Packers 2021 Draft Day - Day #1 - Filled With Drama & Excitement!

 OK, watching the draft as a NFL football junky I was up to 12 Midnight waiting for the Packers #1 pick at 29th in the draft.  Like many Packer Fans I was excited to see who would be our first choice!  But, on the ticker tape that passes along the bottom of the screen:

Aaron Rodgers wants to be traded.................

Really?  For 4 hours, this scrolled across the bottom of the screen.  So, what ........

#1 - Aaron Rodgers GOT WHAT HE WANTED!

Last year we ALL know, we drafted a QB!  (I really feel for Jordan Love!)  Aaron was pissed.  Aaron was hurt!  Aaron was saddened!  Aaron was ............

Fans were also surprised.  Fans were also pissed.  So, let me dive into the minds of the people involved.

Aaron Rodgers?  A complicated, intelligent, talented man.  A man that was talented, his journey from high school to junior college, to California U, to the Packers was not smooth, and a little bumpy!  He was constantly proving himself!  Sitting on draft night a LONG time to be selected at the end of round one!  Sitting behind Packer Legend, Brett Favre for 3 years!  (A viewing Brett's crazy Packer exit!)  And, winning a Super Bowl early in his career, and shut out from the Super Bowl for the past 10 years!

A complicated man!  A shaky family life!  Not talking to parents!  Not talking to his own brother!  Dating Hollywood Stars, Race Car Drivers, finally quickly getting engaged to a Hollywood actress!  Hosting Jeopardy for two weeks!  Traveling the world to all the cool places!  

Packer Management?  General Managers, Head Coaches, Coaches, Team President??  You are working with a complicated human being!  Very talented!  Already have experienced a complicated ending to a talented QB, Brett Favre!  A different ending, but a messy ending!  You have NO real answer on the bench at this time last year! (At least, during the Favre meltdown, the Packers had Aaron Rodgers in the bench).  So, you go out and get, who you think, is a possible replacement in round one last year)  At age 37, is your quarterback really committed?  Could he move to the Himalaya Mountains and become a monk?  Marry a Hollywood star and become a stay at home Dad?  Join the professional golf tour?

What does Aaron do?  All year, he plans his counter attack!  He was VERY MAD last year!  So, the day of the draft, he floats the rumor sports reporters, general managers, "I WANT TRADED!"  There you go Gutekunst, take that!!!  And, now we can talk about Aaron all off season!  He GOT want he wanted!

Now, back to the draft & the Packers first round pick - Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia.  More to come ...

Welcome to Green Bay Eric Stokes!

Draft Day is Here and Packers Find Themselves in The Middle of NFL Drama!

 Here we are.  The day of the NFL Draft!  We should be happy, excited and fired up!  Instead, our QB injects drama into what should be a fun day!  Well, Aaron, maybe you should just retire and host Jeopardy!  Today's millionaire athletes are making being a sports fan a VERY difficult journey!

So, maybe the Packers will draft up for a QB & trade Rodgers!  Time will tell!  But until that happens, what will the Packers do at #29?

Of course, draft the BEST player available, just like last year!  HA HA!

My list of NEEDS!

1 - Inside Linebacker

2 - Wide Receiver

3 - Offensive Line

4 - Defensive Tackle

5 - Cornerback!

Here we go!!!! Drama Drama Drama!

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!

Packers Roster Breakdown - Cornerbacks

 Two words - Kevin King - BYE BYE!

Opppps - two more words - Josh Jackson - BYE BYE!

OK, if you have been watching the Packers for the last 3-4 years. King (2017 - round 1) & Jackson (2018 - round 2)are targets!  Weak Links!  Two very high draft choices that the average fan would label a BUST!!!! OUCH!

By the way, to see the Packers draft choices back to 1936 - Click on - (Packer Draft Choice History)

So, what does the roster look like?

Jaire Alexander - year 3

Kevin King - year 4 (Free Agent)

Josh Jackson - year 3 (Free Agent)

Chandon Sullivan - year 3

Ka'dar Hollman - year 2

KelVarae Russel - year 4

Stanford Sameuls - Rookie

Kabion Ento - year 1 (Free Agent)

Parry Nickerson - year 3 (Free Agent)

So, this looks like a rebuild to me!  Lucky to have Jaire Alexander, who is turning into one of the BEST corners in the NFL!  So, look for the Packers to take 1-2 corners in the draft!!  And, maybe a free agent that is NOT on the Packers roster today!

WE NEED HELP AT CORNER _ A TOP PRIORITY!

Packers Roster Breakdown - Safety

 One of the best starting defensive position is the safety position - Amos & Savage!  Both of these players are solid.  Savage, in year two, started to become a play maker - his interceptions prove that!  Amos, is a sold leader on the back end & a good tackler.  Players helping this season?

Aaron Amos - year 6

Darnell Savage - year 2

Will Redmund - year 4 (free agent)

Henry Black - rookie

Veron Scott - rookie

Raven Greene - year 3 (free agent)

Innis Gaines - rookie

The backups, saw some action, Redmund, Greene & Scott.  Greene would be worth re-signing for the right money.  Did not see much of Black, Scott & Gaines to pass judgement.  

What is know, this position is not a BIG need.  And, Savage could develop into one of the best in the league!

Packers Roster Breakdown - Outside Linebackers

 A three man rotation most of the year, Smith, Smith & Gary. So, top 4 on the depth chart:

Za'Darius Smith - year 6 - 52 total tackles - 12.5 sacks

Preston Smith - year 6 - 42 tackles - 4 sacks

Rashan Gary - Year 2 - 35 tackles - 5 sacks

Randy Ramsey - Rookie - 11 tackles - 0 sacks

The top of the heat, Za'Darius Smith, another pro bowl season.  Sacks, QB pressures & continued leadership.  A keeper.  Not a keeper, Preston Smith, a down season, was invisible most of the year & will probably will be a cap space casualty.  Rashan Gary, made a nice leap in year 2 & looks to be a possible starter next season.  Randy Ramsey, rookie, saw most of his playing on special teams.  He needs to make progress to hang on the 53 man roster.

Other outside linebackers?

Jonathan Garvin - rookie

Tipa Galaei - rookie

Not enough information on these two, so, hope they work hard in the off season!