Curd is the Word: Setting the Acquisition Sights Elsewhere
Packer fans need to keep their options open
By GregMeinholz
All-Star vacation? Not so fast.
Something strange happened in the last week. My feeds were littered with people talking about hockey. I've been a hockey for a little over the two decades of my life. Alongside the many Packers and NFL-related accounts I follow, I also have a smattering of NHL and outlets related to my Milwaukee Admirals and Nashville Predators. So, hockey talk is nothing new. But this wasn't from the average accounts, this was coming from those I normally expect Packers and NFL chatter.
The Four Nations hockey tournament took the sports world by storm in the last week. It replaced the NHL's normal All-Star break, and it was everything everybody could've hoped for and more. Being a long-time hockey fan as I said, it wasn't a surprise to me. I knew how much pride those players took in suiting up for and representing their home countries. They weren't going to just lay back and knock the puck around. The Four Nations didn't just entertain us though, it also shined a bright light on the fact that essentially this was an All-Star tournament for the NHL. And it made games like the NBA All-Star game, and the Pro Bowl look rather pathetic by comparison.
Most of us can probably say that we haven't watched more than a quarter or two of the Pro Bowl in the last few years since it switched to flag football. Even before that, it was probably about the same amount. Who wants to watch a bunch of football players chuckle away as they just go through the motions of a meaningless football game that the majority of them likely don't even want to play in, but they're in it for the free vacation? Not many. Most seem to take pride in saying they didn't watch the Pro Bowl. And the NFL may want to revisit it in the future to try to match what the NHL pulled out of their sleeves.
Of course, with likely over 99% of NFL players hailing from the United States, there isn't going to be a Four Nations NFL tournament. So, what can they do? Most NFL players still take a fair amount of pride in where they attended college. Perhaps they put together a small tournament of players from specific college football conferences and have perhaps a few shorter 7-on-7 games to determine the best college football conference. This is just a random idea of a way to spice it up a little bit, I'm sure there are better ones. But if the NFL wants fans to actually take an "All-Star" type of game seriously, they need to come up with something much better than they have.
Keeping Options Open
At the start of the offseason, it seemed like many Packer fans had already made up their minds about who the Packers needed to sign or trade for, and that list was final. Tee Higgins was atop the Wide Receiver wishlist and trading for Maxx Crosby or Myles Garrett was the best idea for improving the pass rush. Well, the Bengals have made it known that they may use the franchise tag on Tee Higgins. If this is the case, this all but takes Higgins off the board for the Packers unless they try to persuade the Bengals to trade him which I would be shocked to see happen. Crosby and Garrett, just seem like they would likely require a much bigger investment in trade value that I couldn't see the Packers touching at all. So, with the money to spend, who are the Packers going to target now?
A name I've seen come up lately for the pass rush is Chase Young. Young was the second-overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by Washington and last played for the New Orleans Saints where he registered 5.5 sacks and 21 QB hits. Injury kind of derailed Young's time in Washington and they traded him to San Francisco in the middle of the 2023 season before landing in New Orleans on a one-year deal.
The narrative around Chase Young I've seen is that he's lazy. That conclusion is backed up a bit by a few plays on film that he seemed to take off. Only Chase Young himself would be able to answer that question about those select plays, but the fact of the matter is, he's still a very talented edge rusher. In 2024, Chase Young had 66 QB pressures, which would've led the Packers last season. Due to Chase Young's ceiling still being a former second-overall pick, he may still command a decent price for a contract. But a caveat in the situation may be that Chase Young's former defensive coordinator who he had at OSU, who helped him become that second-overall pick, is none other than Jeff Hafley, the Packers' current defensive coordinator. Perhaps a reunion with the coach who helped him reach his highest point could push Young in the Packers' direction. I'd take Chase Young opposite Rashan Gary any day.
Looking at options outside of Tee Higgins can be a little tricky. The Wide Receiver market for trades may be high this year as the available free agents may not be all that intriguing. I may be surprised to see the Packers pull off a trade for a receiver, but I'm more gravitating toward a free agent. A veteran like Chris Godwin may make a little more sense. Though Tampa Bay will be working to resign him, right now I feel he may be a good option for the Packers. He's consistently put up 1K yard seasons when healthy, and though he'll be 29 in a few days, I think he could provide Jordan Love with a very reliable target for at least a year or two.
Though I will admit, if I'm being honest, I think the Packers are just going to draft another 2nd or 3rd-round wide receiver and skip spending the money on a veteran. But perhaps the tide is turning in Green Bay now that they have cap money.
Either way, the trade market will likely be much more expensive than the Packers would like to pay for a player they still have to sign to a better deal.
NFL Draft Layout
This week, a rendering of what the NFL Draft will look like in Green Bay was released. The draft stage will seemingly be on the corner of Lombardi and Oneida Ave facing West along Lombardi Ave. I must admit that seeing the way it will be set up makes it a little more real. After years of watching the NFL Draft being held in New York at Radio City Music Hall and then the various other locations they've had over the years, it's surreal to know that a place I've frequented multiple times a year will be holding such a large iconic event.
I still haven't made my plans yet for whether or not I will be attending but this helps put the itch in me to make the trip. If you haven't seen it yet, here is a link to the renderings on the Packers site.
Many of us enjoy watching the NFL Draft each year to see the very moment some of the players who will become future Lambeau Legends are selected. This year we have a chance to attend in our own backyard and hopefully, it will be better than ever.
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Greg Meinholz is a lifelong devoted Packer fan. A contributor to CheeseheadTV as well as PackersTalk. Follow him on Twitter @gmeinholz and Bluesky @gmeinholz.bsky.social for Packers commentary, random humor, beer endorsements, and occasional Star Wars and Marvel ramblings.
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Comments (28)
Renllaw
February 23, 2025 at 07:15 am
I'd be thrilled with Chase Young, Paulson Adebo, and Darius Slayton in Free agency.
Would take some cap magic, but I think it would be doable.
Chase Young (Edge): $14M–$17M AAV
Paulson Adebo (Corner): $15M–$18M AAV
Darius Slayton (Receiver): $10M–$13M AAV
Then we hit up NT, O-line, and CB in the draft.
dobber
February 23, 2025 at 09:54 am
The issue as I see it is that the Packers need a guy who can open up the field either from the outside, the slot, or the TE position. That guy needs to play enough to impact how defenses game plan the Packers overall...so he needs to be good enough to get more than just specialty snaps which means he leapfrogs others in the rotation. A lesser guy who is solely a "go long" speed merchant and only gets 6-10 offensive snaps per game isn't what they need.
This is where Slayton is intriguing: he's an odd case of a guy who--when put in a position to lead the Giants' WRs--has actually had some really flashy games. Yet they keep trying to bury him on the depth chart. He can run, that's always been his game, and he's an X, not a slot which matches the Packers' needs. His last deal was a $6M AAV loaded with incentives...even with a bloated cap, I don't know that he gets more than that this time around.
There are several other "go long" WRs out there who either have trouble staying healthy (example: DJ Chark) or really don't move the needle much (example: MVS).
stockholder
February 23, 2025 at 07:51 am
If you want the next step. Free -Agency isn't it.
The more experience, the more the cost.
Jordan Love must take that next step.
His mechanics haven’t improved.
His young teammates haven’t grown with him.
The drops, are the major point now.
Poor decisions have replaced confidence.
He’s just not as polished as Gute projected.
The one thing that has become obvious.
Gute keeps grasping at straws when it comes to
Getting help for his QB.
The atmosphere is still full of Caution.
And 2 or 3 players away won’t help.
If a qb can’t live up to his contract.
pantz_bURp
February 23, 2025 at 08:58 am
"If a qb can’t live up to his contract".
Yep, the JETs fans know about that.
stockholder
February 23, 2025 at 09:52 am
Ok- let me sell you on a idea.
If a Team doesn't use all their cap space.
Shouldn't they be rewarded with a
compensatory pick?
The more space the higher the pick.
*Some GMs feel that the draft needs
more than 7 picks.
pantz_bURp
February 23, 2025 at 10:18 am
"Ok- let me sell you on a idea."
Stock, I love you like an adopted brother with a 15 year age difference.
But, sell crazy someplace else, we are all stocked up here. ;)
PB
PearlyBakerBest
February 23, 2025 at 10:46 am
Nicholson
dobber
February 23, 2025 at 11:10 am
Those are the GMs who don't make hay with UDFAs.
stockholder
February 23, 2025 at 11:43 am
UDFAs make less.
The point was not to wreck the future.
Guam
February 23, 2025 at 07:55 am
Chase Young has had a total of 22 sacks over five seasons with a high point of 7.5 sacks in his first season. Last year he had 5.5 sacks while being paid $13MM by the Saints. The numbers just don't add up. He is living off his lofty draft status far more than his actual production. Yes he has been often injured, but in the two seasons he was healthy (his first and last seasons in the league) he has averaged 6.5 sacks per season. A lower level prove it contract might be in order for Young but anything else would be overpaying due to the production and risk of injury.
Unfortunately the free agent market for pass rushers and WRs is very limited and the trade market appears to be prohibitively expensive. Not surprising for players at premium positions. Gute has holes to fill before the draft. It will be an interesting next month.
dobber
February 23, 2025 at 09:43 am
The top of the free agent market--especially where the Packers have their greatest needs--isn't terribly inspiring in general.
Guam
February 23, 2025 at 10:18 am
Yeah, I just don't see good solutions to Edge rusher and WR from the veteran markets. I am warming up to Adebo as a possible CB free agent. I certainly wouldn't complain if Gute plugged that hole provided the price isn't outright ridiculous.
The Packers may also be able to pick up some mid-tier help at swing tackle and/or IOL but that may come later rather than now.
Roseman (Eagles GM) got Becton and Baun fairly cheaply and late in free agency. Gute has been good in the past with the Smiths, McKinney and others. I suspect Gute will do something and I am excited to see just who it will be.
dobber
February 23, 2025 at 11:12 am
I think we're going to see teams lean heavily into the lines in this year's FAs and draft. Certainly the early scuttlebutt from more reputable reporters is that GMs took notice of what the Eagles did (and the Lions over the regular season). That means with the expansion of the cap that those guys are going to be really pricey.
murf7777
February 23, 2025 at 11:41 am
What about Josh Sweat? A bit different from what we have.
Guam
February 23, 2025 at 11:52 am
Can't remember where I read it, but the author was not a fan of signing Sweat - poor rush defense and a down year in 2024 for pass rush stats too. Author also mentioned that Joey Bosa is expected to be cut by the Chargers for cap reasons. Guy has averaged 8 sacks a year over his career but will be 30 or 31 next season. Probably would be very expensive cap wise, but at least no draft picks given up.
murf7777
February 23, 2025 at 08:24 am
We all know the Packers have a lot more Salary Cap space than normal. Of course, that’s because they have the youngest team in the NFL. I don’t expect them to use up that space. I expect them to roll over quite a bit so they have the dollars to pay their own players over the next two years. Some of those contracts are going to be BIG dollars. Managing the cap is as much about the current year as it is about the next few. Teams with consistent winning like Pittsburgh, Seattle and GB have kept themselves there by rolling over some of their cap each year, while not putting all their resources (cap and draft capital) into a player(s).
So, I don’t expect to see them make any major trade for a big name WR or Edge/DL/DB, etc…..I’d be shocked if they did and would be concerned about the ability to sign their own. They still adhere to making sure you can sign their own over the FA, which I believe is the best way to be a consistent winner. With FA you never know how they will fit into the culture, whether they will still be motivated after receiving such a BIG salary and will they play to the same level in a scheme that might be different.
Lastly, Gutey stated it’s not often you find players like Josh Jacobs and Xavier like last year. He seemed to allude he doesn’t really see them in this years FA. I expect them to be active, but if you want a BIG splash trade/hire be prepared to be disappointed.
pantz_bURp
February 23, 2025 at 08:56 am
Nicely stated Murf.
Pantz
pantz_bURp
February 23, 2025 at 09:11 am
We got this. Every draft I see THE GUY WHO TRULY IS THE SMARTEST IN THE ROOM = Brian Willis Gutekunst staring at his comrades in the draft room at 1265 Lombardi Ave and exclaiming: Holddddd, Holdddddddddd, HOLDDDDDDDDDD, as their pick is coming up.
*Eerily similar to the scene in Braveheart.
That Super Gutester is as slippery as an eel. I almost feel sorry for the draft gurus that dare challenge his mindset.
We.Got.This!,
Pantz in a GameDay Tranze
dobber
February 23, 2025 at 09:39 am
"Holddddd, Holdddddddddd, HOLDDDDDDDDDD, as their pick is coming up.
*Eerily similar to the scene in Gladiator."
Sounds more like that Kristin Bell/Dax Shepherd commercial.
pantz_bURp
February 23, 2025 at 09:44 am
Super Dob,
Yes! I actually got confused. The movie is Braveheart, not Gladiator.
But, with darn near every Packer pick, I catch myself sounding like Meg at the diner in When Harry Met Sally.
yesss, Yesss, YEssssssss, YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
Pantz on the Ground
pantz_bURp
February 23, 2025 at 09:21 am
"Packer fans need to keep their options open"
Yes, like selecting an extremely lucky lass to attend the Prom or Homecoming with ME.
Oh sure: the hottie, but she can be demanding and isn't a great dancer. Then there is the cute one who is a very good dancer and can talk sports and politics and likes checking for woodticks. Then the super intelligent one with glasses. Something about her appeals to you.
Then, you throw that all out the window and go with the measurables.
Yesss,
Pantz -cranking Black Eyed Peas, "I got a feeling, that tonight's gonna be a good good night."
pantz_bURp
February 23, 2025 at 09:53 am
Oh, during the duration of the Packer season, I use a CPAP machine (not needed) and black chalk under my eyes.
I have since learned to buy black pillow cases with a high thread count and after having ran a 90 yard jet sweep for a TD, that an oxygen mask is truly needed and I wouldnt advise using a CPAP to try and relive the glory of said NFL Packer player.
*sorry, gotta go now and check my windows cuz I feel a DRAFT a coming...
Pantz "Nice Hershell Walker Trade Vikings" Burp
***Regarding the Draft, the Packers should just draft the Dude. The one we nickname The Rug because he helps to tie the room together.
dobber
February 23, 2025 at 10:25 am
Lots of ways to get better on the field. You can go splash, but I'm not a fan of dealing away a couple drafts for one player....it's gonna take multiple day1-2 picks (and not just in this draft) to get a Crosby, Garrett, or Hendrickson, and then you need to rework their deals to make them cost effective, too. If you're going to make that move, you'd better be right.
You can try to sign off the top of the market (McKinney, Jacobs) and if they stay healthy and play well, you look good. I'll point out that even though there was regression in other parts of the roster, the Packers still moved forward by a couple wins last season and those two had a lot to do with it. They didn't win 9 by accident in 2023 and they didn't win 11 by accident in 2024.
When you elevate the level of the average guy on the field, you get better. Best way to do that is by developing your last two draft classes: I pointed out Kalen King having a path to a roster spot. Hopper and Morgan or Monk will likely have a shot at playing regular snaps. Unlocking guys who have been playing: LVN, Musgrave, Wicks, Valentine. If those guys move their games forward, the team gets better. Finding a FA or two who are desperate for a fresh start (example: Devondre Campbell), are coming off injury, or who have been stuck behind good players on other rosters (example: Zack Baun) are lower cost ways to do that. Gutey usually tries this before the draft.
IN Edit...
"A veteran like Chris Godwin may make a little more sense.... I think he could provide Jordan Love with a very reliable target for at least a year or two. "
Godwin has been franchised and been a difficult contract for the Bucs to work out. He's going to look to be at the top end of WR contracts. Yes, he makes a difference when he's on the field, but soft tissue and other injuries have been an issue for him...he's been mostly available until this last season, but he misses 2-4 games per year and you need to wonder when he loses a step. I don't think he's the answer on a 4-year deal if you're expecting to only get two good years out of him.
murf7777
February 23, 2025 at 11:47 am
Well said Dobber!
Alberta_Packer
February 23, 2025 at 02:00 pm
Current UFC Middleweight Champion Dricus DuPlessis recently revealed that Coach Morne Visser uses a taser when athletes makes mistakes during a training session. If indeed Chase Young is prone to laziness - then perhaps a little cross-training with Coach Morne is just the ticket for him. However the main point - is that if Young is being considered by the Packers - the "lazy" tag must be investigated. It may start with Jeff Hafley who knew him during their days at Ohio State.
greengold
February 23, 2025 at 02:09 pm
Few needle movers, IMO, where we need real, consistently available and effective help. Here's my TOP FAs for Gutekunst to target:
EDGE Khalil Mack - LAC
EDGE Derek Barnett - HOU
LT Alaric Jackson - LAR
LB Zach Baun - PHI
CB Carlton Davis III - DET
OG Patrick Mekari - BAL
OC Ryan Kelly - IND
Hard "No!" to Chase Young, Paulson Adebo, and all the rest.
PhantomII
February 23, 2025 at 06:49 pm
Chase Young has JAG stats....Our offense is what got our ass kicked so personally Elite WR1 / Solid WR2.... upgrade at OC. All 3 of these moves would help get 1st downs and points on the board and rest the defense. My favorite choice is Vet edge either Garrett or Crosby and WR1 in FA / trade. If not burn 2- #1 picks and pick the best WR we can in the draft and a solid #2 in FA. Best FA DL available. Either Edge or DL can collapse the pocket and bring pressure on the QB. As long as we have better WR's to throw to and more pressure coming at the QB from our defense we would be moving in the right direction as well a OL upgrade. CB would be a nice position to double down in the draft.
Starrbrite
February 24, 2025 at 02:11 pm
If I had my way, Garrett and/or Crosby (or Hendricksen), would already be selecting their lockers.
……and the cap worriers would be seeking therapy.
Go Packers!!!