Gutey to Packer fans when nothing was happening on Sunday night or the first half of Monday:
It never ceases to amuse me how Packer Twitter operates during NFL free agency. On Sunday night we had names like Davante Adams and DK Metcalf on the move, Myles Garrett and Max Crosby signing extensions, etc.
Packer Twitter: “Gutey asleep at the wheel again! We’re sitting on our hands!”
Then the first half of Monday even more names were coming off of of the board, and not only were names coming off of the board, they were heading to NFC North rivals. The Bears were making moves*, the Lions were making moves, the Vikings were making moves.
Packer Twitter: “REST OF THE DIVSION GETTING BETTER! WE DO NOTHING! TYPICAL!”
Packers sign the best guard on the market to a 4-year, $77 million dollar deal. Then sign a corner to a 4-year, $48 million dollar deal.
Packer Twitter: “THESE GUYS STINK! WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY!”
Scene.
Now look, I’ll grant you, yesterday’s move aren’t as sexy as last year’s moves where you brought in Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney. But I do think these are solid signings at positions of need. Let’s break it down (I watched 3 minutes of YouTube highlights on each player nbd)
Aaron Banks: He’ll be 28 years old when next season starts, former 2nd round pick to the Niners in 2021. He was a backup his rookie year, and then a cog at left guard the last three seasons. Dude is a ROAD GRADER. 6’5, 325 pounds. The likelihood is that the Packers aren’t bringing back Josh Myers, so this allows the “Elgton Jenkins to Center” plan to initiate. In addition to that, you’ve got two young lineman that are entering contract years is Sean Rhyan and Rasheed Walker. My guess is they don’t bring back both, so signing Banks now allows you more coverage when they move on from one (or both) of those guys after the upcoming season. Plus, you can never, EVER, have enough offensive lineman. They’re like lefty relievers in baseball or Tums on Taco Tuesday. Load ’em up.
Nate Hobbs: He’s 25 years old, so just entering the prime of his career, and he’s a TALL corner. 6’1. Love a corner with size. He’s been primarily a slot corner in his time with the Raiders, and he does NOT draw flags. Had ZERO penalties in 2024, and has only drawn 11 flags in 2,890 career snaps as a slot corner. The Packers are going to have to revamp that position as they move on from Eric Stokes and (likely) Jaire Alexander.
Again, not sexy, but the Packers spent money and shored up two positional groups. I realize that fans are going to be bummed that they didn’t go out and get a bigger name wide receiver or an edge rusher, but free agency isn’t over, and the draft is still over a month away. The off-season ain’t over.
*Are we in the trust tree? With the nest? I like what the Bears are doing. They drafted Caleb Williams last season hoping he would be their franchise quarterback for the next decade. Hell, hoping he’d be their first franchise quarterback EVER. And then they had him taking snaps behind an offensive line comprised of Swiss cheese and wet paper towel. It never made any sense. But they’ve completely retooled that line in two days. Invest in the trenches.
PS: I don’t think Gutey is going to pull the trigger on any of these guys but: Cooper Kupp is probably going to be released, Stefon Diggs, Amari Cooper, they’re all out there. No chance (barring a massive trade) of bringing in a certified #1 alpha wide out at this point, but there are accomplished veterans available that could hopefully mentor a young WR room.
Double PS: ^Related: I’m buying ALL of the Dontayvion Wicks stock. Classic sophomore slump season last year (and he came on at the end of the year). 65-75 catches, 1,000 yards, 8-10 touchdowns next season.
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