Where Do You Stand On The Packers Free Agents?

They sure don’t need to resign any of those players.

My personal preference is that they keep Jenkins (and now, I’ll just get off that soap box until the season gets underway) and possibly Crosby, but with an offense like the Pack, getting close for good FG opportunities and plus the new kick off rules… eh. They could afford to look elsewhere. Believe it or not, I actually like what Brandon Jackson brings. He’s not their primary runner, but he’s got some flexibility and can do a lot of other little things as a running back… guess it depends on what he’s looking for in a contract.

Realistically? I don’t think anyone on that list is coming back. It’ll be a shame to see those guys in another uniform and I’ll be rooting for them when they’re not playing my beloved Packers, but it’s all about calibrating a system for their QB and young defensive leaders for the long term.

Resign John Kuhn and Mason Crosby.
Cut Brady Poppinga and Mark Tauscher (if he doesn’t retire)
Trade Nick Barnett

If possible, how many here at APC would be in favor of giving Manny Lawson a shot? I came across this at Revenge of the Birds, which was originally from Pro Football Focus:

If you’re looking for a guy with upside, and who won’t break the bank, then why look further than Lawson? His rather pedestrian sack numbers don’t do him justice, considering he gets more pressure on a per-play basis than guys like Clay Matthews, James Harrisonand Cameron Wake. It’s just that the 49ers opted to have him in a rotation which meant he only rushed the passer 218 times. Perhaps the 49ers were disappointed in him following his 2008 and 2009 season where he struggled to consistently get pressure on the QB. But in Year 5 he finally seemed to get it, and with an overload of teams running the 3-4 a number of them would do well to find a solid starter like Lawson.

I’m not sure if it’s true that Lawson generates a lot of pressure per play, but it’s certainly possible. As Brandon mentioned above, in games we are without Clay Matthews, we lose. Lawson may be a good project for Kevin Greene to work with. I like Walden and Zombo, but Lawson would provide more experience and still has lots of upside. What does everyone here at APC think of Lawson?

They ones that I Definitely want back are Crosby and Kuhn. Crosby has the big leg we need at Kicker and Kuhn plays so many roles that while not irreplacable he is very valuable. They will almost surely be back, IMO.

After that We would all love to have Jenkins back, but that just doesn’t seem to be in the cards, Would take releasing Barnett, Tauscher and Grant to re-sign him to a contract I expect will exceed 10M.

I actually think Colledge is the next most likely to return after Crosby and Kuhn. He won’t command alot of money, I’m guessing 4M per or so to bring him back. And we really don’t have a suitable replacement for him. We have alot of unknowns behind him. I think Jackson is the next most likely. He role as a 3rd down RB is very valuable and he is very good at it. I don’t think he’s gonna find too many teams that will give him carries. If we can get him back for 3M I would be happy w/ that.

Jones is too good for some team not to give him a shot as a starter and the $$$ to go w/ it. He would be a starter for every team in our division next year if they signed him, and alot of other teams too.

Crosby and Kuhn are about 90% to return. Colledge and Jackson about 50/50 chance. Jones and Jenkins less than 10%…

The only two indispensable players on the roster are Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews (the Packers were 0-4 last season in games when either player was injured during or missed due to injury).

I’d sure like to see the Pack spend the money to keep Jenkins.

The rest of ‘em I don’t really care much about. They’re nice players, but nothing too special.

But Jenkins is a force against the run or pass. He seems to be a good teammate. He plays hard. I can definitely tell the difference when he’s out there or not. The team’s a lot better when he is.

He’s not as valuable as Rodgers or Matthews, but he’s right up there with Jennings, Woodson, Clifton, Sitton, Collins and Tramon. It’s this second tier of guys who are the guts of the team. …and, in fact, I’d say Jenkins is one of the more valuable guys in the group. A lineman that can create against run or pass is… those guys don’t grow on trees.

Kuhn will probably be back but we’d have to cut ties with Hall or Johnson. After that everyone is some combination of too expensive, fungible, or replaced via the draft. I guess Kuhn is too but the team seems high on him, Colledge has the best chance of anyone else to come back and I don’t think even he will be

Is the tone overall that him staying is just a given? I kind of feel like he’s another player that could attract a competitive offer. I know fullbacks aren’t in serious demand, but I can think of a few teams that could table an attractive offer to him and he’d actually make an impact. Otherwise, I would have place him on the list of people as well, but… I don’t know – Thompson seems to have no sentimentality concerning fan faves and if Kuhn’s pricetag got lifted even a little, I’m not sure the Pack would look to beat it.

DE Cullen Jenkins – See what his price tag is. If unreasonable, no.
LG Daryn Colledge – Again, see what price tag is. Unreasonable? Same result.
WR James Jones – No idea. I’d like to see what TT can swing for JJ.
K Mason Crosby – Bring him back. He’s solid, a mainstay at that position, and was solid in the playoffs when called upon.
RB Brandon Jackson – Keep as a 3rd down back. He’s not a starter, not with our OL the way it is.
FB/RB John Kuhn – Keep; he’s a fan favorite who’s very good in his role (a complement to the other backs and 1st down machine). Kuhn as a starter? (shudders)

would prefer to keep Colledge if his price isn’t unreasonable, same with Jenkins. They don’t need Jones or Jackson.

They’ll definitely cut Poppinga and Tauscher (and I think they’ll resign Tauscher at a much lower number). They’ll try to trade Barnett as well, if not, they may try to restructure his contract as well. Packers look to only be 67k under the cap, so those moves are necessary.

Here’s what we thought about this back in December.

Kuhn a handy guy..plus crowd reaction is classic.

Crosby-grudgingly

Colledge- take em or leave em.

Jones- would hate to give up on him..

Jackson- I think Green is replacement

Jenkins- Love the guy, but hurt alot and age concern me. I would make a high enough offer so rivals would have to pay alot to get him..