Two Week Vacation is Over! Free Agency is Happening & Draft is Coming!

 Here we are!  The new NFL season is officially here!  Free Agency is upon us and the NFL Draft is on the horizon!  So, as of today, what is the State of the Green Bay Packers????

CAP SPACE!

Wow.  The discussion of the term. "CAP SPACE"!  Every team must live under the NFL salary Cap!  As a reminder, what is the punishment of being over the NFL cap??

National Football League. ... The NFL's cap is a hard cap that the teams have to stay under at all times, and the salary floor is also a hard floor. Penalties for violating or circumventing the cap regulations include fines of up to $5 million for each violation, cancellation of contracts and/or loss of draft picks.

So, NFL teams DO NOT mess with the cap!  Now, the last few weeks, a lot has happened:

---  Aaron Jones signs back with the Packers!

---  Many players have re-structured their own contracts!  Left tackle, David Bakhtiari, led the way!

---  And, now the Packers are under the cap, but MORE is needed!

Cap Space?

So, the Packers are at work!  The "Cap Master", Russ Ball is hard at work!!!  But, one call he needs to make is Aaron Rodgers!  Aaron, with a cap hit of over $37 million, takes 20% of the CAP!!!  Yea, that is right 20%!  One player!!!  Now I know Aaron is still crazy mad about last years #1 draft pick, Jordan Love!  And, most fans are still crazy mad!  Jordan Love DID NOT suit up for ONE game!  He was NO help to the 2020 season!  But, if Aaron REALLY wants a Super Bowl in 2021, he needs to re-do that contract, and free up some $$$$$$$$$!  Therefore, the cap space is STILL a work in progress!

Free Agency?

We signed our running back - Aaron Jones.  And, we have tendered a few of our "restricted free agents". Robert Tonyan, our young tight end is one!  But, because of cap space, the Packers are very limited!  And, as Forrest Gump says, "That's all I have to say about that!"

2021 NFL Draft?

We have at this time 10 draft picks!  (7 regular & 3 compensation picks)  What is the need?  My feeling after watching the Packers the past several seasons:

1 - Defensive Tackle

2 - Inside Linebacker

3 - Cornerback

4 - Wide Receiver

5 - Offensive Line

6 - Tight End

7 - Running Back

One of my defensive philosophies is, if you dominate the line of scrimmage, you make the players behind you better!  Datone Jones, one of the best D-Tackles in the league needs help! He has needed help the past 3-4 years!  Along with D-Tackle, our inside linebacker position has be ignored!  And, that position could use a player!  All of the other positions on my list of players would add to the depth!  We need to hit at least 2 "home runs" in this next draft!

So, this next 3-4 week stretch, more cap space work, maybe a free agent or two, and prepare for the draft!

Packers Roster Breakdown Over - Time to Focus on Building a New Team for 2021!

 Salary Cap issues, Re-structuring Contracts, Free Agents, and the 2021 Draft!  It is time to make the Packers of 2021 into a Super Bowl Winner!

This is when it begins!  The 2021 NFL season is in the making & what thoughts are on the mind of this NFL fan???

1 - Contracts?  Some players get it, others DO NOT!  Of course, the BIG names NEED to try to focus on team aspirations!  But, that is not always the case.  First, a trip back in time!  Growing up in the 50's & 60's, the average NFL player would get paid like most average people!  In fact, in the off season they would get part time jobs!  Car salesman, substitute teacher, something to compliment their NFL salary!!!  And do NOT forget, the NFL owners!  They are rolling in the $$$$$$$$  As of today,  JJ Watt is off to the world of $$$$$$$$$$$ - another player that is not chasing Super Bowls, bu $$$$$ Bowls!  2 years for $31,000,000?  Glad he is NOT on our team!

2 - Re-Structure?  Like we mentioned earlier David Bakhtiari, helped with the salary cap by re-structuring his contract.  Added $8-9  million toward Packer salary cap.  Now, will any other players do the same???  Time will tell!

3 - Free Agents?  As of today, the Packers have 26 free agents!!!  My top ones are:

Robert Tonyan - TE

Aaron Jones - RB

Allan Lazard - WR

Corey Linsley - C

Lane Taylor - G

Jamaal Williams - RB

Tyler Lancaster - DL

Raven Greene - S

Chandon Sullivan - CB

Tyler Ervin - RB

We have already sent  Kirksey & Wagner packing, so we are down to 24.  Out of this list, my must have are Tonyan at TE and one of the running backs Williams & Jones!  I hope someone is listening!  Tonyan has become one of the best TE's in the league & the Packer offense needs a receiving TE!  Jones is the player, but Williams is probably cheaper & VERY dependable!  Next, Linsley is probably gone, Taylor would keep the offensive line depth that we need to last the entire season.  Lazard is VERY steady and blocks well for the running game.  Lancaster provides dept on the defensive line, but should not start!  King needs to go at CB, so we need to keep someone for depth!  Same with Greene at safety, depth!  So, out of the 24 free agents left, looks like 5-6 should stay.  All depends on the cap space!

2021 Draft - first, NO NEED for a quarterback!  How about, a clever idea, a starter!!!  Yes, a player that will help on game 1!  How about........ a starter at inside linebacker!!  Someone with speed and a tackling machine!  Or, a D-lineman, a run stopper, a PUSH in the middle to assist Z Smith & Gary!  We will spend the next month focusing on the draft!

2021 NFL

Packers 

to the

Super Bowl!