heard anything about.

You are saying that we shouldn't draft TEs high because we whiff so often, but that is exactly why we've whiffed. We've always tried second and third rate solutions for the position and have never truly invested into it. With it being our biggest need this year (aside from maybe Safety), we ought to do so now.

Defense STILL does win championships, and as I've said, complimentary football is best. All of the teams in the Final Four have ferocious defenses: The Eagles and Chiefs rank #1 and #2 in sacks, respectively, the 49ers have the #1 unit, and the Bengals' has been turning on the power recently. Do you think the Rams or Bucs would have won Super Bowls if their defenses weren't the level that they were? Look at the 2010 Packers for more proof.

All this has proven is that Barry and Pettine have been unable to channel the talent on defense. I think that with a better defensive coordinator, like Leonhard, Ryans, or Evero (along with Gary playing the whole year), this could have been a top-10 unit.

0 points
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splitpea1's picture

January 26, 2023 at 12:44 pm

If you're thinking long-term, adding at least one tight end in the draft is a necessity. And preferably one with good size such as Mayer, Kraft, or Washington. As for M. Lewis, even though he isn't a downfield threat anymore, his number still should have been called in the red zone more often, but the Packers are usually diddling around with less successful options.

Safety is obviously a screaming need. If the Packers are fortunate enough to have Branch fall to them, they should pounce. He's an outstanding tackler and is good in zone.

7 points
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PackyCheese500's picture

January 26, 2023 at 12:48 pm

JL Skinner of Boise St. is a guy the Packers should target in round 2 as well at SS. He is an incredible prospect, in my opinion.

1 points
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Turophile's picture

January 26, 2023 at 12:48 pm

Just did a profootballnetwork mock draft and picked up:

15 (trade with the Bucs back to 19, picked up pick 50).
19 Safety Brian Branch. Not a great year for safeties, get a good one while you can.
45 TE Michael Mayer (felt lucky to get him, would have taken Washington instead, if Mayer was gone).
50 Edge Tui Tupulotu

Three major needs seen to in the first 50 picks. I'd look for an O lineman or a RB in round three, but you go where the perceived value is, which might be anywhere.

1 points
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PackyCheese500's picture

January 26, 2023 at 01:04 pm

We need WR somewhere too.

0 points
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Leatherhead's picture

January 26, 2023 at 12:56 pm

Big Needs.

We play one, or two, TEs per snap. There's about 90-100 snaps available in an average game.

Lewis has announced his desire to return to set the record for TE longevity. He still gets his man blocked and he's a good guy in the locker room but he isn't bringing much as a receiver. He's in for 33 snaps.

Deguara is under contract for another year. He's a decent blocker , especially on the move, He was only targeted 15 times this year and caught 13 of them. I don't know why he doesn't get targeted more. He's good for 35 snaps.

If we could draft a premium TE on Day Two, we should be able to count on him for at least 30 snaps, so we're covered until people get hurt. We could bring Tonyan back. There's always an abundance of guys who can line up and block as the #4 TE, but other than Tonyan, we don't have much of a receiving threat at that position. In my simulations, Darnell Washington is routinely available at #45. I don't think he's the best receiving TE in the draft, but I do think he'll get his guy blocked, and I select him quite a bit of the time with that pick.

At safety, Amos is a FA and I'd let him test the market. Savage is under contract. We could save $7 million by moving him, but I'm not sure we can put a better player on the field in his place. Behind our starters, we have Ford and Carpenter . In most of my simulations, I take a Safety with our first pick, but we're going to have to do a little more than that. We're thin there.

Today's PFN Mock:

Trade #15 to Arizona for their picks early in the second, third, and fourth rounds.

At #34, draft a starting Safety, Skinner
#45.....Washington, the TE, as usual
#66....Tillman, at WR. He's been gone at 66 in most simulations.
#78....Freelund, an OT, and a really big, strong guy.
#103....Tyler Steen, OL, another guy who would improve that unit.
#114.....Roschon Johnson. RB He's the "other" back at UT. Low mileage,big, smart, all around football player.

I stop at the end of the 4th round, but the Packers still have SEVEN picks in rounds 5-7.

1 points
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Duneslick's picture

January 26, 2023 at 03:45 pm

Savages contract is guaranteed and would count 7 million on the salary cap even if he was cut or traded

2 points
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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

January 26, 2023 at 04:46 pm

The Packers played 1094 snaps in 2022 in 17 games, or 64.35 offensive snaps per game. TEs played 1,474 snaps (Tonyan, Lewis, Deguara and Davis), or 1.35 TEs on average per snap.

Lewis was okay but his blocking was far more inconsistent this year. Some possible regression setting in. I am okay with bringing him back but only very cheap, maybe $1.5M cash. Lewis has $1.05M in dead money. If they don't move quickly, his lowest cap number would be $2.715M. That number is unacceptable to me. they need to re-sign him with a void year in 2024 to keep his number around $2.025M. I am not all that happy with that number, but I suppose.

3 points
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Leatherhead's picture

January 26, 2023 at 05:00 pm

Thank you for that precision. 64 snaps. About 30 of those are runs, and a few more are passes to the RBs. So we're talking about 25-30 opportunities per game for all the other skill guys, combined.

If Lewis can be available every game, and get his man blocked, and help the younger players be better pros, then I don't really have a problem with 2.7 million for that.

-1 points
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dobber's picture

January 26, 2023 at 09:17 pm

"Deguara is under contract for another year. He's a decent blocker , especially on the move, He was only targeted 15 times this year and caught 13 of them. I don't know why he doesn't get targeted more. "

Because he doesn't run deep routes on 3rd and short?
Pa dum tsss!

3 points
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Lphill's picture

January 26, 2023 at 12:59 pm

Michael Mayer

2 points
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stockholder's picture

January 26, 2023 at 01:17 pm

Only if he's the BPA rd. 1

0 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

January 26, 2023 at 02:17 pm

I have him behind the CBs , Porter and Gonzalez, then Broderick Jones, and Uzomah. He can go round one and be a Kyle Rudolph guy or slide into the mid-40s. He is said to have 4.75 speed, but is not a quick twitch guy like Kelce. How many are similar? I prefer him, or Kraft over Kincaid.

0 points
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PackyCheese500's picture

January 26, 2023 at 02:43 pm

Mayer is more Gronk than Kelce, and that is not a bad thing. Howeve, Kincaid of Utah reminds me very much of Kelce. Maybe we get him in the 2nd?

I still think going CB in round 1 makes no sense. We already have Alexander, Douglas, and Stokes, with Nixon and Savage in nickel - when we are lacking so much at other positions, why would we take a CB of all things in round 1? Let’s at least wait until Stokes’ year 3 to deliver a verdict on him - people seem to so quickly forget how sensational his rookie year was; there’s no reason to think this isn’t a typical Sophomore slump.

OT is not a big need either, and Uzomah is too raw to go at #15. Many draft sites have him as an early-mid 2nd rounder

0 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

January 26, 2023 at 03:30 pm

Stokes is a #3 guy, at best and he will be on PUP until November. The CBs are highly rated. If they enter your sphere, take them. Uzomah should be bagged in the lower first round with an additional trade into round one. #15 should be traded down into the first to snag another two pick. They will need four-five picks from the top 100 to fill holes. Reload, get playmakers and get better.

3 points
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stockholder's picture

January 26, 2023 at 03:47 pm

Bubba Franks was better.

-4 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

January 27, 2023 at 09:45 am

Don't thin the medicine too much. The Game has changed, the Packertown philosophy has not. The TEs are part of the NEW offenses and you need guys who are quick and can catch the quick outs or roll up in the hook zones.
The top four guys this year are definitely more skilled as receivers than was Bubba.

0 points
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pantz_bURp's picture

January 26, 2023 at 01:03 pm

This time, I am happy we pick before the Vikes and they did get their TE earlier this year. So no funny stuff Vikings, Bears or Lions...

I would love a TE that garners attention and will block.

1 points
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stockholder's picture

January 26, 2023 at 01:15 pm

Gutey can replace both his Te and Safety.
But it's the wrong move in the first round.
Has anyone looked at the projected times for TE. ?
Tonyan is the better choice.
BPA=== The safeties are 6 deep.

-2 points
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WestCoastPackerBacker's picture

January 26, 2023 at 02:04 pm

Yeah it makes no sense to use a high pick on a guy who doesn't have the talent deserving of that round, just because it is a need. Doesn't that make your team overall less talented? Like picking Rashan Gary at a high round one pick. Didn't "need" him at the time, but his talent added greatly to the overall talent of the defense after some development.

2 points
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PackyCheese500's picture

January 26, 2023 at 02:45 pm

Do you not think Mayer or Branch are talented? Sites that don’t have the Packers picking those two prospects have them still going in the same range as the Packers.

1 points
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stockholder's picture

January 26, 2023 at 03:17 pm

That will change after the combine.

0 points
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PackyCheese500's picture

January 26, 2023 at 06:31 pm

Mayer runs a 4.6 40 at 260 lbs. Kincaid and Kraft both run 4.7s, but their play speed is way faster than that, and they look like they run 4.5s or even 4.4s sometimes

0 points
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stockholder's picture

January 26, 2023 at 07:43 pm

I like Kincaids big hands better.
He also looks like he can read
the secondary better.
Still Tonyan gives us more flexibility.
Keep in mind that Richard Rodgers speed
was not good enough for GB.
Also Jace Sternberger slowed down.
And they brought Jace in before they drafted him.
I'd rather sign Tonyan.
Whoever is the QB. They have to have a Te
That knows the offense.
DeGuara could get cut. Savings 1 mil.

-2 points
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crayzpackfan's picture

January 27, 2023 at 02:12 pm

SH- Sometimes I think your keyboard is actually an Ouija board. That or else you're sharing your notes from when you first wake up from a dream? Good Lord!

0 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

January 26, 2023 at 03:35 pm

Tonyan no longer has his 4.65 speed. That was six years, 10 more pounds and a blown ACL ago. I would bring him on board, but at a minimum, incentive-laden Contract.

3 points
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Packerpasty's picture

January 26, 2023 at 05:30 pm

yup...he will never be what he was...pretty much mediocre TE right now...dont know what he thinks he is worth but the Packers can't pay him big bucks..

1 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

January 26, 2023 at 04:21 pm

PFN. Let's roll a few,...
#15 to Lions #18/55
#18 Broderick Jones Georgia OT
#1 (2024 for Rodgers) + #3 (2024) to KC for #30.
#30 Uzomah K State edge
#45 Kraft S D State TE
#55 Jaelyn Duncan Maryland OT/OG
#78 Benton Badgers DT
# 114 Cory Trice Purdue CB
#147 Schoonmaker Big Blue TE
#202 Incoom C Mich edge
#211 Ibrahim Gophers RB
#211 Averett B Cookman TE

0 points
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PackyCheese500's picture

January 26, 2023 at 06:32 pm

What about Safety?

0 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

January 27, 2023 at 09:58 am

They just wasted 7M on Savage. Douglas will go to FS and they can get Ford at fair money to be a dime guy. UDFA is just as effective as some of the guys rated after round two. I would rather have CBs. Trice hits like a safety. The biggest concern moving forward is developing a talented O line, not a reclamation project, or scrubs R' Us.

-1 points
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crayzpackfan's picture

January 27, 2023 at 02:22 pm

Jann- As long as we have Barry has our DC, draft and develop on defense is like teaching Alec Baldwin gun safety. I think it is time to finally draft heavy on offense until we get better coaching on defense. we have enough players over there for now. I'm not saying neglect the defense, but just for this draft, especially if we trade Rodgers and perhaps AJ, we go heavy on offense.

0 points
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dobber's picture

January 26, 2023 at 01:31 pm

The MO of personnel management over the years has been to not approach the draft with glaring holes that force them to overdraft a given position. They'll either do a re-sign on one of their own or sign a street FA after most of the activity has died down. Which allows them to draft according to their board. Fully expect they'll locate a guy at both positions, or get a cheap resign with minimal down-the-road cap implications on someone if they can at both positions leading up to the draft.

2 points
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Packers1985's picture

January 26, 2023 at 01:38 pm

Heard this draft is deep in safety class. Then it's better Packer's trade down and get a late rd OLB/Oline/Safety and then remaining in the remaining rds.

1 points
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Packers0808's picture

January 26, 2023 at 02:11 pm

Big mistake to dump MLewis if he wants to come back. Great blocker and should used in Red Zone way more often than done. Rodgers is just not it seems able to scan field as he once did, often open receivers and he throws into double coverage or his famous hero 40 yard heave ho!

2 points
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PackyCheese500's picture

January 26, 2023 at 02:46 pm

Hear hear.

0 points
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barutanseijin's picture

January 26, 2023 at 03:24 pm

I would prefer them to take the best player available, or at least the best OL talent available.

2 points
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Duneslick's picture

January 26, 2023 at 03:43 pm

Savages contract is guaranteed and would count 7 million on the salary cap even if he was cut or traded

4 points
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Coldworld's picture

January 27, 2023 at 12:32 am

If he was cut yes, it’s entirely guaranteed. If he’s traded, no, his new team would have to pay it, as is the case with the Vikings taking in Hockenson’s option triggered before he was traded.

0 points
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Handsback's picture

January 26, 2023 at 07:52 pm

Just two issues about those positions. First, are Savage and Amos the problem or manifestations of a bigger problem from the coaching staff? I don't know, so I can't say if they need to be replaced.

Second deals with Tonyan. From the first game to the last game Tonyan showed a remarkable difference in his movement skills. I don't think he was still at 100% at season's end, but I thought his improvement was enough to keep him another year.

Unless the Pack has a top 5 or top 10 player drop in their lap, I suspect a trade-down will happen. Figure late 1st or early second for their first selection with additional picks in 2nd and 3rd rounds to compensate for the trade down. Then the Packers will take Mayer or I'm hearing a RB like Robinson, or JSN the WR from Ohio St. Safeties will be in the 2-3 rd. unless they trade up to grab Branch or Johnson.
Just MHO

1 points
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Coldworld's picture

January 27, 2023 at 12:38 am

The more I look, the more I think it’s primarily the scheme and what it asks of both safeties interchangeably. They both are expected to help in run fits and also to cover deep while not necessarily starting from deep, but almost in a corner type spot. Half Ford, half Savage combined in one player is very hard to find indeed. We’ve been looking for one Woodson or Collins for a decade. This D looks like it requires 2. It seems to me that’s not likely to happen, and definitely with no cap. Barry needs to adjust his system therefore.

1 points
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Ferrari-Driver's picture

January 27, 2023 at 09:33 am

Gil, you speak about the big need at safety and tight end, but we have significant needs at most all of our position groups and there is a good chance we may even have a need at the quarterback position if Rodgers is no longer on the team. While these needs can be called significant it does allow the Packers to not reach for players in the draft. Dobber made a good point about our GM in that he will find a replacement among free agents who do function as a "stop gap" so the Packers can concentrate on drafting according to "the best player available" policy.

And, I would include needs at the coaching staff. After this season, the performance of our defensive coordinator certainly seems like it should have been better and I won't rule out our head coach either. I would also be remiss if I didn't add our CEO, Mark Murphy.

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