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Noteables
- Packers pick 29
- NFL agrees to smooth the cap hit some, with the 14 team playoffs and 17 game season and upcoming TV contract, salary cap beats most expectations and comes in at 198.2 million, making it exactly the same as 2020.
- Sportrac presently puts the Packers at about 198.5 million in 2021 cap committment, which is including 2021 draft picks, PS, etc.
- Also has the Packers at about 4.1 millino in 2020 cap rollover
- All in all, this puts the Packers about 3.8 million under the cap, which is excluding their typical 5-10 million contingency heading into the season.
- Packers hire Jim Leonhard are Defensive Coordinator - smooth transition from Pettine to a guy who played under him for 6 years, lifelong Packer fan from Ladysmith, WI. Brings the attitude Matt wants his coaches to have.
Releases
Christian Kirksey - His release will save the Packers $6 million
9.8 million cap remaining
Preston Smith - His release will save the Packers $8 million
17.8 million cap remaining
Ricky Wagner - Tough call here, moving on from Wagner can allow us to make a play to keep Linsley, frees up 4.25 million. He bailed us out of some games, but Turner looked good enough at RT where it is hard to keep a backup RTO on roster.
22 million in cap
Extensions/Signins/Moves
Davante Adams - Signs a 3 year 66 million dollar extension (2022-2024), this will also lower Davante's 2021 cap hit from 16.85 to closer to 12.85, saving another 4 million.
26 million cap remaining
Aaron Rodgers - They give Aaron a 2021 and 2022 committment by restructuring contract, they convert 12 million of his base salary to signing bonus lowering this years cap by about 9 million
35 million cap remaining
Corey Linsley Signs a 3 year 39 million extension. This will make thim the highest paid center in the NFL, he has earned it.
Down to 27 million
Jamal Williams - Signs a 2 year deal worth $5 million. Just can't come to terms with Aaron Jones, bring back a proven guy who is plus in pass pro and still gives us a very competent backfield with AJ Dillon.
Down to 26 million in cap
Lane Taylor Guy keeps winning starting jobs in TC. Bring him back for the vet minimum.
Down to 25 million in cap
Robert Tonyan - RFA Bobby is given the 2nd round tender with 3.45 million
Cap down to 21.5
Losses
Aaron Jones Gets 5 years and 75 million in Miami, just can't match that
Kevin King 2 years, 20 million in Detroit
Montravious Adams 1 year 4 million with the Patriots
Tavon Austin --
Tyler Ervin --
Extensions/Signings/Moves
JJ Watt 3 year contract worth 36 million, I am assuming he will be released and won't count against our comp picks. Reggie White/Charles Woodson 3.0, instantly changes the entire locker room on the D. I want this to happen so bad. Gives us the Preston Smith edge replacement at a lower 2021 cap hit, as well as a more interior presence as well. The whole Ryan/Pettine/Leonhard defense has always had a great emphasis and length and JJ is a big man. Keeps our potential 4 man pass rush just brutal with JJ, Kenny, Rashan and Z.
William Jackson 2 years 22 million. Very under the radar FA, already 29 despite just coming off his 5th year option, had a 71.1 PFF grade last year and has a low completion % and QB rating when targeted throughout his career. Sportrac only has him at a 3 year 18 million dollar market value contract, seems low to me, good value signing here. Good size at 6'0" and is a burner, 4.37 speed.
One of only 3 people to ever do this:
NFL DRAFT
*** TRADE ***
Carolina moves up to 29 giving 39 and 71 to get Mac Jones
Round 2 - Pick 7
Baron Browning - LB - Ohio State - 6'3" 241
Swiss Army knife in the front 7, off ball LB with great athleticism and coverage skills, strength to play on the line and set the edge, been killing it at the senior bowl on the edge. Oren Burks with strength, instints and confidence. Cookie cutter 3-4 LB size.
https://www.buckeyextra.com/storyimage/ ... 109789.jpg
Baron Browning is an exciting yet under-the-radar draft prospect, and it seems necessary to start with his athletic profile. Browning could very well test as an elite athlete at the NFL Combine. As mentioned earlier, he had a 4.56 40-yard dash and a 37.5-inch vertical as a recruit. It’s hard to imagine those numbers getting worse, especially after Browning continued to develop his frame and suffered no major injuries.
Standing at 6-foot-3, 240 pounds, Browning is an extremely imposing athletic specimen. He has excellent explosiveness both downfield and laterally, and his dense frame is hard to shake when he has momentum. Browning also has good lightness of feet, and he’s also an extremely energetic player who leaves everything out on the field.
*** TRADE ***
Packers give up 61 and their 5th and 5th round comp pick to move up to 52
Round 2 - Pick 19
Dillon Radunz - OL - NDSU - 6'5" 310
Another Senior Bowl stand-out. Killing it at LT and LG all week.
Dillon Radunz projects as a starting offensive tackle at the NFL level. While his collegiate experience is at left tackle, I don’t see a reason why he couldn’t line up on the right side at the NFL level.
He is a reliable pass protector, playing with good leverage and technique, fluid movement skills, and great competitive toughness. Radunz should be able to match up well with the majority of defenders he will face. He has a smooth, balanced kick-slide that lets him play with urgency without ever appearing panicked. He is also a good run blocker who can win — or at least stalemate — in both power and zone running schemes. Radunz has good play strength and great competitive toughness. Radunz always executes his assignments, blocks through the whistle, and looks for work when he doesn’t initially have anyone to block. He is also a very smart blocker and is rarely surprised by stunts, twists, or blitzes from the defense.
Radunz lacks truly stand-out “elite” athletic traits and measurables, and that could cause him to slip below some teams’ radar. Particularly if they have concerns over defenders with truly elite traits. That being said, he should have a very short learning curve in the NFL thanks to his experience and polished technique.
While Radunz isn’t an exciting prospect — he is far from the biggest, longest, strongest, or most athletic tackle prospect — he seems like the kind of player the Green Bay Packers or Pittsburgh Steelers draft after the first round and becomes a 10-year starter.
Round 3 - Pick 7 (From Carolina)
Dwayne Eskridge - WR - Western Michigan - 5'10" 188
Nasty off the LOS, instant impact on jet sweep and special teams, KR and PR week 1. I see a lot of potential to develop as a WR as well, albeit small, Matt can find a way to get the ball in his hands and he is dangerous
Eskridge projects as a dangerous offensive weapon in the right scheme. He should be able to start as a slot receiver in any offense, but will have his greatest impact in a system which allows him to play across the offensive formation.
His size will likely pigeonhole him as a slot receiver in the eyes of many at the NFL level, but he has the ability to line up across the offensive formation. He isn’t fit to be an every-down X receiver, but he has a varied and efficient release against press coverage, giving the offensive coordinator the freedom to line him up there if a favorable matchup is identified.
Eskridge not only has the ability to turn any routine slant route or mesh concept into a game-changing play, but he has the speed and ball skills to be a legitimate deep threat as well. Eskridge doesn’t quite have true 4.2 speed, but his unofficial 4.33 speed is likely accurate and is more than enough to take the top off of most defenses. He also has the ability to outplay his listed height, with a good leaping ability to maximize his catch radius, as well as impressive body control to adjust, contort, or spin his body in mid-air to make difficult catches and truly high-point the ball.
His competitive toughness is impressive as well. Eskridge is a physical and determined player who never shies away from contact. He might not be able to dominate some defenders, but he will block anyone, anywhere on the field.
Eskridge will need to land with a team that has a plan for how to use him, but he is a player with the ability to change the complexion of a game on any play.
*** TRADE ***
Packers give up their 3rd and 4th to move up in the 3rd
Round 3 - Pick 10
Greg Newsome - CB - Northwestern - 6'1" 190
Honestly reminds me of Jaire, swag, confidence, blanket, not afraid to tackle or hit, maybe a bit less athletic.
Greg Newsome II is one of the underrated defensive backs in the 2021 class. Don’t be fooled by the lack of ball production, he has all the traits you look for in a modern NFL defensive back. He possesses the ability to change direction with fluidity, click and close on routes with some of the elite in this class, and plays with physicality.
Round 4- Pick 37 (comp)
Bobby Brown III - DL - Texas A&M - 6'4" 315
Big boy in the middle, naturally strong, still with room to grow. Has some upside to improve his pass rush ability.
Bobby Brown III is an interior defender that’s built like a brick house. He possesses a very mature body that helps him maintain leverage as a run defender on the interior. He’s proven to anchor well and has the lower-body strength to stand pat at the point of attack. Brown III does everything that you can ask a run defender to do on the interior of the first level. While he isn’t a big sack artist, he has the ability to create pressure strictly off of gaining penetration with his natural strength. Playing mainly the 1-technique, he has gained lots of experience against double teams. He’s routinely able to use his mature frame, power, and short-area quickness to create quick wins along the interior. While his value mainly shows up pre-third down, his presence in the middle causes constant problems for offenses when his motor constantly runs.
*** TRADE ***
Packers trade their 6th and 7th to move up in the 6th
Round 6 - Pick 13
Kylin Hill - RB - Texas A&M - 6'1" 205
Borderline WR with power and pass blocking strengths. Seems like a perfect fit for this O, can be used in a lot of 2 back sets with his ability in the passing game.
The final mark on Hill’s scouting report goes to his consistent pass-protection which will be valued highly among NFL organizations. Hill steps up and sets his feet with a solid base off the snap, and is scanning for gap-shooting blitzes to confront. On one snap against LSU, Hill also called out pre-snap protections, showing his pre-snap knowledge and football intelligence.Even between the twenties, Kylin Hill finishes runs searching for contact to widdle down defenders throughout the course of the game. This tough running-style also brings a combative attitude which has gotten him into the facemask of more than one defender during his playing time. Even between the twenties, Kylin Hill finishes runs searching for contact to widdle down defenders throughout the course of the game. This tough running-style also brings a combative attitude which has gotten him into the facemask of more than one defender during his playing time.
The final mark on Hill’s scouting report goes to his consistent pass-protection which will be valued highly among NFL organizations. Hill steps up and sets his feet with a solid base off the snap, and is scanning for gap-shooting blitzes to confront. On one snap against LSU, Hill also called out pre-snap protections, showing his pre-snap knowledge and football intelligence.
Round 6 - Pick 38 (Comp)
Brenden Jaimes T - Nebraska 6'5" 300
Brenden aligns at Left Tackle for the Huskers' offense. He has spent significant time at Right Tackle as well, which can offer some appeal with positional flexibility. His athleticism is sufficient with regards to his agility and body quickness. In the run game, he demonstrates good strength to get his feet in the neutral zone. He will get some vertical movement in the run game. He does have ideal block temperament and has moments of good finish. In the passing game, he demonstrates good length on the edge. Jaimes is tough to bull rush due to his good strength and ability to anchor. Overall, this player has redeeming value in his ability to play multiple positions up front. However, he is ideally suited to play Guard. He can get you out of a game at Tackle if necessary, but his ability to swing and play multiple roles should serve as his best asset to him in the NFL.
everyone thought all I wanted was a first round guy, and sure typically 1st rounders are more ready to play, but thats not always true, heck I thought Cobb was ready day 1, same with Jennings, this Eskridge looks polished beating a jamb.
