The Green Bay Packers got the biggest fish in their impending free agent class back for the long term a few weeks ago when they signed defensive lineman Mike Daniels to a four-year contract extension. Daniels' deal, which is worth an average of just over $10 million per year, will keep him in Green Bay through the 2019 season.
That signing, however, leaves the team with a remaining total of eighteen players who will hit free agency in some way, shape, or form following the 2015 season. Here's the list, as well as a primer on each type of free agency in effect.
Unrestricted Free Agents
These players are eligible for unrestricted free agency because they will have accrued four or more years of NFL experience after 2015. These players may sign with any NFL team starting on March 9th at 4:00 PM Eastern.
- OT Don Barclay
- K Mason Crosby (re-signed to four-year deal on March 1)
- LS Brett Goode
- DT Letroy Guion (re-signed to three-year deal on Feb. 12)
- CB Casey Hayward (signed three-year deal with San Diego Chargers on March 13)
- WR James Jones
- FB John Kuhn
- OLB Mike Neal
- OLB Nick Perry (re-signed to one-year, $5 million deal on March 10)
- TE Andrew Quarless
- NT B.J. Raji
- S Sean Richardson
- RB James Starks
- QB Scott Tolzien (agreed to terms with Indianapolis Colts on March 11)
Restricted Free Agents
The Packers may extend "tender" offers to their restricted free agents - players who will have three accrued seasons of experience and whose contracts are expiring. If they extend a tender, the Packers will have the right to match any contract offer made to a player, and depending on the amount of the tender they may be eligible for a draft pick (either first- or second-round) if the player signs elsewhere and the Packers decline to match. Neither player is likely to receive a tender, however.
- OLB Andy Mulumba (not tendered, is now unrestricted free agent; signed one-year deal with Chiefs on April 1)
- G Lane Taylor (re-signed to two-year, $4.15M deal on March 8th)
Exclusive-Rights Free Agents
These players have two or fewer accrued years of experience. If the Packers extend either of these players a qualifying offer (which would likely be a league-minimum contract), they may not negotiate with any other NFL team during free agency.
- S Chris Banjo (tendered on March 8th)
- TE Justin Perillo (tendered on March 9th)
Note: this is Banjo's third year with the Packers, but he did not qualify for an accrued season in 2014 because he was on the practice squad for much of the year and did not spend enough time on the 53-man roster.