GREEN BAY PACKERS

Green Bay Packers. Lets talk.........................

The mere fact that GB has Watson, Reed and Golden together for at least 3 more years is excellent.  

And I just dig what the front office has done this off-season, besides extending MLF.

Used FA to fill holes, and brought in guys who wouldn't count much against the comp picks.
Nailed the draft.
Freed up money on June 1, promptly spent some of it on Watson.

No doubt they have their sites set on locking up Kraft and hopefully Wyatt for the future.

I know Vegas bought this up already but just look at what other WR's from the 2022 class got in contracts the last couple of months. Drake London was a top 10 pick and has had some good years, but the Falcons gave him $140m-$150m year deal with $100m guaranteed (makes him a top-5 paid WR).. He is more of a possession/Red Zone guy and has avg 76 catches per year. He has avg's 12.8 yds per reception (Watson over 17) and has 20 total TD's.. Watson has 22 total TD's in his 4 years.  Watson/London are two different WR's but I would say Watson was a better value at $31m in guarantee vs $100m (imo).

Look at what Alec Pierce got.. $114m deal with $84 guarantee.  More of a home run threat like Watson (over 18 yds per reception) but has only avg'd 39 receptions per year with 17 total TD's. Only missed a couple games in 4 years so that is an advantage over Watson but once again i think the Packers got a good value with $31m vs $84m in guarantees. Last example is Jameson Williams for the Lions. Similar to Watson, Williams has dealt with injuries and has played in 50 total games in 4 years. Very similar numbers in Receptions/TD's over 4 years. Like Watson I would consider Williams the deep threat (17 yd per catch) for the Lions. The Lions gave Williams a 3yr/$83m deal with $67m guarantee. 

I am sure I missed some guys but I would say the Watson deal actually looks pretty favorable to guys from the 2022 class. Production wise Watson has been right there with Pierce and Williams and London is just a higher volume/possession type WR. Agree 100% about the injury concern/history with Watson. I am sure we will continue to see the WR/ $ numbers go up as other guys from 2022/2023 come up for deals.

I agree.  I think they need that veteran safety outlet more than ever.  When he was played his best his first year he used Aaron Jones a bunch.  Hasn’t really had that since.  Maybe Kraft a bit.

I don't have an issue with the Watson deal, but I'm a self professed fan of Watson.
That being said....I do have a little issue with how GB has developed Jordan Love.  A lot of young QB's get their team to trade for a proven NFL talent at WR, then their careers seem to take off.
GB hasn't done that.  They really never have done that.  Instead GB drafts receivers and hopes to grow them WITH the quarterback.
So really, I'm actually more excited about Golden right now than Watson.  I'm not down on Watson, but Golden also has WR1 characteristics.  And I hope he sees a lot of balls go his way.

I hope for the best!  He does come with a little drama with his father though.  

Good insights and it's hard not be be a little excited for the coming season. 

Regarding the Watson contract and his injury history, we all know a player's biggest ability is availability. Considering what he is capable of being when healthy and the money other clubs are giving to top tier receivers, it seems well worth the gamble. If he can stay healthy it will be a really good deal both ways. Let's hope for that. If not, then at least the club can cut bait down the line without eating big money. 

What would the team have to pay a premier first round pick at that position who could just as easily end up being a bust, or a character risk? All guaranteed money, right? They have a huge, known weapon in Watson if, again if, they can figure out how to keep him healthy. I find it easier to pay and cheer for a quality player/person with an injury history than a drama queen with questionable character. 

Prior to the draft, I was about as "meh" as one could be concerning the team.
Now that we've drafted and had one of the most solid drafts that I can remember, and since the schedule came out, I'm feeling better.

We replaced a 7'th round pick at LT who was okay at best with a first round pick who the GM said beat out the 7'th rounder last year in camp, but needed to play inside due to injuries.  I feel like Morgan will be an upgrade from Walker at LT.
Banks has a year under his belt in our system, he can't be bad again, can he?
Rhyan outplayed Jenkins at center last year.  Sorry, but Jenks did not have "it" last year.
Belton has a ton of potential and a great physical skillset for RG.
Tom should be healthy.
We have Burton to play inside, and I loved that pick.  He's mean and nasty to go with large and athletic. 
Kinnard is our tackle backup.
No doubt some young kids will emerge for depth in the pre-season.

Fewer WR's means more opportunities for Watson, Reed and especially Golden.  

We drafted a large, athletic IDL to play all across the line.  We acquired a good vet in Hargrave that can also play anywhere inside.  I have no doubt that Hargrave will be better than Wooden.

Franklin has been a better ILB in the league that Quay.  And he's cheaper.  He's not as athletic, but he is better at football.

We drafted two corners to push Nixon/Valentine.  One, Cisse, looks like he's the most physically talented corner on the team already and Jackson isn't far behind.  BSJ was a quality signing too, his tape in zone last year looked really, really good.  No corner position will be given this year, it will need to be earned, week in and week out.

EDGE has a new face and we got rid of an overpaid EDGE who had no "want it" anymore.  We lost an EDGE in Enagbare who at best was average.  I'm exctied about what DDS, Sorrel and Oliver can bring to the EDGE with more snaps.

We have a positive outlook on Kraft's recovery.  Micah remains a little concerning, just because his injury happened later in the year.

We ​have an honest to goodness returner in Sky Moore.  I also hope that since we have some CB depth now, we have ​Nixon returning kickoffs.  I think he could be really good doing that in this new kickoff system.

Kicker is a little shaky right now, but McManus became unreliable, so we traded up to take the kicker we wanted.

Overall, give me another EDGE player, a vet, and I'm pretty happy with the roster.  ​

Wright, yards per route run is more or less the "holy grail" of WR stats.  For Watson to be up on that list with those other guys shows just how valuable he is to the offense as well as what his potential could be if....if.....if he ever stays healthy.

And that's the rub, we all knew it, as did the club and Watson's agent.  That's why the contract has low guarantees.

I would consider it a gamble.  They just paid someone who has missed 30% of the games in his career $31 million.  I honestly don’t expect him to play anymore than 14 games and he’ll more than likely be garbage come playoff time if they get in.

Vegas, what kind of comparison is that?  Nacua caught 129 passes last year.  Watson has only caught 133 passes in his whole career!

I can’t remember a season that I was less excited about entering for quite some time. Before the Josh issues, I was already thinking third best team in the division. And with their recent playoff woes and the NFC West be so stacked , the outcome was probably gonna be the same  this year. When the Rams got Garrett that’s one superhuman team. As far as Watkins goes, I think we can be pretty sure he is not gonna be a full-time player ever in his career. Some guys are just injury prone, but I’m more worried about the quarterback and the head coach.

It's not even a gamble.  It is a pay as you go contract.  It is that way because the guaranteed money is so low.  
We kept MLF as a coach.  I wanted him gone, but they "extended" him.  Oh well.
The MLF offense is ​1 or 2 in passing EPA (Expected Points Added) since 2022 with Watson.  It is in the 20's without Watson.
Watson ​is #10 in the league ​since 2022 for YPRR. (Yard per route run).  That's up there with ​Nacua, Jefferson, Hill, Lamb....etc.
If you are set on MLF as a coach, as GB is, then keeping Watson was a must for his offense.

I was just saying Every player is a gamble these days with the money that’s flying around. The Gamble with Watson is can he play a whole season or at least 14/15 games? Who knows. It’s a 50/50 bet🏈 
I didn’t think you said anything wrong.

I’m sorry, I’m a little confused at what you’re asking.

the Pack is gambling on him, and you are not. I go with the Pack.