To get back to the playoffs
Authentic Kemoko Turay Jersey , the Green Bay Packers' defense needs to improve against the pass.
Adding three tall receivers to the offense for quarterback Aaron Rodgers can't hurt either.
The two-time NFL MVP got help in the passing game on the third day of the NFL draft after the Packers prioritized pass defense in the early rounds.
They took Louisville's Jaire Alexander in the first round and Iowa's Josh Jackson, who led the nation with eight interceptions last year, in the second.
"Their ball skills are exceptional," coach Mike McCarthy said Saturday. "I think they're a great fit to how we want to play defense."
Pass defense was a problem again for a team that finished 7-9 last season. The Packers didn't make the playoffs for the first time since 2008.
The setback set up an offseason of change. Longtime executive Brian Gutekunst was promoted to general manager to succeed the retired Ted Thompson in January. McCarthy overhauled the coaching staff, including the hiring of Mike Pettine to replace Dom Capers as defensive coordinator.
Cornerback was the top priority. Besides drafting Alexander and Jackson, the Packers brought Tramon Williams back as a free agent to add another presence in the secondary.
"With the competition in the cornerback room, and the defensive back room, it's vastly improved," McCarthy said.
The focus shifted to offense for the late rounds on Saturday. The passing attack slipped to 25th in the league last season after Rodgers was limited to seven games because of a broken collarbone.
Gutekunst drafted three wideouts, starting with Missouri's J'Mon Moore in the fourth round. The 6-foot-3 senior had team highs of 65 catches and 1
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Opportunities abound in the receiving group behind Davante Adams and Randall Cobb after veteran Jordy Nelson was cut in the offseason.
Other highlights from the Packers' draft class:
CATCHING ON: Besides Moore, the Packers also took two 6-5 receivers in South Florida's Marquez Valdes-Scantling in the fifth round and Notre Dame's Equanimeous St. Brown in the sixth round. Valdes-Scantling offers an intriguing blend of size and speed after he ran the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine at 4.37 seconds. Brown played with Packers backup quarterback DeShone Kizer for two seasons at Notre Dame.
CREATING COMPETION: By taking three receivers, the Packers stockpiled prospects to fill depth at a skill position for a second straight year. The strategy worked at running back in 2017, when fourth-round pick Jamaal Williams and fifth-rounder Aaron Jones emerged as solid contributors.
"You hope the guys embrace it and are pros about it and try to get better," scout Matt Malaspina said. "The whole group gets better as each guy gets better."
THAT'S SPECIAL: There might be competition at punter, too, after the Packers drafted JK Scott from Alabama. Scott had just five punts returned as a senior, crediting the success to a renewed focus on hang time. Last year's punter, Justin Vogel, was seventh in the NFL in net punting average at 41.6 yards.
Green Bay also took a long snapper with the second of their three seventh-round picks in Mississippi State's Hunter Bradley.
LATE PICKS: The selection of offensive lineman Cole Madison from Washington State in the fifth round addressed another position of need. The 6-5 Madison played tackle in college. But the Packers like his versatility and plan to use him at guard. Green Bay has questions on the right side of the line.
Green Bay returned to defense with its two other seventh-round picks
Jimmy Garoppolo Jersey , selecting end James Looney from California and edge rusher Kendall Donnerson from Southeast Missouri State.
STILL NEED: Unless Looney or Donnerson prove to be late steals, the Packers will still need help in the pass rush. Clay Matthews turns 32 this year, while Nick Perry was limited to 12 games last season because of injuries. They could use more production out of third-year backup Kyler Fackrell. Vince Biegel should start the season healthy after missing the first seven games of his rookie season with a foot injury.
"The biggest gains that we've always made have been our returning players," McCarthy said.
The Latest on the start of NBA free agency (all times EDT):
9:50 a.m.
Aron Baynes, who started virtually every game last season with Boston, is staying with the Celtics.
A person familiar with the negotiations says Baynes has agreed to a two-year deal worth $11 million. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been finalized.
The second year is at Baynes’ option, meaning he could be a free agent again next summer.
Baynes had 19 double-figure scoring games last season for Boston, including playoffs – and the Celtics went 17-2 in those games.
The 6-foot-10 center averaged 6.0 points and 5.4 rebounds last season.
– AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds
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3 a.m.
A person familiar with the discussion says LeBron James was in contact with the Cleveland Cavaliers when NBA free agency opened.
Shortly after the 12:01 EDT a.m. start on Sunday, Cavs general manager Koby Altman spoke on the phone to both James and his agent Rich Paul, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the discussion.
James is an unrestricted free agent and the Cavs are hoping to re-sign the three-time champion
Giants Cheap Jerseys , who is weighing whether to change teams for the third time in eight years. James was in Los Angeles and is also being pursued by the Lakers, who have enough salary-cap space to sign him and another star player.
There was a flurry of big-name signings in the first hours of free agency, but James remained noncommittal. The 33-year-old is not expected to drag out a decision that could reshape the league’s landscape.
– Tom Withers in Cleveland.
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1:50 a.m.
Trevor Ariza is moving to Arizona.
The Phoenix Suns have lured Ariza in with a $15 million, one-year contract offer, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiations. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal cannot yet be signed.
Ariza averaged 11.7 points last season for Houston, and the 33-year-old will likely be looked upon as a veteran presence in a young Phoenix locker room.
Ariza was 0 for 12 from the field in Houston’s Game 7 loss to Golden State in the Western Conference finals, missing all nine of his 3-point tries.
– AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds
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1:10 a.m.
Gerald Green and his hometown Houston Rockets are staying together.
The Houston native has agreed to a one-year deal at the $2.4 million minimum, a person familiar with the terms tells The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal cannot be signed until the NBA’s moratorium ends on Friday.
Green averaged 12.1 points last season for the Rockets, who finished with the NBA’s best regular-season record. He had five games of 20-plus points off the bench last season.
– AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds
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1:20 a.m.
Derrick Rose and the Minnesota Timberwolves will be counting on one another next season.
The 2011 NBA MVP has agreed to a one-year deal worth nearly $2.4 million to stay with Minnesota, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said early Sunday. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because nothing can be signed until Friday.
Rose appeared in 25 games last season – 16 with Cleveland
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It was Minnesota’s first playoff berth since 2004.
– AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds
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1 a.m.
Thunder forward Jerami Grant has agreed to a three-year, $27 million deal with a player option the third year.
Grant’s agent, Happy Walters, confirmed Grant’s decision in a text message to The Associated Press.
Grant averaged 8.4 points per game last season and shot a career-high 53.5 percent from the field. He became more of a factor after the All-Star break playing behind Carmelo Anthony.
Grant again will join the Thunder’s Big Three of Anthony, Paul George and Russell Westbrook.
Walters said Grant ”is psyched to come back to play with Russ and PG.”
—
12:50 a.m.
Rudy Gay is returning to the San Antonio Spurs.
A person familiar with the terms says Gay has agreed to a one-year, $10 million deal to be back in silver and black next season. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal cannot be finalized until later in the week.
Gay opted out of the final year of his deal with San Antonio, and wound up re-signing for a raise of about $1.6 million over what he would have made.
Gay was primarily a reserve for the first time last season, his first with the Spurs. He averaged 11.5 points on 47 percent shooting.
– AP Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds
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12:25 a.m.
Two people with knowledge of the deal say the Dallas Mavericks and DeAndre Jordan have agreed on a one-year contract at roughly the $24.1 million the center was set to make with the Clippers next season.
The agreement comes three years after Jordan agreed to join Dallas as an unrestricted free agent but changed his mind before a contract could be signed and stayed in Los Angeles.
The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because deals can’t be signed until Friday. Jordan opted out of the final year of the contract he signed when he jilted the Mavericks in 2015.
The one-year deal gives both sides flexibil.