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Tramon Williams is 37 years old and without a team, but he still plans on playing in 2020 (Twitter link via Jason Wilde of ESPN Radio). The veteran cornerback estimates a “90% chance” of playing in 2020, whether it’s with the Packers or another club.

Like many NFL players, Williams has concerns about health issues and the league’s ability to protect players from coronavirus infection. Still, he’s leaning towards playing if he gets the opportunity. During the interview, Williams indicated that he received interest and opportunities earlier in the year. It’s not clear whether he’s on the verge of a deal as camp gets underway, however.

Before the draft, Packers GM Brian Gutekunst said that Williams was still on his radar. The Packers passed on taking a CB in April, so it stands to reason that Williams could still be a fit in Green Bay.

After spending nearly a decade with the Packers to start his career, Williams circled back in 2018. He’s appeared in all 32 regular season games over the past two seasons, including a 2019 campaign where he had eight passes defended and a pair of interceptions.

6 comments Green Bay Packers Tramon Williams

Packers WR Devin Funchess To Opt Out

By Sam Robinson | at July 28, 2020 4:35 pm

The Packers bypassed receiver prospects in the draft after signing Devin Funchess. But the recent acquisition will not play for Green Bay this season. He will opt out, Field Yates of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).

Funchess signed a one-year, $2.5MM deal that contained incentives that could have bumped the value north of $6MM. That contract will toll to 2021. If Funchess does not face a heightened risk of encountering COVID-19 complications, he will receive a $150K stipend. Funchess, 26, confirmed family members have experienced significant issues with the coronavirus (Twitter link).

Green Bay attempted to trade up with teams for a receiver in Round 2 of the draft but surprisingly exited the virtual selection event without taking a single wideout. Funchess was no sure thing, considering his inconsistent Panthers track record and injury-shortened Colts season. Tuesday’s news should prompt the Packers to make a move at this position. Their sans-Funchess depth chart looks a lot like last season’s, which featured just one player — Davante Adams — eclipsing 500 yards. That had not previously happened in a Packers non-strike-shortened season since 1977.

Funchess played in one game for the Colts last season. The five-year veteran, however, combined to post 1,389 yards and 12 touchdowns between the 2017-18 campaigns.

11 comments Green Bay Packers Devin Funchess

Mutual Interest Between Packers, Everson Griffen

By Sam Robinson | at July 27, 2020 2:57 pm

Despite having made two big signings to fortify their edge rusher positions last year, the Packers are interested another impact pass-rushing talent.

The Packers are among the teams to express interest in free agent edge defender Everson Griffen, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The longtime Vikings defensive end is interested in a Green Bay deal as well, per Rapoport. This marks the second team Griffen has identified as a preferred landing spot. He pegged Seattle as a potential destination months ago.

This news comes shortly after Mike Zimmer indicated he would love to have Griffen back for an 11th season in Minnesota. The seventh-year Vikings HC, however, was not sure where that process stood.

“I know that he texted me the other day telling me congratulations and things like that,” Zimmer said regarding his recent contract extension. “I’d love to have him back. He’s always been one of my guys, so if that happens that’d be great. I don’t know where that’s at right now.”

The Vikings have been believed set to move on from Griffen this offseason, but they did not make a notable investment to replace the Pro Bowl pass rusher. The Packers, however, already have Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith, along with 2019 first-round pick Rashan Gary. Adding Griffen at this juncture would not cost Green Bay the kind of money it shelled out for the Smiths — $16.5MM and $13MM on average, respectively — and it would certainly bolster one of the league’s best pass-rushing groups. Though, Griffen — Minnesota’s No. 4 all-time sack leader — would seemingly have a better chance to see significant playing time elsewhere. The Packers hold nearly $12MM in cap space; the Vikings have almost $10MM.

12 comments Green Bay Packers Minnesota Vikings Everson Griffen

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 7/22/20

By Sam Robinson | at July 22, 2020 5:23 pm

Here are the latest draft pick signings. With rookies set to report to teams’ training camps this week, teams are busy on this front.

The Vikings were the busiest team in the draft, making 15 picks this year. They have been active signing them Wednesday. Beyond first-rounder Justin Jefferson, Minnesota has agreed to terms with second-round tackle Ezra Cleveland, fourth-round linebacker Troy Dye, fourth-round defensive tackle James Lynch and seventh-round offensive lineman Kyle Hinton. Cleveland, rumored as a possible late-first-round selection, will be groomed to become a near-future starter for the Vikings.
The Broncos began signing some of their picks, most notably getting third-rounders Michael Ojemudia and McTelvin Agim under contract. A cornerback, Ojemudia is set to compete for a starting job opposite A.J. Bouye; Agim profiles as D-line depth behind established starters this season. Denver also signed fourth-round tight end Albert Okwuegbunam, a Mizzou alum set to rejoin his former quarterback (Drew Lock) in the Mile High City. The Broncos also reached an agreement with seventh-round outside linebacker Derrek Tuszka.
Despite having T.J. Watt and Bud Dupree under contract, the Steelers used a third-round pick on outside linebacker Alex Highsmith. The Charlotte alum agreed to terms on his four-year rookie deal. Highsmith recorded 15 sacks at the mid-major program last season.
Packers third-round pick Josiah Deguara also agreed on his four-year rookie contract. Green Bay eschewed its wide receiver need throughout the draft, using Day 2 to add a running back (A.J. Dillon) and Deguara, who profiles as a tight end/fullback. The Cincinnati product surpassed 900 yards between his final two college seasons, totaling 12 touchdown grabs in that span.
Tennessee third-round running back Darrynton Evans signed his rookie deal as well. Evans looks set to replace Dion Lewis as the Titans‘ Derrick Henry change-of-pace back. The Appalachian State alum rushed for 1,480 yards and 18 touchdowns last season. He added five receiving TDs.
The Giants used first- and third-round picks on tackles. The latter selection, UConn’s Matt Peart, agreed to the terms of his rookie deal Wednesday. Peart profiles as a developmental lineman, working behind expected starters Nate Solder and Andrew Thomas. He stands to join Cameron Fleming as depth for Big Blue.
Washington has agreed to terms with third-round running back/wideout Antonio Gibson, fourth-round receiver Antonio Gandy-Golden and fifth-round center Keith Ismael. Gibson and Gandy-Golden figure to be key parts of a Washington offense that is limited, beyond Terry McLaurin, in the passing game. Gibson totaled 1,104 yards from scrimmage at Memphis last season, while Gandy-Golden caught 20 touchdown passes in two years at Liberty.
Fourth-round Cowboys pick Reggie Robinson agreed to terms as well. The Tulsa cornerback joins a Cowboys team that lost Byron Jones in free agency. Dallas was active in an effort to replace the Pro Bowler, drafting Trevon Diggs in Round 2 and signing Daryl Worley.
Sixth-round Chargers safety Alohi Gilman, a Notre Dame alum, signed his Chargers contract Wednesday. Gillman joins a deep Bolts safety corps.
The Buccaneers drafted two running backs this year. On Wednesday, they agreed to terms with the second of those picks — seventh-rounder Raymond Calais. In addition to his work as a running back at Louisiana, Calais was a four-year kick returner for the Rajin’ Cajuns.

4 comments 2020 NFL Draft Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos Green Bay Packers Los Angeles Chargers Minnesota Vikings New York Giants Pittsburgh Steelers Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Transactions Washington Commanders Albert Okwuegbunam Alex Highsmith Alohi Gilman Antonio Gandy-Golden Antonio Gibson Darrynton Evans Derrek Tuszka Ezra Cleveland James Lynch Josiah Deguara Keith Ismael Kyle Hinton Matt Peart McTelvin Agim Michael Ojemudia Raymond Calais Reggie Robinson Troy Dye

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 7/11/20

By Ben Levine | at July 11, 2020 10:59 am

We’ll keep track of today’s mid- to late-round draft pick signings here:

The Jaguars have signed fourth-round offensive tackle Ben Bartch. The six-foot-six, 305-pound rookie spent four seasons at Division III St. John’s University in Minnesota, including his first two as a tight end. He transitioned to offensive tackle before his junior season, and he earned first-team All-MIAC nod during his senior year. When Jacksonville used pick No. 116 on Bartch, he became the first Division III player to be drafted in five years, and he was the first St. John’s player to be drafted since 1974. Also, as if you didn’t like him already, Bartch previously relied on a, uh, unique smoothie of eggs, cottage cheese, grits, peanut butter, banana, and Gatorade to put on weight as an offensive lineman, thus leading to the nickname “Smoothie King.”
The Packers have signed center Jake Hanson to his rookie deal. The Oregon product was selected with pick No. 208, one of three offensive lineman selected by Green Bay in the sixth round (along with John Runyan Jr. (No. 192) and Simon Stepaniak (No. 209)). Hanson didn’t allow a sack through his first three seasons with the Ducks, and he ultimately started 49 games during his four-year career. The lineman earned a pair of AP second team all-Pac-12 selections during his time at Oregon. Third-round tight end Josiah Deguara is now the Packers’ only unsigned rookie.

4 comments Green Bay Packers Jacksonville Jaguars Transactions Ben Bartch Jake Hanson

Latest On NFL, COVID-19

By Dallas Robinson | at July 9, 2020 7:52 pm

While the NFL and NFLPA are reportedly close to agreeing to a set of gameday protocols that would nominally attempt to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the two sides still haven’t officially worked out an accord regarding a training camp and preseason schedule. Let’s take a look at the latest as the league and the union work through a variety of health-related issues:

NFLPA president J.C. Tretter recently outlined the union’s stance on a number of items, including support for a NFL/NFLPA Joint Committee of doctors-recommended 48-day training camp schedule and the elimination of the preseason (the league prefers to keep two exhibition games in place). While the NFL didn’t publicly comment on Tretter’s piece, one source called the post “very disappointing and contrary to the sense of collaboration going back to the early days of mid-March,” tweets Tom Pelissero of NFL.com.
The timing of training camp and the length of the preseason remain key issues. The NFL wanted players to report for camp earlier than the CBA allows in order to fit in a longer schedule, but the union has declined to do so, per Pelissero (Twitter link).
The aforementioned Joint Committee recommended one-to-two preseason games, but the league is still standing firm on zero exhibition games, according to Mark Maske of the Washington Post (Twitter link). Appearing on WEEI, NFLPA senior director of player affairs Don Davis questioned why two preseason games would be any safer than four. A source tells Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (Twitter link) that preseason contests are likely to be used a bargaining chip.
Amidst the ongoing pandemic, a number of clubs have proactively announced that games will feature limited capacity seating. Of course, those teams are assuming that fans will be allowed to attend contests at all, which is far from a given at this point. So far, the Packers, Chiefs, and Ravens have each announced plans for reduced capacities.

15 comments Baltimore Ravens COVID-19 Green Bay Packers Kansas City Chiefs J.C. Tretter

Packers Sign Fifth-Round LB Kamal Martin

By Dallas Robinson | at July 9, 2020 7:01 pm

The Packers announced that they’ve signed fifth-round linebacker Kamal Martin to his rookie contract.

Martin may have been drafted earlier than the fifth round were it not for a knee injury that cost him several games during his senior season at Minnesota. The 6’3″, 240-pounder eventually underwent surgery and missed the combine, but former NFL scout and Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy tweeted that Martin would have a been a top-three senior linebacker had his medical history been less checkered.

Despite missing games in 2019, Martin was still named honorable mention All-Big-10 after posting 66 tackles and two interceptions in eight contests. Nagy says Martin is a prototypically “long and athletic space linebacker” who could prove to be something of a steal for Green Bay.

The Packers now have just two members of their 2020 draft class that remain unsigned. Here’s the full list:

1-26: Jordan Love, QB (Utah State): Signed
2-62: A.J. Dillon, RB (Boston College): Signed
3-94: Josiah Deguara, TE (Cincinnati)
5-175: Kamal Martin, LB (Minnesota): Signed
6-192: Jon Runyan, G (Michigan): Signed
6-208: Jake Hanson, C (Oregon)
6-209: Simon Stepaniak, T (Indiana): Signed
7-236: Vernon Scott, S (TCU): Signed
7-242: Jonathan Garvin, DE (Miami): Signed

3 comments Green Bay Packers Kamal Martin

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