Cory's Corner: To Tag Or Not To Tag?
The worst position on the Green Bay defense is edge rusher.
Plenty has been written about how poor Nick Perry and Clay Matthews were last season. Perry cannot stay on the field and Matthews doesn’t have juice left to get around the edge.
I imagine you’re asking what my solution is. Two words: Trey Flowers. Now you’re about ready to raise your right pointer finger as you exclaim, “The Patriots will never let him leave.”
Oh really now. Since 2002, the Patriots have used the franchise tag just nine times, with the last time being Stephen Gostkowski in 2015. And if New England does tag Flowers, it would cost $17.3 million.
I don’t see it. If the Patriots invest that money in the budding 25-year-old, Flowers would be the second-highest paid player on the team behind Tom Brady. New England is going to think long and hard about the franchise tag up until the March 5 deadline.
When you look at Flowers’ stats he doesn’t have the sticker shock. He doesn’t have the sack numbers — he has averaged seven sacks a year in the three years that he’s played — but he does everything else. Pro Football Focus had him as the No. 3 edge rusher last year above Khalil Mack and Von Miller. Flowers is also the third-ranked run defender among edge rushers.
If the Patriots don’t tag Flowers — and I highly doubt that they will — this opens a huge void for the Packers. The market value for Flowers according to Spotrac is $15.7 million. Clay Matthews shouldn’t be coming back, so it would be wise to re-invest that money back in Flowers. The next team to sign Flowers will have him during his peak years and will see plenty of value.
There are plenty of reasons to get rid of Nick Perry, but I’m willing to bet the Packers give him one more chance. He has a cap hit of $14.4 million this upcoming season. If he cannot make an impact after this season, the Packers need to cut bait and admit that was a huge mistake.
The defensive line is solid with Kenny Clark and Mike Daniels. The secondary continues to improve with Jaire Alexander, Kevin King and Josh Jackson. Now it’s time to make the meat of the defense better. It’s been soft for too long. Matthews hasn’t been his free-wheeling Matthews self since 2015 and Perry has only had one season above average.
The reason the secondary continues to get exposed is because the defense cannot get consistent pressure up front. To prove my point, the Packers with the top three hurries last year were defensive linemen: Kenny Clark (36), Mike Daniels (27) and Dean Lowry (22).
I don’t care if Flowers gets five sacks a year, he disrupts things at the line of scrimmage and isn’t afraid to get involved in the run game as well.
If the Patriots don’t tag Flowers, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst should be on the phone immediately. Bringing in Flowers would obviously make that position better but it would also light a fire under Perry. Maybe a free agent signing would tell him that he should stop taking his time in Green Bay for granted.
When Gutekunst was introduced as the new general manager, he said that he wasn’t going to do things the way Ted Thompson did. Well, signing one of the best edge rushers from another team would be about as anti-Thompson as you could get.
Trey Flowers a game changer!! Give this man an extension pic.twitter.com/owy68tK41s
— Jordan Moore (@jcmoore19) January 21, 2019
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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Comments (56)
Bure9620
March 02, 2019 at 06:49 am
Totally Agree, I like Flowers a lot and Belichick is not franchising him. The Packers could do maybe a 4 year, $63 million deal with him, maybe 17 guranteed, with a nice prorated SB. Somewhat similar to Perry's deal. I really think Gute will be aggressive in getting a FA Edge next week.
Coldworld
March 02, 2019 at 07:03 am
I share your views, although this particular player is not the only FA option and the Packers may dip more than once assuming Matthews is not resigned.
Fackrell and Perry plus two is not impossible. Gilbert proved to be just a guy in season, Fackrell is a situational player and Donnerson couldn’t get on the field even at the end of the season. Injuries aside, that is not much to go into a season with even with a healthy Perry.
Jerry Hansen
March 03, 2019 at 08:22 am
I love the flowers idea. I dont think Hute will pull the trigger. If you cut Perry and Matthew's, it's a no-brainer! Maybe bring back Matthew's on a team friendly 2 year deal as a situational inside LB pass rusher? If not move on to Flowers and the money on Flowers.
Jerry Hansen
March 03, 2019 at 08:22 am
I love the flowers idea. I dont think Hute will pull the trigger. If you cut Perry and Matthew's, it's a no-brainer! Maybe bring back Matthew's on a team friendly 2 year deal as a situational inside LB pass rusher? If not move on to Flowers and the money on Flowers.
porupack
March 02, 2019 at 07:02 am
Cory, that is solid and I'm convinced. However, even if Patriots don't franchise him, they still probably have the upper hand over the contract, at amounts under your franchise tag amount of $17M if they work out a long term deal. But I agree, getting a proven FA that is entering peak years is the kind of player that should be brought in.
I think you keep Perry only if you don't draft a starting caliber OLB in Round 1. I hope #12 pick goes for OLB, and if so, cut Perry.
Invest sufficiently in a TFlowers or comparable starter entering peak years to replace Matthews.
I think Matthews to ILB would be prudent, as he could be used creatively to still rush the passer, so opposing Olines don't know who is rushing. Matthews is smart, and a team player and still has 2 years of quickness and pass rush in him if he is moved inside.
Restructure his contract though if Matthews would like to win another superbowl this season.
jannesbjornson
March 02, 2019 at 03:12 pm
Perry takes a payout or he's gone. Money down the drain if he sits half the year and evidence shows he's trending downward.
Rdrake
March 02, 2019 at 07:07 am
I feel safety is the weakest position on the roster, edge would be the second weakest. I like Flowers, however he plays DE, so cutting perry, not resigning clay, and signing flowers does not help the pack at OLB.
Leatherhead
March 02, 2019 at 08:47 am
I agree that safety is the bigger problem. Whatever you think about our edge rushers, we were one of the better teams in the league at getting to the QB last year. Why spend a huge amount of money to improve an area where we're already above average?
And of course, I think edge rushers are just overvalued in general, so I'm biased in that regard.
Perry and Fackrell are under contract. We can resign Gilbert for the vet minimum . We only carry 4 on the gameday roster. Why not go for some youngsters in the draft instead?
NickPerry
March 02, 2019 at 10:08 am
I don't think Gilbert is much of anything and his sack/hurries/hits numbers suggest just that. I don't think we'd even notice if he was on the roster or not this year. I sure as hell didn't notice him on the field last season.
Frackrell was a pleasant surprise with 10 sacks but how many hits/hurries did he generate too? IIRC the number was very, very low. Combine that with two 3 sack games against teams with O-Lines that were among the worst and it adds up to a guy I just wouldn't count on getting 10 sacks this year again.
Perry is IMPOSSIBLE to count on. If I'm counting Frackrell and Perry as two of the four we carry on gameday, I want a guy I KNOW can at least get pressure against a good O-Line, not just the bad ones.
kevgk
March 02, 2019 at 09:41 am
Safety is a bigger need, but edge rush is much more scarce. They could draft some safeties in the 3rd round or later with a second tier FA signing and fix the problem. The will need a first round pick or a big FA signing to fix the edge rush.
That being said, Flowers or Fowler would be sufficient to help Pettine's scheme and it opens them up for BPA at #12 for someone like Hockenson.
fthisJack
March 02, 2019 at 07:10 am
if they are going to keep Perry, he needs to restructure his terrible contract....or let him GO!
Leatherhead
March 02, 2019 at 08:50 am
Perry has zero incentive to restructure.
He has appeared in about 2/3 of the possible games during his career. He averages almost 0.5 sacks/game when he's in uniform and I think if you take the time to compare him to other OLBs in the league, you'll see that's actually pretty decent. And of course, he plays the run pretty well.
His issue is availability.
LambeauPlain
March 02, 2019 at 09:39 am
Perry USED to set the edge and play the run well.
He didn't last year.
I think he got the big deal and is coasting now. I question his motivation and desire.
It doesn't take much to send him to the tub.
kevgk
March 02, 2019 at 09:43 am
They can save like $6-$7 million by cutting him. I think his production is disposable for that price. Depends on the market though.
Guam
March 02, 2019 at 11:42 am
I think it is more like $3.75 million.
Lare
March 02, 2019 at 06:40 pm
I'll defer to TGR on this, but I believe the Packers would save $11 million in actual dollars this year if they cut Perry because they wouldn't have to pay him his salary ($5.2 million), his roster bonus ($5.4 million) and his workout out bonus ($400,000). The cap savings is only $3.7 because the remaining portion of his signing bonus would accelerate to this year's cap unless they designate him as a cut after June 1st.
Rak43
March 03, 2019 at 05:54 am
If the Packers cut Perry pre June first the dead money would be
$11,100,000 and cap relief would be $3,337,500. If they cut him post June 1st his dead money would be $ 3,700,000 and his cap relief would be
$10,737,500 according to Over The Cap. They could also restructure his deal and gain $6,313,333 in cap relief with no dead money.
Doug Niemczynski
March 02, 2019 at 08:06 am
I don't know if i would take anyone from the Patriots or at least i would be cautious. Patriots are a very well coached team. Everyone knows their assignments, so they don't have to make up for other people's mistakes. In other words, they can focus on just what they need to do.
I would rather have the best player on the worst team, then a good player on the best team. But hey, it's all a gamble
JonathanSpader
March 02, 2019 at 11:24 am
Chandler Jones worked out pretty well for Arizona.
stockholder
March 02, 2019 at 08:09 am
Tag - Should have put the tag on Rodgers. 2. Flowers won't live up to your expectations. The patriots know when not to sign players. 3. Mathews would be the better option. And a even greater option is SMITH 4. Nick Perry- Honor that contract. Then let him go. 5. Daniels and Clark are not solid. Both are coming off injuries. Daniels will not be resigned. Good defense starts up front. And so does the push. To many Grave digger types here. 6. The secondary needed fixing. Hopefully we can stop using picks on a new corner every other year. 7. GM Wolf said the way to build a team is with good Tackles and CBs. Bulaga must be replaced. He's become an injured over achiever. Like most veterans we remember what they were. Not what they are.
NickPerry
March 02, 2019 at 10:14 am
What the hell are you talking about Stockholder? Clark is one of the best up and coming D-Tackles in the NFL today. Put that kid in a 4-3 defense or a defense WITH some OLB who CAN pressure the QB and he'd be a friggen terror.
stockholder
March 02, 2019 at 10:32 am
What the hell am I talking about is Daniels and Wilkerson. Clark is the only guy on the Def.Line thats good. The people behind Wilkerson and Daniels are subs, not starters!
NickPerry
March 02, 2019 at 10:45 am
"5. Daniels and Clark are not solid. Both are coming off injuries."
This is what you said and I'm responding to SH...
stockholder
March 02, 2019 at 10:53 am
Their not solid Locks! The injuries! Daniels is like the Grave Digger now. The NFL has changed. The speed up front is needed. Daniels will only make his money in stuffing the line. He's not a 3 down player anymore. Clark who's going to help Clark??? Hopefully it won't be the trainers again.
holmesmd
March 02, 2019 at 04:20 pm
Daniels and Clark aren’t good?! Huh? That’s ridiculous
The Marathon Man
March 03, 2019 at 08:46 am
You're just trolling the board, aren't you?
mrtundra
March 02, 2019 at 08:31 am
How do you think Gute signing Flowers affects our draft? Everyone is screaming for an Edge Rusher with #12, right now. Do we grab a rookie Edge rusher with our #12 pick, if we sign Flowers? There are needs at OT, OG, TE and Safety, as well. Many of the big names, at those positions, are gone by the time our pick at #30 comes around. Whaddya think?
OnWisconsinGoPack
March 02, 2019 at 09:45 am
I think Edge or Trade back is the pick at 12. The Oline draft this year is weak and it's possible Risner lasts until 30 or even grab Lindstrom in 2nd or 3rd. The drop off from Edge/LB is huge after the 1st round IMO, so if White/Polite/Burns is there at 12 you take them. Grab Risner at 30, Adderly/CGJ at 44 and trade 3rd and both 4ths to get back into 2nd for Irv Smith
stockholder
March 02, 2019 at 10:25 am
If they made up their minds on edge. Yes trade back. And you know the excuse will be we had to take him. Like TT did when he reached for Randall. I fear that You can't go wrong by staying there. My problem is Reggie White could be there. And Lowrey and Daniels aren't the future. Wilkerson won't solve anything. This Def. line has Bad contracts coming. @12 Oliver or Wilkins. Value if anything else. @30. Hoek will be there. But Fant will be the better TE. @30 Forget Risner, I'm a Bush fan. @ 44 I want Lindstrom. Future All- Pro Guard. My 3 are all pros within two years. Vs. Yours. @12 Polite @30 Risner @44 Adderley. If Edge, Ot, And S are your draft we will never return to the super-bowl during Rodgers window.
kevgk
March 02, 2019 at 09:46 am
I think they sign an edge rusher if the market is right and go BPA at 12. If thats a safety, tackle, TE, edge rusher, so be it. We cant really say what they WILL do, only what we think their strategy is.
jannesbjornson
March 02, 2019 at 03:24 pm
Fact is they need two Edge guys Now. Gutey will go Free agent at EDGE and draft Polite or Sweat @ #12, we hope. #30 at OT or Fant if he drops(unlikely) #44 safety, DT , ILB.
The Marathon Man
March 03, 2019 at 08:47 am
Flowers is a 4-3 DE. The Packers need OLBs.
Guam
March 02, 2019 at 08:47 am
The Packers need an edge rusher, but a price tag of $17 million eats up most of the of the approximately $23 million the Packers have available for free agency. That means at best a second tier safety or right guard and nothing for the other position (as well as no Breeland, no Wilkerson and no Allison).
I would rather see the Packers sign a top tier safety AND right guard (maybe $18 million combined) with enough left over to sign Wilkinson and Allison. I would love to keep Breeland too, but I don't see how they will have enough money.
holmesmd
March 02, 2019 at 04:24 pm
Breeland is very solid and should be retained.
Thegreatreynoldo
March 02, 2019 at 09:08 am
NE has $21M in salary cap space. Their FAs are:
DE Trey Flowers ($16M AAV?)
WR Chris Hogan ($6M AAV? - more?)
CB Jason McCourty (old 32 - 14th best CB per PFF)
DI Danny Shelton just 300 snaps in 13 games, but played well per PFF. Not sure why he didn't play more.
NT Malcom Brown down a bit in 2018
K Gostkowski
Some of these guys probably are going to walk unless NE opens up more cap space, perhaps by cutting TE Dwayne Allen (blocking TE making $7.3M all of which would be cap savings).
I'm not really sold on Trey Flowers, but he might be plan C or D.
kevgk
March 02, 2019 at 09:50 am
What would be plan A or B? The draft obviously, but the FA market will be pretty poor.
Lawrence will get a deal or tag. Ford and Clark will get tags. That leaves Ansah (yuck), Clowny (too expensive), Flowers, Fowler, and some rotation guys. Packers dont have a long list of options.
Thegreatreynoldo
March 03, 2019 at 02:23 am
FA: Barrett, Preston Smith, Smith, Fowler, , etc.
Trade: Houston, Vernon. Houston might become a FA.
Re-sign or keep Perry, CM3.
LambeauPlain
March 02, 2019 at 09:35 am
Sure, the Pack has a need at OLB/Edge but the entire front 7 being staffed with more top shelf starters and quality depth will create synergistic effects...especially taking pressure off the pass D.
The front 7 will be staffed with 14-16 roster players.
I view Clark, Daniels, and Martinez at top shelf.
Lowery, Wilkerson, Morrissey, and Fackrell as quality players.
Lancaster, Burks, Adams, Crawford, Gilbert, Donnerson, Looney as step up or guys to replace with upgrades. Lancaster, Burks, and Gilbert may step up. Adams may be playing his way off the roster.
CMIII and Perry are high priced, unproductive players whose roster spots need to be upgraded with starters.
The D will greatly benefit with 3-4 new top shelf FAs and draft choices at OLB, ILB, DE, and DT.
Flowers would be a nice addition. So would Za'Darius Smith...OLB Redskins...only 26 years old.
Thegreatreynoldo
March 03, 2019 at 02:33 am
Martinez is a decent starter, no more.
I don't want to pay Morrison $2M. I'd cut him.
Fackrell improved. One year wonder. I'd keep him, but I don't want to rely on him to be a starter. I'm comfortable with him as a 3rd rotational player.
I agree with you on the step-up guys. Crawford is cheap and a main ST player. He probably will make the team on that basis, but perhaps he steps it up at LB as well. Lancaster is a several-game wonder, but he looked pretty good during the opportunity time he received. Maybe he takes a step up as well. Of course, some of the others might as well.
M. Adams' back is getting closer to the wall, so he might step up. I wouldn't re-sign him even if he improves. That very thing (motivation, not talent) was the knock on him coming out of college.
Guam
March 02, 2019 at 09:37 am
The more I thought about signing a free agent edge rusher, the less I liked it. The Packers have three serious needs - edge rusher, safety and right guard. This draft is supposedly rich in edge rushers, thin at safety and average at guard.
If we sign a free agent edge rusher, we will likely not have the money to sign a top tier FA safety. Which means we go into the draft needing a player from one of the thinnest parts of the draft. Either we overdraft Adderly (and hope no one picks him before we do at #30) or we go into next year with Williams, Jones and Brice as our safeties again. Not a good strategy.
I would prefer we sign a top tier FA safety and right guard and play to the strength of the draft by picking edge rushers. We can certainly draft two quality young edge rushers in our top three picks knowing we have safety and right guard covered through free agency. I think a much safer strategy…….
ricky
March 02, 2019 at 09:43 am
You mentioned the secondary is improved with the additions of Alexander, Jones and King. Yet King, like Perry can't stay healthy. And Alexander was hurt for a few games his first year. So, that leaves Jones as the "least hurt", but also the least effective when healthy. This is a strength area? If so, the Packers are indeed hurting.
As far as signing Flowers, IF he hits the market, the demand for him is going to be very, very high. So you go after him as your sole, "all in" FA, or do you try to plug multiple areas with role players who fit the Pettine system? And before answering, ask yourself, "What would the Patriots do?"
kevgk
March 02, 2019 at 09:53 am
I don't think he will be all that expensive considering how many edge rushers are predicted to go in the first round. I bet a lot of teams will be looking toward the draft to find edge guys
Ferrari Driver
March 02, 2019 at 10:13 am
A lot of good thoughts and research on the comments in this thread. Had to give a bunch of Thumbs (UP)!
Packer_Fan
March 02, 2019 at 10:33 am
If you sign Flowers at the $15 mil and cut Perry then you will have to pay $5 - $8 mil for a safety, OL, Breeland and a WR. Not much room. Someone may have to fall off the list.
NickPerry
March 02, 2019 at 10:43 am
If I could add say Za'Darius Smith and maybe a Preston Smith for the $17 million it would take to sign Flowers I'd do it. Hell would it even cost $17 to add those two? Then I could then either add a FS like Tre Boston or Adrian Amos or an O-Lineman like Quinton Span and I've seriously upgraded 2 of the Packers weakest spots.
Entering the draft and addressing 2 of the biggest weaknesses already gives Gute much more freedom to draft BPA and not need. IMO there isn't a Safety worth it at 12. O-Line isn't sexy but if one falls I sure as hell wouldn't be opposed to drafting a guy who can help keep Rodgers upright or open huge holes for Aaron Jones. Also don't forget about my boy Hockenson….I LOVE that kid!
stockholder
March 02, 2019 at 11:47 am
Your boy Hoek ran 4.7. My boy Fant 4.5. Had this talk with Jersey. @ 30 Risner! I said Fant@30. I now can say Fant will go before Risner and Hoek!
NickPerry
March 03, 2019 at 06:22 am
Dude you need to relax a little...Last I checked or at least assumed we're ALL Packers fans here.
If the PACKERS feel Fant is the better TE overall then I support that. I really don't believe that to be the case, he's not even in the same ball park as Hockenson when it comes to blocking..A pretty important component of the TE position. I mean even on the combine telecast they talked about the difference between say 4.32 or 4.52 (or whatever the example was they used) when the WR were running. The POINT was the best WR's in the NFL right now ran slower than "Your boy Fant" actually.
I've been beating this same drum for YEARS Stockholder. The difference actual between .20 seconds is so small and it being the TE position who cares? Take a stop watch and click it on and off as fast as you can...There's your .20 seconds.
CheesyTex
March 02, 2019 at 12:33 pm
Have to agree with you, N.P. Gute's hands are tied by too many holes and too little $.
There are so many teams with way more $ that covet the same FA's in Packers areas of need that it will definitely drive the price of the best young talent too high. It would be long-term foolish to dump most of your available $ in one place.
I'm trusting that Gute will put together a strategy that maximizes talented youth and fills in with capable second-tier veterans via FA, Trade, or end of year cuts as he tries to rebuild.
Rak43
March 03, 2019 at 06:16 am
Those are the two preferred edge rushers I want Gute to sign. Although I think they'll spend closer to 22-23 million to sign both. Cut Perry Post June first and replace him with Smith and Smith while adding another edge in the draft. Brian Burns is beginning to look appealing at 12 after measuring 6-foot-4 6/8 and 249 pounds at the NFL Combine.
His hand size was 10", Arm length was 33 7/8" and has a wingspan of 83 5/8". And he has that bend and a polished repertoire of moves to go with it.
stockholder
March 02, 2019 at 11:28 am
If I could add say Za'Darius Smith and maybe a Preston Smith for the $17 million it would take to sign Flowers I'd do it. == Yes this is what must Happen==; To Stay away from the edge drafting. (Edge will take 2 -3 yrs to learn. ). < What is Rodgers window. 2-3 yrs. if the pack is Lucky> Thomas wants to be the top paid safety in the game now. Not In GB. You want Hoek. then sign the Smiths.
jww061356
March 02, 2019 at 02:33 pm
Stockholder, how about Smith and Barrett from Denver? Still have room for Tre Boston, then add Sweat, Burns or Polite @ 12, Fant @ 30, and Adderly @ 44. Trade back up and get Lindstrom late 2nd or early 3rd. What do you think?
jannesbjornson
March 02, 2019 at 03:31 pm
Thats dealing. Lindstrom is in the mid to high second round after his combine performance. May have to use some 2020 picks to get there but it works.
stockholder
March 02, 2019 at 09:49 pm
Smith and Barrett ok by me. Doubt it. Polite, Fant and Adderley are need. Polite will do better in a 4-3-4, Burns is to light yet. . Adderley Has the best tape of anybody. But small school. Sweat @12 is to high. The Te's should be picked from 30 - 44. Fant was/is my favorite. Over Risner! He'll go in the second. Lindstrom, Bradbury @44 are your best guards. I like the feet in short space.
AgrippaLII
March 02, 2019 at 01:32 pm
The Packers will not sign Flowers...they don't have enough cash...get rid of Perry and resign Matthews. I can't believe there is actually a scenario where you would even consider keeping Perry. Hell, I'd rather see a UDFA in his spot...at least he would actually be on the field!
MikeS
March 02, 2019 at 03:35 pm
Cut Perry, let Mathews go, sign Trey Flowers, draft an OLB at 12, TE at 30, Saftey at 44, OL in Rd 3. Day 3 picks WR, RB, OL. Lets go!
ShooterMcGee
March 03, 2019 at 05:08 am
I really don't know who they should draft and sign as free agents. What we do need is a New Orleans/ Colts type of draft that brings us 3-4 quality starters, 2 of which are all pros. These 2 teams are the example of how a great draft can turn a team around. Add 1-2 quality free agents and there is no reason we can't at least return to the playoffs and dare I say....