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The\u00a0first wave of free agency\u00a0is over, and the\u00a0Green Bay Packers\u00a0is the\u00a0least active team in the entire NFL. Yes, they’ve spent significant money, but did it by adding only three external free agents in\u00a0guard Aaron Banks,\u00a0cornerback Nate Hobbs, and\u00a0wide receiver Mecole Hardman.<\/p>\n
After these moves, let’s talk about what the Packers’ offseason and future might look like in this week’s\u00a0mailbag. Let’s go.<\/p>\n
This is a great topic of discussion because the more I think about it, the more I conclude that the\u00a0Packers want Jordan Morgan at left tackle, and that’s why they signed Aaron Banks in free agency. It’s impossible to pay everyone, and if Morgan can play LT, they are kind of screwed\u2014they will either pay four offensive linemen, be without a viable plan at one of the tackle spots, or release Elgton Jenkins next offseason.<\/p>\n
If Morgan moves to LT and plays well in training camp, I don’t think moving Walker, who’s entering the final year of his rookie deal, is unrealistic. It’s hard to pull off, though, because it would be useful for the Packers to keep depth at the position and teams usually don’t like to acquire players via trades with significant return so close to the regular season.<\/p>\n
Ultimately, my sense is that teams would be willing to give up something like a third- and a fifth-rounder for Walker, maybe someone goes to a second-rounder if they’re too desperate. But Brian Gutekunst has to consider if that’s enough to take the risk.<\/p>\n
I wanted to answer your question right after the first one because they might be interconnected. If the Packers consider the possibility of moving Jordan Morgan to left tackle and trading Rasheed Walker away, drafting a tackle on Day 2 would be an intriguing option. Right now, the Packers have some developmental players like Kadeem Telfort (undrafted) and Travis Glover (sixth-rounder), but a player with a higher ceiling would make sense under these circumstances.<\/p>\n
Moreover, the Packers usually take college tackles to play everywhere along the offensive line. So a Day 2 tackle could start his NFL career as a guard in Green Bay, giving them more interior depth, and maybe move to swing tackle or even compete with Morgan later on.<\/p>\n
We don’t have this answer at this point, Felipe, because they haven’t added anyone to either position. Overall, though, the Packers’ main idea since last year has been unifying both positions under the same room\u2014now, everything is under defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington’s control. So the plan is that one area could be able to supplement the other.<\/p>\n
Based on how the Packers tend to like their edge defenders, with heavier guys, it’s natural that they might have a hard time generating pressure in this style of defense, but they will be able to set the edge with ease. And how do you complement that? With designated pass rushers on the interior. They have it in guys like Devonte Wyatt and Karl Brooks.<\/p>\n
It’s certainly not how I would build a defensive front, but Gutekunst doesn’t care about what I would do. Rightfully so.<\/p>\n
Since you asked who I would take, and not who I think the Packers would take, I’m going with\u00a0Mike Green, from Marshall. I don’t know if he will be there at 23, but it’s not an absurd proposition since he’s from a small school and is the 16th prospect on the\u00a0consensus big board.<\/p>\n
He’s lighter than what the Packers tend to like and has some off-field concerns, but the production and talent are undeniable. It would be a great way to maximize the rookie contract of a first-round pick, something the Packers have failed to do with their developmental projects.<\/p>\n
Those are hard to project now because post-June 1st cuts can already be made, it’s just a designation to delay the acceleration of the cap. So it’s more the post-draft cuts, actually. But an intriguing option is David Onyemata, if the\u00a0Atlanta Falcons\u00a0decide to part ways with him.<\/p>\n
He’s 32 and entering the final year of his deal, and a post-June 1st cut could open $10.5 million in cap space for Atlanta.<\/p>\n
Onyemata is an extremely solid run defender with what is still a good ability to rush the passer from the interior. And at this point, especially if Kenny Clark doesn’t return to playing at a higher level, the Packers don’t have an interior defensive linemen who can do both things.<\/p>\n
I expected the Packers would get some\u00a0mid-level free agent signings\u00a0to supplement the roster, but ultimately it’s something they don’t do. It’s some specific targets they truly like, with a very particular profile (young, guys they think are ascending), and won’t go beyond that. Hardman is an exception, and it’s a decent bet while Christian Watson is out.<\/p>\n
That being said, I’m shocked by how much they paid Aaron Banks. I’m not saying he can’t be a good player for them, but it’s a business with limited resources. What they are paying someone limits what they can do anywhere else.\u00a0Banks’ career hasn’t given us any indication\u00a0that he’s worth this type of deal.<\/p>\n
The arguments have been benefit of the doubt, they know more than you, or you can get out of the deal after two years. That’s usually not a recipe for success<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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