Call Me Crazy, but....

[YoHoChecko]

Here is a place for me to list some of my most hair-brained, longshot ideas that I actually believe and will stick to.

1. Jordan Morgan Should Move to Center
(If he doesn't win a starting role this season elsewhere) He has short arms and is highly athletic. He has repped there occasionally. We don't have a Jenkins succession plan inside other than Monk. He has not yet proven if he can play a more valuable position (didn't beat out Rhyan at RG; likely won't beat out Walker at LT). He isn't the heavier body type we've been focusing on, but would be a good-sized C. If we don't want to move on from Jenkins, Morgan at RG still makes some sense. But also if Morgan proves a capable C, it gives us back our Jenkins flexibility to play anywhere along the interior.

2. We Should Extend Christian Watson Right Now
Watson's value is low right now. He might rather bet on himself, but entering free agency coming off of a sliver of a year after an ACL leaves him uncertain of the future. Even halfway decent WRs are getting tons of money on the market. Might as well lock up a special skillset when it's cheapest. Give him a 3-year $45M extension which equates to a 4-year $48M deal. Guarantee about 15-18M of it, but nothing past year 2. And make a large portion of his salary the next three years per-game roster bonuses to protect against injury risk. He gets some certainty, we get a likely bargain.

3. We Should Trade Doubs Before the Season
(If Golden flashes at all this summer) I know we won't get much for him, but a mid-round pick would be just dandy. If Golden shows any semblance of being a natural in their first team activities, just go ahead and ship Doubs out now and let Golden take his role. I like to ease rookies into situations but Golden is the most game-ready first-rounder we've taken in recent memory

4. Zach Tom is our Left Tackle of the Future
Y'all have heard this one before, but it ranks as longshot given that the general consensus seems to be don't try to fix what isn't broken. But Tom is our best OL and LT is the most valuable position. He played there in college, so there's no mystery about whether he can play "left-handed," so to speak. I think we should let Rasheed Walker walk in free agency and get a 4th round comp pick for him. I still think Morgan's arms are too short for him to stick at OT (see #1). I think a 2026 line of Tom - Banks - Morgan - ______ - Belton is a good big group. Monk, Williams, and Jennings can compete for the starting RG and interior reserve roles and Glover or Telfort (whichever makes it through this year on the roster) and a draft pick as the OT depth.

[Cdragon]

Tom... Left Right, doesn't matter. Leave him at a tackle spot.
Watson, yes! He seems to be ahead on his rehab, so lock him in.
I'd rather see Monk at C but if he gets beat out so be it.
I'd hang onto Doubs unless we get a CB for him.

[Acrobat]

I know the money to WR's is crazy right now, but that money seems to high for Watson. He hasn't produced enough to earn that kind of guarantee. I'm all about extending him though at a better price.

[Labrev]

1. Walker probably is gone after this year so we should probably get Morgan going at LT so he can takeover ASAP (and see #4).

2. Why bother? This will probably be a lost season, he will return around November but likely not be himself yet. I'd just give him a 1 year prove-it deal after the season and then make a judgment call based on the WR situation and how he looks. Ideally he balls out that year but the guys we have look good enough that we can and do let him walk.

3. Nah, hold onto him for a bit. Love has a lot of rapport with him, and you are always an injury or two away from needing a guy. At the trade deadline he may be worth moving, but it's too early to do it now IMO.

4. Tom at LT was my ideal too but I think that ship has sailed. He's played RT exclusively for some time now. I just wouldn't mess with the muscle memory at this point.

[YoHoChecko]

1. Walker probably is gone after this year so we should probably get Morgan going at LT so he can takeover ASAP (and see #4).

2. Why bother? This will probably be a lost season, he will return around November but likely not be himself yet. I'd just give him a 1 year prove-it deal after the season and then make a judgment call based on the WR situation and how he looks. Ideally he balls out that year but the guys we have look good enough that we can and do let him walk.

4. Tom at LT was my ideal too but I think that ship has sailed. He's played RT exclusively for some time now. I just wouldn't mess with the muscle memory at this point.

#4. I think the "both OTs' contracts are up at the same time and we're only keeping one of them" is a perfectly good time for that ship to set sail
#1. I don't think Morgan is good enough to play LT in the NFL, no matter how much time you give him.

#2. Because if he catches 7 TDs in 3 games at the end of next season he'll get more than that on the open market and any decent contract structure becomes essentially a manageable 2-year deal with team options. And a WR corps of Golden, Wicks, Reed, Watson, Williams in 2026 is fire. Guarantees are the cost of getting someone to commit to a deal that may also age poorly for them. And in the scheme of things, it's relatively cheap. And his skillset is rare. And he's a hard working, tough-blocking, good dude. And the soft tissue injuries weren't a problem last year. We might develop a guy through his bumps and then let him go cheap because of an ACL tear for him to flourish elsewhere? Nah. I believe in his talent. This injury is a chance to get a discount on 2026-2028

[YoHoChecko]

Let me phrase it this way.

If Jordan Morgan isn’t good enough in camp to beat Rasheed Walker at left tackle, why would I trust him to be our succession plan there?

I’m not saying he can’t. My item #1 said IF he doesn’t win a starting job elsewhere.

But personally i don’t THINK he can/will. If he wins a job, I suspect it would be RG. Which would, for me, cement his move inside.

[Labrev]

Let me phrase it this way.

If Jordan Morgan isn’t good enough in camp to beat Rasheed Walker at left tackle, why would I trust him to be our succession plan there?

I’m not saying he can’t. My item #1 said IF he doesn’t win a starting job elsewhere.

But personally i don’t THINK he can/will. If he wins a job, I suspect it would be RG. Which would, for me, cement his move inside.

Fair enough. I am entirely agnostic on Morgan, but open to the idea that he can play LT, and kind of need him to fail there before I rule it out (we don't have to put him in game situations and get Love killed to "fail" him, just evaluating from practices and maybe preseason games and him not earning enough trust from coaches to actually play him there is enough to me).

I'm just not worried about Watson getting any sizeable deal next year. Skill players tend to look very pedestrian in their first season back from an ACL tear, because while the physical injury may be healed, the mental battle of regaining trust in your athleticism takes a while. I don't think he will put anything on tape to warrant much of a contract, and doubt that fluky box-score numbers will impress anyone, especially if he does not have the yards to go with the TDs.

I get what you mean about not wanting to let him walk easily, his athletic gifts are really difficult to let go. But by then, you might value more what you have in Reed, Wicks, Golden, maybe Musgrave or heck even Williams depending on how any of them pan out.

[YoHoChecko]

Fair enough. I am entirely agnostic on Morgan, but open to the idea that he can play LT, and kind of need him to fail there before I rule it out (we don't have to put him in game situations and get Love killed to "fail" him, just evaluating from practices and maybe preseason games and him not earning enough trust from coaches to actually play him there is enough to me).

Yeah, to be fair I could be VERY wrong about Morgan. Lots of evaluators felt he was a natural left tackle who simply needed to clean up his technique (mostly hands) and get a little stronger. And if he spent all this injury time gaining core strength and anchor so that he can take on power EDGE rushers, then he might just come out and look perfectly at home.

But. We have a pretty solid--average--good-enough left tackle right now. I like Walker. He is absolutely one of the 32 best LTs in the NFL and deserves to be starting on a team. But he also isn't anything special. And it would be tough for me to have a ton of faith in a player who is coming in as a replacement and can't beat him. Why move laterally/backwards?

And betting on Morgan at OT is counting on a big outlier. Like a 1 in 11 kind of a chance. It is incredibly rare to be a starting NFL tackle with arms below 33 inches. 34 is the desire. 33 is usually the hard stop. Will Campbell is 33 and he's sparked all sorts of T/G debate. Morgan is under 33.

There's only one player on our roster I KNOW I trust at LT right now and that's Tom. Fortunately, we have a year before Walker leaves in free agency, but we don't have time to prep for if he gets hurt. I can't see Belton being that guy on the left (and I'm one of his biggest fans around here).

-----

As for the Watson stuff. I totally get it. He's just sorta My Guy from early early in that draft process. And I still believe he's going to be successful in this league. And I want it to be here. And I don't CARE how awesome I think Golden, Wicks, Reed and maybe Williams will be together. I want that AND Watson. I think Reed is basically Steve Smith Sr and Wicks is going to be something like a Michael Crabtree and Golden is a better Doubs. And I still want Watson. And I think the only way we can afford to keep everyone is if we take some risks to get some bargains. And I think this ACL injury is the perfect opportunity to grab a bargain while we can. But I recognize it's a risk. And I understand many/most wouldn't take it. And I doubt that the Packers will. I just want it.

[BF004]

I like them all.

Mostly Tom at LT. If you are going to pay him like a top 10 tackle, if not top 5 or 3, get him on the left side.

I still like the Morgan pick if..... he is good, I don't care where he plays. All I care is if he is good. If center, sure. I thought I would have liked him better at LG than RG, but the Banks signing nixes that. But along with Tom at LT, perhaps RT is a future home as well.

We have seen our offense without MVS and Watson, it is just drastically different, even if they aren't the ones catching passes. Maybe Golden can be that same kind of guy, although I don't think that is what we should do with him, but what Watson could do for Golden could be magical.

If we trade Doubs, I'd want it to be for a big pick. Relying so much on rookies, and with Watson out, you'll want a guy like Doubs for Love. Someone he trusts. And If he has another similar year, 800 yards, 8 TD, give or take, he'll be inline for a big contract and probably get us a 4th round comp pick.

So I would want to see 2 things, other WR's stepping up or looking real promising, and Watson's return look clear and well. And maybe if someon dishes out a 3rd, otherwise I think I'd rather just keep him.



Fun post

[BF004]

If Jordan Morgan isn’t good enough in camp to beat Rasheed Walker at left tackle, why would I trust him to be our succession plan there?

Could just be we have 2 good LT's. I would set a pretty aggressive dollar figure to resign Walker, probably more than most. But stick to it, if someone goes ape for him, then they can have him and we'll take a good comp pick. Obvisouly depends on this year, but banking on some slight progression.

But if you resign Walker, I think you probably gotta cut ties with Jenkins. Assuming we resign Tom, be reallllly hard to justify 4 second contracts on the OL, especially since we have so many on rookie contracts, and have another draft to full up as well.

[Drj820]

1) good post I like the hot takes

2) where do you get your drugs? Must be some amazing weed.

[lupedafiasco]

As Benoit Blanc said about Miles Bron in The Glass Onion, “it’s just dumb.”

The only thing I agree with is trading Doubs… but no one in their right mind is trading for a WR on the last year of his deal who just had 2 concussions in a season and the last one looked really bad, all the while being a mediocre WR.

Extend Watson? For what? Being fast and tall. Even when he’s on the field he doesn’t produce. He’s had less than a handful of big games. He’s another size speed freak who’s not all that good at his position. The league is littered with the corpses of these guys that just can’t play.

Morgan is your OT of the future. He’s a career LT player in college. He’s going to be LT or RT. I highly doubt C is even in consideration for his long term plans. It was an awful draft pick but I don’t think Gutenbumst, despite his incurable disease of being a $%@# moron would take a wannabe OC in the first round.

[Yoop]

Let me phrase it this way.

If Jordan Morgan isn’t good enough in camp to beat Rasheed Walker at left tackle, why would I trust him to be our succession plan there?

I’m not saying he can’t. My item #1 said IF he doesn’t win a starting job elsewhere.

But personally i don’t THINK he can/will. If he wins a job, I suspect it would be RG. Which would, for me, cement his move inside.

Morgan has tackle feet, and being quick footed offsets arm length, Joe Thomas had 33" arms, he's in the hof.

I think moving Toms to LT is possible, just not as likely any more, we just used two high draft picks on tackles, and they seem very likely to be our future at those positions.

moving Jenkins to C also seems like a lock for a few years to come, he's cheaper than what it will cost to keep Tom.

have you considered that Tom could be trade bait? I have, not only do we have his positional replacements on deck, his contract will be enormous, and I don't see him taking a lesser dollar to play inside, this OL will be interesting watch going forward.

[YoHoChecko]

The thing for me with Morgan is: his length isn't good. That can be overcome by someone who is exceedingly technically sound. But his hands/punch/mechanics aren't good yet. If he develops that technique, he can make up for his lack of length.

But more likely a player like this gets moved inside. Unless you play for the colts who have two athletic short-armed tackles playing at a high level.

But inside at guard, his anchor/power isn't that good. Could he hold up against 330+ pound DTs who can move? He gets rocked back when he lets people into his body, and he lets people into his body often because... his length isn't good; and his hands haven't compensated for that yet. So I'm not sure that translates to guard all that well, though he did perform pretty well there in limited snaps as a rookie. If he gets stronger, maybe he can stick there.

But as it is, when you lack length and power, but have great footwork and athleticism, center is a very normal place to be. It's the EXACT reason Gutey said they thought Tom could be a Pro Bowl center coming out fo the draft and the exact reason people talk about him moving to this day.

But if you CAN play OT well, you should. And Tom can. If Morgan fixes his hands and keeps people off his body and all, he could play tackle, in which case he should. But if he has two training camps to earn a starting role and doesn't (at tackle or at right guard), I think it's reasonable to start looking at him as something else. Half the OL we draft started as LTs in college. Only a couple stay there.

I'm not saying they drafted a first round player to be a C. I'm saying it was a bad pick and we should salvage something out of it by putting him where he has the best chance to succeed. In MY opinion, that's C. He has the right skillset and weaknesses to project a move.

[YoHoChecko]

As Benoit Blanc said about Miles Bron in The Glass Onion, “it’s just dumb.”

It's ok, lupe. Not everyone has the creativity and vision to see these things

[NCF]

Extend Watson? For what? Being fast and tall. Even when he’s on the field he doesn’t produce.

You pay for what you are going to get, not what you have got thus far. If you see his production as the peak of his career trajectory, then yes, you are right. No reason to sign him. If, like some, you believe he still has a chance to get better as a player given he is a size/speed freak, then it is worth the gamble if you are buying low.

I will side with YoHo on the reasons to do this deal from the Packers standpoint, but I also don't believe Watson and his agent will accept the type of deal that the Packers would be offering (and should be offering, which is more to your point).

[YoHoChecko]

I will side with YoHo on the reasons to do this deal from the Packers standpoint, but I also don't believe Watson and his agent will accept the type of deal that the Packers would be offering (and should be offering, which is more to your point).

Yeah. The Packers are pretty adamant on 4-year deals and I can't imagine Watson doing that right now. Putting the guarantees up near/at the 35-40% of contract value that they are willing to offer is the only incentive. I think Watson is more likely to bet on himself than sign a 4-year deal (3-year extension). A much more likely outcome would be a 1-year prove-it incentive-laden extension that gives him a chance for a full season in a familiar offense before hitting free agency. But that's not a hair-brained outlier of an idea.


And yes, I think Watson is quite good at football and will only improve if he is able to stay healthy for any stretch of time.

[NCF]

Could just be we have 2 good LT's. I would set a pretty aggressive dollar figure to resign Walker, probably more than most. But stick to it, if someone goes ape for him, then they can have him and we'll take a good comp pick. Obvisouly depends on this year, but banking on some slight progression.

I agree with every word, but I think the Packers have already made the determination that re-signing Walker is highly unlikely given the investment needed to keep Tom and already spent on Banks and Jenkins. Furthermore, I know the Packers preach flexibility, but I also do not believe Belton or Morgan are OG's. Between Tom, Belton, and Morgan, you have two long-term OT's and one player likely due for a short stay in Titletown. I don't think GB will ever stop investing in OL players, but I believe there will be more immediate focus on interior players over the next few seasons, again.

[Yoop]

The thing for me with Morgan is: his length isn't good. That can be overcome by someone who is exceedingly technically sound. But his hands/punch/mechanics aren't good yet. If he develops that technique, he can make up for his lack of length.

But more likely a player like this gets moved inside. Unless you play for the colts who have two athletic short-armed tackles playing at a high level.

But inside at guard, his anchor/power isn't that good. Could he hold up against 330+ pound DTs who can move? He gets rocked back when he lets people into his body, and he lets people into his body often because... his length isn't good; and his hands haven't compensated for that yet. So I'm not sure that translates to guard all that well, though he did perform pretty well there in limited snaps as a rookie. If he gets stronger, maybe he can stick there.

But as it is, when you lack length and power, but have great footwork and athleticism, center is a very normal place to be. It's the EXACT reason Gutey said they thought Tom could be a Pro Bowl center coming out fo the draft and the exact reason people talk about him moving to this day.

But if you CAN play OT well, you should. And Tom can. If Morgan fixes his hands and keeps people off his body and all, he could play tackle, in which case he should. But if he has two training camps to earn a starting role and doesn't (at tackle or at right guard), I think it's reasonable to start looking at him as something else. Half the OL we draft started as LTs in college. Only a couple stay there.

I'm not saying they drafted a first round player to be a C. I'm saying it was a bad pick and we should salvage something out of it by putting him where he has the best chance to succeed. In MY opinion, that's C. He has the right skillset and weaknesses to project a move.

as you or someone said, the Packers are changing parameters concerning some positional picks, instead of tall and fast WR, now they use a first rounder on smaller, more agile fast receiver, same with OL, 32 7/8's arm length versus the acceptable 33 and 1/4.

you've obviously researched Morgan more than I, so I lack the ammo to refute your comments, which seem a bit harsh, either way I have to trust the GM to know Morgan is a tackle first and interior player second, but if he starts inside and does well then it matters little to me, it just wouldn't make sense to use a first rounder on him.

[Pugger]

I like them all.

Mostly Tom at LT. If you are going to pay him like a top 10 tackle, if not top 5 or 3, get him on the left side.

I still like the Morgan pick if..... he is good, I don't care where he plays. All I care is if he is good. If center, sure. I thought I would have liked him better at LG than RG, but the Banks signing nixes that. But along with Tom at LT, perhaps RT is a future home as well.

We have seen our offense without MVS and Watson, it is just drastically different, even if they aren't the ones catching passes. Maybe Golden can be that same kind of guy, although I don't think that is what we should do with him, but what Watson could do for Golden could be magical.

If we trade Doubs, I'd want it to be for a big pick. Relying so much on rookies, and with Watson out, you'll want a guy like Doubs for Love. Someone he trusts. And If he has another similar year, 800 yards, 8 TD, give or take, he'll be inline for a big contract and probably get us a 4th round comp pick.

So I would want to see 2 things, other WR's stepping up or looking real promising, and Watson's return look clear and well. And maybe if someon dishes out a 3rd, otherwise I think I'd rather just keep him.



Fun post

I really wonder if we'd get much for Doubs if he was traded. One more hit in the head and IMO his career is over. Even that special concussion helmet didn't protect him against the Eagles in the playoffs.