While many armchair GMs were disappointed that the Packers did not overpay for anyone like the Redskins did, the Packers are now fully active and using FA to fill their needs.
Packers look to use free agency to help bolster their edge rushing game instead of just looking ahead to the draft.
The #Packers are expected to bring in a huge addition, bringing in former #Ravens edge rusher Za'Darius Smith, sources say. They tried to trade for him a few years ago, are in prime position to sign him now.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2019
Four years, $66 million, $20 million signing bonus. $34.5 million in first 2 years. Let's go, @TheRealZSmith! #LegendsLiveHere #GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/FPEcV4Ogcc
— SportsTrust Advisors (@_SportsTrust) March 12, 2019
Za’Darius Smith led the Ravens last year in total sacks with 8.5 and won Defensive Player of the Week in week 6 against the Tennessee Titans with 3 sacks in that game. Supposedly, the Packers have tried unsuccessfully in the past to make a trade for Za’Darius but nothing ever came through. Mike Pettine is likely very happy with the decision and maybe even is the one that pushed for it. Commenter “Howard” suggests: Pettine may be happy about Za’Darious Smith, but my guess is the new Director of Football operations, Milt Hendrickson is probably the guy who new Smith the best and helped in the decision to sign.
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Former Bears safety Adrian Amos will also join the Pack next season. Most likely joining him will be some inside knowledge on their defense. The six-foot safety spent four years with the Bears after coming out of Penn State. Pro Football Focus ranked him as 8th of overall safeties in the 2018 season. They also ranked him at #11 of free agents. He produced 73 tackles for the Bears last season.
The #Packers aren’t done: They are also signing #Bears S Adrian Amos, sources say. Two big deals, two huge additions on D. A former rival comes to Green Bay.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2019
The #Packers are signing former #Bears S Adrian Amos to a 4-year deal worth $37M, source said. He gets $21M in the first two years.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2019
https://twitter.com/by_JBH/status/1105531547682131968
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UPDATE:Packers have also signed Preston Smith
The #Packer add not one but two pass-rushers with Preston Smith coming aboard. The deal isn’t done yet, but it will get done. https://t.co/cqF7IqRrYr
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2019
The #Packers are signing LB Preston Smith to a 4-year deal worth a base value of $52M, source said. He gets $16M to sign. He gets $27.5M over the first two years.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2019
This Redskins 2015 2nd round pick has played in every game the last four years.
An OLB double dip. Nick Perry is on the phone right now with his real estate agent. (Update: Nick Perry has been released)
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Not forgetting the offense, OL Billy Turner is signed.
The #Packers are add on offense, too. They’re signing versatile OL Billy Turner, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2019
4-year deal worth a max value of $29.5M, source said. https://t.co/5G16jwVV0o
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2019
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Food For Thought:
Three of the free agents the #Packers struck deals with today were 2015 #NFLDraft picks: OLB Za'Darius Smith (4th), S Adrian Amos (5th) and OLB Preston Smith (2nd). With ILB Jake Ryan a free agent, Green Bay currently has zero picks from their '15 draft class still on the roster.
— Jason Wilde (@jasonjwilde) March 12, 2019
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More Food For Thought:
Plot twist! LB Anthony Barr has decided to agree to terms to remain with the #Vikings, sources say. He will not be a member of the #Jets after all.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 12, 2019
Can confirm @MikeGarafolo report that Anthony Barr backed out of verbal agreement with the Jets and now intends to re-sign with Vikings.
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) March 12, 2019
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What are your thoughts on these acquisitions? Are you disappointed GB didn’t pay big bucks for Collins?
Add Preston Smith to the mix. Seems likely now that they are going to target TE, G, or FS with their first pick. Also means Perry is as good as cut. Tramon William’s is likely gone as well
Yeah, Perry is sweating right now.
Speaking of which……Mike Daniels reads this website i heard, and when he see’s that photo of the throwback with the light tan pants, i’m sure he’s going to be happy you didn’t post his photo. Ya know….when he was “sweating”.
:)
BTW….good call Kato
I’m stoke about getting these two guys. Collins required too much money to land so that’s that. Remember we have YEARS of T.T. mistakes to go through and that’s going to take a while. The GUTE is doing GREAT so far. Let’s see how the rest of F.A. and the draft goes.
I like the moves, it gives them more flexability in the draft and not forcing them to draft for need and reach on players. Wether or not they live up t their contracts is always a hindsight I told you so affair for some people. I am still pulling for TJ Hockenson at #12 now, and with the added pass rush help I would go best available at 30 between offensive lineman and pass rusher/DL and let them develop. Bye Perry, you bum.
I agree either Hock or Fant, Then take the best available O lineman with Aron having time to throw the apposing defenses will be hard pressed to stop #12s new offense, and with our punishing Defense we could be giving #12 a lot of shots at the apponents defense
Pettine may be happy about Za’Darious Smith, but my guess is the new Director of Football operations, Milt Hendrickson is probably the guy who new Smith the best and helped in the decision to sign.
Yea, apparently there was a couple of connections. which makes you feel better about acquiring someone new but it doesn’t guarantee success. See T Willy and Wilkerson.
Makes the draft board easier to shift through. You can now add the players who you believe will make the team positively transform for a longer period of time and don’t have to reach.
Helluva day for all us GB fans. Gute has done an outstanding job in FA thus far. To many “experts” overlooking the fact that these guys stay on the field which is a rarity in injury prone GB. Gute got the team younger and faster. IF he gets Boston, GB becomes the best team in the NFC North.
So, I know the cap hits for each year haven’t been released, I think, but just taking a straight line approach, the 4 new contracts will average $46m or so a year, well over what the packers had in cap space plus the reserve for the draft. So, who else is getting the Ax?
That is not how the salary cap works. You can spread your signing bonuses for each player over the term of the contract. So in all honesty I believe with the 4 contracts based upon Spotrac we are still about $14million under the cap yet with the 4 additions. You also save about 3.5 Million with Perry & the 2 Million for Morrison. You will need about 10 million to sign our 2019 draft picks. If we want to sign any additional players I would assume that the likes of Tramon Williams (4.5 Million could be saved) and Mason Crosby (3.5 Million could be saved) would have to be let go if we wanted to keep Clay, Randall or Bashaud Allison etc.
Ron Wolf was always active on the defensive line in free agency, with success, so this is nice to see. I always thought that was a good idea because there is such a high rate of draft failure in the first round for defensive lineman and pass rushing outside linebackers. Then again, Mike Sherman’s big free agent defensive lineman signings were awful (Joe Johnson, Cleditus Hunt big payday).
I think maybe now the Packers will go ‘best available’ at 12 in the hopes of getting a difference maker.
Some will not like this, I’m not sure Mike Daniels fits what Pettine wants to do. In addition Daniels has never fit the size needs for a DE or nose tackle in a 3-4. If you can believe the rumors the Packers went after Malik Jackson for a reason. Releasing Daniels gives the team approximately 8 mil. In cap savings.
Also would look at Tramon.
That was meant for Winterishere
Yes I saw, and I agree that those two and Bulaga would be the most likely casualties. I figured they would let Daniels playout his final year and then give Clark a new contract, but they may cut it early. Everyone else has a lot of dead cap if cut.
On spotrac three of the 2019 cap hits were only 16m combined, with only lardarius Smith not listed yet, but he is the biggest one. So they may have some wiggle room to sign A couple small deals.
I agree with that statement and saw that Rodney Gunter another younger up and coming d Lineman has visited packers, I believe our GM is making this team very dangerous.
Oliver sure would be a huge upgrade form Daniels and drafting a thumper safety to pair with Amos and our defense could be a very punishing defense. Add some talent to offense like Noah Fant a big O lineman and Aron could slice up defenses with surgical precision.
Did Gute read my message earlier on here this morning, ha. I was pissed about not doing anything yesterday and now im obviously not. This is what im talking about. Go get em! Spend some god damn money. And these guys are all young guys yet too. I love it. We’re back baby! Super Bowl!
^^ There you have it ^^
That there is a thirsty boy!!
There were 4 contracts here. Some of these we will send-up liking, others we won’t.
Of the 4, I’d rate them like this:
1.) Z. Smith
2.) P. Smith
3.) Turner
4.) Amos
NFL. com has an annual article, “Top 101 free agents”. Surprisingly enough, P. Smith was 13 & Z. Smith was 16. Yet Z. Smith was paid much better than P. Smith. Amos was 36 on that list & Turner wasn’t even ranked.
I saw Za’Darius Smith play a lot last season. He stood out on tv, very athletic & versatile. I don’t remember seeing Preston Smith much as the Redskins didn’t make tv much. I saw a lot of Amos & I wasn’t too impressed but I hope he turns out. All 4 of these guys are in their prime & I love that.
Helluva day for Packer fans. A pro active GM is something new for us fans. Nice to see Gute has some balls. So anxious to see this defense play. The biggest help Gute can give Rodgers is a D that can give #12 a short field on a consistent basis. Now what was once a pressure draft is gravy. I hope White is their at #12 and Gute grabs him to make this D complete. Or take Hockenson and wrap up the TE position for years to come. So many possibilities. Job well done Gute!
I think that with a good draft now the packers will be a very dangerous team to play against and I would let apposing quarterbacks they will be punished this year. Mike will be able to send the pass rush from just about anywhere