Green Bay Packers: Notes & Takeaways from the NFL Combine

It’s NFL Combine week and in regards to the Green Bay Packers, there has been some important offseason information that has been reported.

The NFL Combine is taking place this week and outside of interviewing members of the upcoming draft class and seeing how they test in the on the field workouts, it is a great opportunity for NFL teams to meet with agents as well as other representatives. And it is no different for the Green Bay Packers.

So over the course of the last few days, there have been bits of information that have been reported and they provide some insight into what the Packers offseason plans – outside of the draft – could look like. Here’s what we have so far.

Packers will ‘make a run’ at Austin Hooper

Now, I’ll be the first to admit that when it was initially reported that Austin Hooper would enter free agency, I didn’t think that there was much of a chance that the Green Bay Packers would pursue him given their tighter cap situation. However, it was just reported by Rob Demovsky of ESPN that “The Packers are intent on adding on a pass-catcher both in free agency and the draft and plan to make a run at Falcons free-agent TE Austin Hooper.”

The tight end position for the Packers has been a Rubik’s Cube that they haven’t been able to solve for a few seasons now, but Hooper would hopefully be the answer. In his four NFL seasons, he has seen his targets and total yards increase each year, culminating in a career year in 2019 with 787 receiving yards at 10.5 yards per catch with six touchdowns. And he did all of that in just 13 games.

But at just 25-years-old, Hooper won’t come cheap and according to Spotrac, he is expected to land a contract that pays him an average annual value of $9.9 million. And honestly, that may be on the low side. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out.

Packers looking at extending Aaron Jones

Also reported by Rob Demovsky is that the Green Bay Packers plan to meet with Aaron Jones’ representatives to discuss a contract extension. Of course, Jones is coming off of a career year where he had 23 total touchdowns along with over 1,000 rushing yards and another 474 through the air. Not to mention that he was what made this offense go last season.

2020 is the final year of his rookie deal and it’s fair to assume that if he hits the open market, he will likely get a big contract. And perhaps more than the Packers would be willing to pay a running back. So as a result, they will try to get out in front of it and talk about a contract extension.

Kyler Fackrell is likely not going to be re-signed

This isn’t very shocking news but it is notable as Kyler Fackrell is a pending free agent. After a 10.5 sack season in 2018, with the additions of Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith, Fackrell saw his snap count drastically decrease last season. There was also the addition of Rashan Gary whose role should be increasing in 2020 as well.

This leaves Fackrell on the outside looking in and given the needs that Green Bay has elsewhere, paying a fourth edge-rusher free agent money doesn’t make much sense. As reported by Tom Silverstein, a source said that Fackrell “is likely to sign a one-year deal with another team that will allow him to show what he can do with more playing time.”

No contract talks with Bulaga

Obviously it isn’t a given that Bryan Bualga will be back considering that his projected annual value is about $10 million, along with his age and injury history, but with the Green Bay Packers not having a viable replacement currently on the roster, many think that it is a real possibility. And for good reason, he along with David Bakhtiari have made up one of the best tackle duos in the NFL and Bulaga is coming off of a superb season.

However, at least at this point, it’s been reported by Silverstein that there haven’t been any talks between the Packers and Bulaga’s representatives. For a position that is as important as tackle is, Green Bay can’t afford to miss out on Bulaga or finding a reliable replacement.

Stats and info courtesy of Pro Football Reference and Spotrac.