#274 Packers Unscripted: Roster breakdown

But in preparation for that, you had a couple of stories on packers dot com over the last week just looking at the Packers roster and where it sits on offense and defense heading into the scouting Combine, in terms of who's under contract, who's not under contract, and just where things stand. Starting on the offensive side of the ball, Um Jarry Evans, Jeff Janis, Richard Rogers, and if you count long snapper Brett Good on the offensive side, we'll do that just for the time being. Those are the

four unrestricted free agents pending unrestricted free agents. I should say that they will be free agents on March four. If the Packers do not resign them. It's not actually a whole lot to deal with because, as we talked about, Corey Lindsley and Davante Adams were already taking care of at the end of December. So with regards to where the Packers sit on offense right now, what are your thoughts? Yeah, they're sitting pretty honestly. They with getting Davante Adams done.

And you saw this past week, Mike, we talked about it. You know, Jarvis Landry getting an extent or getting his franchise tag on the first day that the Dolphins could take him. Shows you the predicament that teams are in and trying to lack, you know, kind of lock up there really talented young receivers. Davante Adams turned twenty five years old on Christmas Eve. This is a guy heading into his peak years and I think has shown a

continual maturation improvement throughout his time in Green Bay. This was a must for the Packers personnel department, and as it turned out, within days forty eight hours of that regular season finale against the Detroit Lions, Ted Thompson and what ended up being, you know, his final moves really as Packers general manager, getting Corey Linsley taking care of the Packers center, the first time a Packers center has received a second contract since two thousand and six, and

Mike Wells, and then also yeah, Scott Wells. Mike Wells, that's you gotta love it all right, but no, but you had Scott Wells get that extension. And Aaron Rodgers has talked for so long how important it is for him to get on a run with the center. Lindsley was able to stay healthy, played every offensive snap this year. And then now you also have probably one of the most talented perimeter weapons in the NFL now with Davante Adams.

Those two extensions, getting those done in addition to the benefit of being able to pro rate some of that signing bonus into the two thousand seventeen seasons so isn't as big of a cap hit going forward, is important, but it also sets the table now for what the Packers want to do with their draft picks, as we've talked about on yesterday's show, also with the upcoming free agents that they have in other positions they have that take care of now with Adams and Lindsley, and I

think that's going to really be a big benefit to them as they start to get into the heat of the off season. Yeah, and hard to know exactly how this is going to shake out with these pending unrestricted free agents on the offensive side. Jarry Evans obviously, UM a long time a guy. I think he's gonna end up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. UM veteran

guy suggested that maybe he's not quite done playing yet. Um. You know, the Packers are going to look at where they are on the offensive line with with some of their young players. Do they feel like they have somebody to fill in there or do they want to bring Evans back. I think a really interesting case here is is with Jeff Janis, because he's a backup receiver who knows the offense. Hasn't played a ton of snaps on offense over the last couple of years, but it's invaluable

on special teams. It's not an accident that the Packers have set franchise net punting records over the last couple of years with different punters. It's because a lot of it is because of Jeff Janis as a gunner, forcing fair catches, tackling punt returners who are who declined the fair catch, and then Janis is right there to bring him down possibly for a loss on a punt return. He's got a lot of value there. But but then you know, you wonder will somebody else place more value

on that, potentially offer more money. Do the Packers want to bring him back as as a potential backup receiver if something goes down with the other front line guys. There's a lot of things to consider what a player like that Jeff Janis's situation. I'm sure you remember this as well. Mike reminds me a lot of when Jared Bush was heading into unrestricted free agency. I think that was going into the two thousand twelve season, where he

had proven himself on special teams. It was a very valuable, versatile player in that third phase, but always what kind of was on the cusp of being a difference maker on defense, being a contributor on defense. They ultimately ended up reaching an extension with him and he had three more seasons with the Packers. Janice, I think is a very similar situation because this is a guy that is

a top level, elite gunner. When you're thinking about it, Mike six ft three hundred and twenty seven pounds and runs in the four fours that is difficult for for jammers to stop. And also being able to get down that quickly allows him that other option if he does get jammed, it allows him to have that makeup speed to potentially get down there and put pressure on the punt returner. The other thing to keep in mind too, the Packers have had a carousel of different players at

that other at that other position. You've had Dmitri Goodson, You've had Quentin Rollins, you've had Josh Jones. Injuries really made ron Zook alter who that other gunner was for them, But they still had Jeff Janice to turn back to. Very valuable there. In one other note to just to mention with Jarry Evans hundred nine hundred and twelve snaps he played for the Packers this year, more than I think anyone really expected out of a thirty four going

into thirty five year old offensive lineman. The big thing I think for him is going to be determining whether or not he wants to play next season. When you've played for that long, termining you know if it when the right time is to ride into the sunset. But I mean, you talk to any of those offensive line in the room and they will tell you how important he was, especially bridging that gap from teaching laying at

the right guard position. Yeah, and just to touch on Richard Rogers quickly, you're talking about a reliable, still young player tight end. He's done everything the Packers have asked him to do. He's not a dynamic field stretcher. He's not a Jermichael Finley by any means. But also, the Packers are in a situation where if you don't bring Richard Rogers back, the cupboard is getting a little bit

bear at tight end. And you know, I know the Packers want to do some things at the tight end position, but then you end up having to potentially do even more if you can't reach an agreement with Rogers to bring him back. Yeah, And in my mind I wrote this an insider in box. I think there're two options for the Packers. I think you probably need a draft

a tight end this year. But regardless and independent of that, I think either need to resign Richard Rogers or you need to find another veteran to help out along with with with Lance Kendricks. Yeah, alright, with that, we'll toss to a break back with more on Packers Unscripted right after this. Welcome back to Packers Unscripted. Mike Spofford. Right here, West, Hodko,

It's all the way over there, West. Okay. Let's take a look at the defensive side of the ball now, in terms of the players under contract and those not under contract, you're pending free agents on the defensive side of the ball, safety Morgan Burnett, outside linebacker a mod Brooks, cornerbacks Dmitri Goodson and Devon House, and also defensive lineman Quentin dial Um. Interesting thing with House, obviously he was a free agent last year, just signed a one year

deal similar to the jar R Evans situation. I guess there,

so he's he's immediately appending free agent again. Dmitri Goodson an interesting case, a guy who you know has been working his way back from that that horrible knee injury from and then the one who's you know, on the tip of everyone's tongue in terms of certainly the fans we hear from an insider in box, everybody wondering what's going to happen with Morgan Burnett, A guy who's been here since being drafted in the third round in two thousand and ten and now looking at getting a third contract.

I don't know how this one's gonna work out, West, but but Morgan Burnett has certainly proven his value and we'll see what happens. Yeah, and equivocally the Packer's biggest pending free agent that they're gonna have to make a decision on. And and certainly when you look at the value that the NFL has continued to put on the safety position. Uh, to use an old phrase, the price

of pokers going up. I mean, it's just it's the way things are now because you can use safeties, as Morgan Burnett has proven the last two seasons, and I'm sure as his agent will be selling when they head into free agency. He can play anywhere. He played boundary cornerback, he actually played slot star quarterback for pretty much the last month and a half of the two thousand seventeen season. His strong suit at strong safety and then also that

hybrid linebacker role. The Packers gave themselves some options a year ago when they did draft Josh Jones in the second round. But you have I both know so much of what it takes to be efficient and accountable and effective on defense is knowledge of the scheme, in knowledge of you know what you're being asked to do. Morgan Burnett was the epitome of that at two time playoff

captain during this time and Don Caper's defense. Now that Mike Petton comes in, the question and everybody wants to know, is whether or not he would have a place in this defense. I think the hybrid linebacker role is there to stay. It's just a question of whether or not that it's still gonna be Morgan Burnett feeling it going

into two thousand eighteen. Yeah, I really think this depends on how Mike Petton feels he would potentially be able to use Morgan Burnett, how he feels about his his skill set and where he where he's at in his career and and uh and what he can do with him scheme wise, And we just don't know the answer to that question. I think as we head to the combine Indianapolis, we're going to hear from general manager Brian Goodkunstan head coach Mike McCarthy. They'll both speak to the media.

I think this is a question both of them are going to get. What's going on with Morgan Burnett. What are the thoughts there, You're gonna try to bring him back? Is he going to test the waters in free agency and see what else is out there? We've seen some media reports that you know, Burnett has kind of, you know, seems to have come to peace with a little bit in terms of, hey, you know, whatever's gonna happen, is is going to happen. He'll he'll let it play out.

And I think he's just gonna let his agent do the work for him and do what's best for him and his family. Yeah. I had a chance to talk with Morgan at the end of the season during the final locker room, and I remember asking him about just what this process has been like, because you have to recall, this is the first time he's hinting entering into free agency.

The last time the Packer signed an extension with him in July of thirteen, going into his final season, so they were able to lock him up, and you know, he never really even got close to testing the waters. Well, this is the first time he's going to do that. The Packers. You go back and look at it. The third contracts, depending on you know, the player, it's you know, it's probably about fifty fifty whether or not a guy

you know is here or not. So, um, it is going to be really interesting, interesting to find because I'm sure the Packers would love I'm sure Joe widd I'm sure that defense would love to have Morgan Burnett back. It just becomes a question of what the cap number is going to be, what the contract is going to be in whether or not it's palatable to to keep

him under there. To me, I think probably the biggest no brainer I don't even know if that's the right word, but the one that seems academic to me is potentially being able to bring back Quentin Dial because of those reasons. He was effective, He did what he was asked to do as a run defender, and the price isn't extravagant. So but whether or not who's going to be back, who won't be those are all decisions way above my pay grade, and that would be what Brian Goodkins will

have to figure out in his first off season as GM. Yeah, and one other guy on defense worth mentioning as well, inside linebacker Joe Thomas, is a restricted free agent, so the Packers have to decide here coming up on the start of free agency, whether or not to tender him a certain contract offer. You can explain this better than I can. As far as the decision that needs to

be made. It's actually a tough decision. Uh. And it's been tough because the way that these contracts are work now in the post CBA environment is basically the only players that reached restricted free agency now are undrafted free agents, guys that had three year contracts, because every other contract now is four years for players that were drafted if they're on their original contracts. So Joe Thomas, a former UFA in two thousand fourteen, UM, I don't know the

exact number on the first right of refusal tender. You have three tenders. You can use a first round tender so that if it signs elsewhere, you get a first round pick. A second round tender signed somewhere else you get a second round pick, or the original round which is now turned into the first right of refusal. Because these guys weren't drafted, you don't get anything. I remember my favorite story, this is Jamari Lattimore. UM, and this is a two thousand fourteen I believe I was talking

to his agent leading up to this. They were fully convinced he wasn't gonna get tag. They're getting ready for him to go into free agency, and then lo and behold, he did get tag. He ended up getting the tender. So, um, this is sometimes a decision that goes right up to the wire. But the way that works then is if you give them the restricted under, you basically pay them whatever that ends up being two million. However that works out this year, and then that's the contract they play

on for one more season before it becoming an unrestricted. Yeah, then they become an unrestricted free agent after playing after playing that one more year. So with that, we're going to toss it to a break back with more on Packers Unscripted right after this. Welcome back to Packers Unscripted. Mike Spofford in this chair, Wes Hodko wits in that one and West as we look at the big picture

here with the Packers roster. The question we continue to get on our insider inbox column and one that you and I are both waiting to see how it plays out, is what is going to happen with Aaron Rodgers and a potential contract extension. Because we've talked about this before the last time the Packers extend did Aaron Rodgers contract, it was when he had two years left on his deal.

So this is the time. So reading the tea leaves and the timeline, this would be the time to you know, not let him get too close to that final year of a contract where then a player starts to think, well, maybe I should play it out and see what's out there.

Your franchise quarterback. If you don't want him to go anywhere, you take care of him when when there's enough time left on his deal, so you you make it worth his while to to sort of shut down that possibility of of of looking at what's out there on the market, and a boy with what's going on in the quarterback world, Jimmy Garoppolo's new contract, what could happen with Kirk Cousins and his contract as the as the top guy out there in free agency? Um, this could get really interesting

here for Green Bay. I think it's inevitable that this is the way the league is going to go because it is a quarterback driven league. Might we say it time and time again, And I think you're starting to see that re reflected with how much this salary cap has jumped. I was talking to you about this before the show, the fact that I believe the projected estimated salary cap for two thousand eighteen is going to be

a hundred and seventy eight million. My first year when I came on the beat in two thousand twelve, it was a hundred and twenty million, and it's basically jumped anywhere from ten to fifteen million per season since then, which is a good thing more money for the players, but it also I think puts an even more emphasis on the quarterback position. I think we're entering a league where it's not going to be uncommon to see a

quarterback making over thirty million dollars per season. But there also is a difference there is you just alluded to in terms of guys that you have that you can control and guys that are entering an unrestricted free agency Blake Bortles, as we said yesterday, the reason why the Jaguars were able to be a little bit more flexible with that contract is the fact that they did pick up his fift year option, and they were able to leverage that in terms of spreading out that signing bonus.

Whoever signs Kirk Cousins will not have that benefit. The forty Niners did not have that benefit with Jimmy Garoppolo, but they had also been one of the league's biggest in terms of cap space, one of the least spenders after that fire sale, they've had the last couple of years, so they had the room to absorb it. The team that does with Kirk Cousins gonna be very interesting, though. From the Packers perspective, have been really smart with how

they've handled their cap. You've never really had to see them cut anybody just for cap casualty purposes. And now I'm sure once the day comes, whether that's this offseason, whenever that comes, you know, ultimately they're going to get this thing done. It's just a matter of when. Yeah, And you see these stories that that are out there, and again, you know, you don't know what exactly is

the truth or not. But I saw a story last week I believe it was the Jets, somebody reporting that somebody from the Jets saying they will pay whatever it takes to sign Kirk Cousins because that's that's the guy they want as their new quarterback. Now, whether that's true or not, I set that aside. But with what's going

on with Kirk Cousins. I mean, if you're Aaron Rodgers and you know the Packers are gonna look at extending you here with two years left on your deal with Kirk Cousins out there in free agency, Hey, from Roger's point of view, there's there's no rush. I have to believe that he's going to see what type of contract Kirk Cousins gets before he agrees to to an extension,

because you know the Garoppolo deal is out there. Um. But then other quarterbacks you know, are probably going to be a year or two down the road before before their deals get redone. I mean Matthew Stafford not that long ago, had his deal redone. So those are the ones that Aaron Rodgers and his agent can can base things off of because they know that well, basically he ranks higher than anybody else who's gotten a deal to

this point. So for Aaron Rodgers too, I know Packer fans getting a little worried or impatient or whatever the case might be, but he's not going to sign anything until Kirk Cousins gets his deal. Yeah, And I remember this too in two thousand and thirteen, It is a very similar sentiment with that contract coming up and how much he was playing below league average at that point, the Packers took care of him. He was the highest paid quarterback at that time. We'll see all the shuffles

out again. On top of Cousins. The other two things A really factor and I think I'll be interesting to watch this offseason is what happens with Drew Brees. What is the contract that the New Orleans Saints give him? And then also, I don't know if you saw that, Mike, but agent McCarron's an unrestricted free agent now he won

that appeal with the Cincinnati Bengals. Whoever, if I made you McCarron, I'm waiting to see what that contract is for Kirk Cousins, which teams lose out on them and you know, potentially get paid there too, because he's going to be an attractive one as well. Yeah, the heat that maybe how he finds his landing spot eventually. But with that, we'll toss to a breakback with more on Packers Unscripted right after this. Welcome back to Packers Unscripted.

Mike Spofford alongside Wes Hodkowits and West just to remind folks again, as I said at the top of the show, we are off to Indianapolis after this show. We're going to be at the NFL Scouting Combine for a handful of days. We'll have a ton of coverage from there. We'll have unscripted shows, We'll have stories on packers dot com, we'll have videos. Larry McCarron will be with us. We'll see um what sorts of work we can do with him. I will be hearing from Mike McCarthy, Brian Goudakuns, all

these hundreds of prospects. I don't know what what your thoughts are, IM. I'm curious to just maybe hear from some of these some of these players that have been tied to the Packers and all these mock drafts that have been coming out. You know, your Marcus Davenport, your Josh Jackson, some of these defensive players that the mock drafters are predicting will be there for the Packers, that the Packers might select at fourteen. I'm a little curious just to hear what what they have to say about

about where they think they're gonna end up. What's very interesting, Michael, is that when you do pick. Earlier, were talking yesterday's show about just exactly what that's like and how it really narrows the focus for GM. It also narrows the focus for all the pundits to trying to guess, you know, who the packers could potentially pick. Remember thinking back to two thousand six and A. J. Hawkinting picked up the fifth overall pick, and you know whether it might be

him or Vernon Davis. Even in two thousand nine, if B. J. Roger was going to be there for them, Well, now we're gonna have a chance to see and get a chance with some of these guys are like and get a feel for them. I love with the NFL, and I know sometimes the league can take a lot of hits from the outside. I love what they've done with the scouting combine over the last two years. It's a lot more hospitable the prospects. You know when you're going

to be getting them. I think they've done a great job with that NFL experience, which is almost like a mini combine that they run for fans. Now, yeah, they've made it much more of a fan event. There's a lot more that fans can do and and just check out the scene and see what's going on rather than being trapped in that hospitality suite as well. Um, now they have everything spread out the end of the inn.

A Convention Center is a phenomenal venue and it's just amazing thing to be a part of because walking around, I mean you see every coach, every GM, the agent's meeting is going on, uh in a building right next to it as well. So the really the energy in the place. You can feel the next season starting to come to bloom a little bit. It is, it's where the pages turned. In essence, everybody in the league converges on Indianapolis. It's the perfect city to to have an

event like this, and it really is it. It feels like the start of a new year and everyone gets excited too. So it's like, I mean, it's kind of neat to be a part of that and exactly see what it's like, um, you know when everything comes together. But for the packers picking four overall, chance to really talk to a lot of these prospects and get a feel for it. Yeah, and when when we're standing in line at Steak and Shake, if you don't want the cherry on top of your snickers, malt I'll take it

this year. Okay, Okay, that'd be awesome. Yeah. I mean that's the other thing too. I mean them on a restaurants there. We don't have steak and shakes up in Wisconsin for the most part, so that's always all over it then. Um, but also you know, and just seeing I mean I've been in line at Starbucks before with Jeff Fisher. I always tell that story. I mean, is he's waiting behind me to get my lot to I mean last year, Gus Bradley, I mean, those guys, they're

all over the place. It's a good chance to reset and get ready for that next season. Yeah. Well, we will see all the fans from Indianapolis next time, but we'll call it a wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow all of our coverage of the team and the combine on Packers dot Com on Twitter. He's still at West Hot I'm at Mike Spofford at Packers for the team account. Thanks for tuning in, everybody. We'll see you next time. H