Which Packer Might The Jaguars Sign This Year?

by Brandon on Jun 16, 2011 5:00 PM CDT in Green Bay Packers Free Agency

According to head coach Jack Del Rio, the Jaguars are going to be a player in the free agent market (whenever it begins). From Big Cat Country:

Obviously the two biggest holes on the defensive side of the ball are at the safety position and the linebacker position. I'd expect the Jaguars to target the likes of Eric Weddle, Quintin Mikell, or even Atari Bigby at the safety position.

Alfie Crow emailed me about Bigby, and here's what I had to say about him:

He's a hard hitting safety, and below average in pass coverage. And with many hard hitting players, he's had a lot of trouble staying healthy, missing big chunks of time over the previous three seasons with a variety of injuries. He's had some good INT stats in 2007 and 2009 by being in the right place at the right time for deflections, but I've never seen him play tight coverage. I've been a fan of his in the past because he was so much better than their backups. But they just had a solid 2010 season from Charlie Peprah, who was re-signed for two more years, and their 2010 3rd round pick Morgan Burnett should return to the mix after blowing out his ACL last season. Bigby is better than Anthony Smith, who he beat out in training camp a couple years ago, and they're similar players. He'd be an upgrade for any team looking for an average strong safety, but the fact that he's injury prone makes him a risky player to count on.

I mentioned Smith because he played for the Packers and Jaguars last season.

With the return of Burnett, and the starting job currently in the hands of SS Charlie Peprah, it doesn't seem like the Packers will go to any great lengths to keep Bigby next season. I wouldn't be surprised if some team views him as a low cost option to start in 2011, and offers him a two-year, $4 million contract as a free agent. But with his history of injuries, that might not be available to him.

There's no chance they'll overpay him because he's not going to open the season as the starter. Assuming the free agent market is soft, do you want the Packers to bring him back next season?

Poll

Should the Packers re-sign SS Atari Bigby as a backup?

Yes

44 votes

No, it's time to move on

199 votes

No, some team will offer him more money

104 votes

347 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 3 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Atri is allways hurt.

Hard hitting is hard hitting but being injury pron leaves a lot to be desired. As you mentioned his coverage is soft. He does have a knack of being in the right place at the right time for a pass deflection, but only when he is on the field. Which hasn’t happen often lately. Besides I’ll wager that he want’s a boat load of money to go along with his S.B. ring. We’re not talking a row boat either. More like a yacht.

cpocraig

by cpocraig on Jun 16, 2011 6:49 PM CDT reply actions

Which Packer might the Jaguars sign?

Rather than sign a player, may I suggest that they trade for proven 4-3 MLB Nick Barnett? He’d help them out and his contract pretty much precludes him from making the Packers final roster (probably, we’ll know for sure when the new CBA is signed).

Otherwise, please sign Daryn Colledge. He’s as good a player as his family is at spelling.

"I'm a relatively respectable citizen. Multiple felon perhaps, but certainly not dangerous."
— Hunter S. Thompson

by I voted for Kodos on Jun 16, 2011 11:48 PM CDT reply actions

Justin Harrell, duh!

Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog
"If you don't tell him what he wants to hear, he's going to find you out. And when he does, they're going to tear your head off and throw your BODY OUT OF AN AIRLOCK!" - Number Six, "Bastille Day"

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Jun 17, 2011 4:54 PM CDT reply actions