Franchise Players

by 23_Wind on Mar 17, 2010 8:38 PM CDT

A new series on SB Nation's NFL blogs brought to you by me! Five most important players to the franchise. Just one catch:

They have to be with the team for the long term future (four years or more)

In no order:

Aaron Rodgers, QB-Easy.

Greg Jennings, WR-Rodgers' favorite deep receiver, definitely important to the success of a franchise (Good QB and WR's)

Nick Collins, FS-Big-time playmaker in the secondary, and always great to have.

Ryan Pickett, NT-Anchor for the 3-4, he'll be around for a little while longer, until Raji is ready to take over. There's a reason he was resigned.

Clay Matthews, WLB-Pretty good rookie season, and looks to have great future ones. 3-4 OLB's aren't always easy to find, but TT hit on this one.

Your turn!

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Comments

Everything sounds about right. I’d replace Pickett with Finley though.

by packallday555 on Mar 17, 2010 8:48 PM CDT reply actions

One more year

I’d like to see Finley put together another good season first. But I’m confident he will.

by Brandon on Mar 17, 2010 10:58 PM CDT up reply actions

A bit off the subject, I hope BJ Raji can become at least equal to Pickett this year.

by tkiller314 on Mar 17, 2010 9:18 PM CDT reply actions

according to that criteria

rodgers,mathews and raji—————hopefully we’ll draft the other 2 players this year like the LT and another OLB.

because collins and jennings only have 3 years on their contracts and your statement was has to be on the team for 4 or more. pickett isn’t going to be around for 4 more years either——imo…

by hermitcrab on Mar 17, 2010 9:23 PM CDT reply actions

Woodson and Grant

He’s over 30 and not someone you’d naturally think of to build a 2010 franchise around, but I wouldn’t bet against him having 3 or 4 good seasons left in the tank.

Grant really needs to be in the discussion too. He was the 2nd best RB according to Football Outsiders in 2009, only behind Chris Johnson, and he’s put together two great seasons in the past three. And the 2008 season was justifiably poor due to his hamstring injury.

by Brandon on Mar 17, 2010 11:02 PM CDT reply actions

I think

Matthews, Finley, Pickett, Grant, Barnett and Woodson battle it out for the last 3 spots.

by Archibaldcrane on Mar 17, 2010 11:06 PM CDT reply actions

No Barnett?

Not only has he been a staple of the defense since the Sherman years, he’s managed to transfer to a 3/4 defense without any hitches, makes the plays he’s supposed to make, and would be pretty impossible to replace for his consistency.

by sicklebeat on Mar 18, 2010 2:16 AM CDT reply actions

how many made the pro bowl on the first vote?

rodgers in his third year will come into his own. he’s no brett farve but who is , it’s not a knock on him because 5 years from know most teenagers wont know who brett was and aaron will climb into the top ten in the next decade. jennings is excellant. mathews is still to young to expect him to be more than a role player, he is still to small to dominate , if he can gain and not have a dropoff he may some how survive the central. the others are fill -ins when your 2 CB’s retire will he make it to the pro bowl on his own. we have he same situation with edwards , how does he hold up with ou the williamses ?

by gothicpurple on Mar 18, 2010 10:13 PM CDT reply actions

Matthews was already pretty dominate last year and that was as a rookie. He’ll get bigger and stronger, and will improve from experience. He looks like he is going to be a force for the next decade.

Who are saying might have a drop off when Woodson and Harris retire?

On a side note I think Edwards is pretty much just a product of Allen and Williams Wall. He is a solid guy, who is pretty good against the run but he is really inconsistent. I think Robison would do just as well as Edwards, and actually probably better. Robison was on the all-rookie team his first year and looked like he could turn into a special player but then you guys got Allen, and he obviously became a backup.

by packallday555 on Mar 20, 2010 4:15 PM CDT up reply actions