Packers80
Cheesehead
So if you had to pick just 7 players from the list below to bring back and resign, who would they be and why?
Jermichael Finley TE
Ryan Pickett DE
B.J. Raji NT
James Jones WR
John Kuhn FB
Sam Shields CB
Andrew Quarless TE
Marshall Newhouse OT
Evan Dietrich-Smith C
Michael Neal DE/OLB
Rob Francois ILB
Johnny Jolly DE
James Starks RB
C.J. Wilson DE
Jamari Lattimore ILB
M.D. Jennings S
Seneca Wallace QB
Matt Flynn QB
Kahlil Bell RB
The seven names I'm keeping:
WR James Jones: Keeping four receivers being Nelson, Jones, Cobb and Boykin will be critical in maintaining a healthy and consistent flow in the pass game. Still would not be surprised to see the Packers target a 2nd/3rd round receiver if Jones is not kept.
QB Matt Flynn: This should be a no-brainer. Ted Thompson has struggled to find a viable back up quarterback in the last few years. Both Graham Harrell and B.J. Coleman were experiments that did not pan out. Seneca Wallace will not be brought back. And with how well Flynn preformed under the circumstances of bouncing around from team to team and landing back in Green Bay, you can't help but give him a pat on the back for winning the Packers a few game to allow them to remain in contention for the NFC North.
CB Sam Shields: I think it's arguable that Shields should be the #1 priority come free agency. With the exception of the dilemma that the Packers have on the defensive line with Pickett, Raji and Jolly, Shields should be retained. Keeping a 26 year old Sam Shields with a young Casey Hayward and Micah Hyde will allow the Packers to uphold a young and talented secondary in a pass happy NFL. You just have to hope that Shields' asking price isn't through the roof.
ILB Jamari Lattimore: Lattimore was featured in 15 games in 2013 with 35 total tackles, 2 sacks and 1 Forced Fumble. In my mind, resigning Lattimore would save time, money and effort. There would be no need to search for another ILB in free agency or waste a draft pick on a 5th or 6th round ILB with hopes of him panning out. You already have an asset with an experienced Lattimore who should be a viable option as a solid back up and should be given a shot in Green Bay.
OLB/DE Mike Neal: If Dom Capers remains the Packers' Defensive Coordinator, I can see a strong case for Neal to be retained. Neal is a player who has quietly snuck up as someone who can flash some production. Featured in all 16 games this season, Neal was able to produce: 47 Total Tackles, 5 Sacks, 1 Forced Fumble, 1 Interception. Not to mention, Neal was moved from defensive end to outside linebacker. Dom Capers was experimenting with Neal's potential at a different position. I think Capers would like to continue working on the experiment so long as he's the Packers D-Coordinator.
DE Johnny Jolly: This was tough. All three big guys on the D-Line are free agents. Pickett, Raji and Jolly. Who comes back? First things first, I think you let Raji walk. He has not been productive and if it's true that he was offered $8M/Year and he declined, he's not staying in Green Bay. Offering Raji that much is simply outrageous. Declining the offer was plain stupid. As for Pickett, resigning him might be more plausible but you would have to think he's not taking the veteran's minimum. This leads me to Jolly. A player who was given a second chance at the NFL. He's younger than Picket by 4 years and perhaps the Packers offer him a 1 or 2 year deal for veteran's minimum. I firmly believe that Mike Daniels will be one of two starting DE for the Packers in 2014. Look for the Packers to target a NT in the draft (Louis Nix III?)
C Evan Dietrich-Smith: Maintaining the chemistry between the center/quarterback is always a favorable decision in my opinion so long as the center can continue to block well. He's 27 years of age, so perhaps bringing back EDS would make some sense.
Jermichael Finley TE
Ryan Pickett DE
B.J. Raji NT
James Jones WR
John Kuhn FB
Sam Shields CB
Andrew Quarless TE
Marshall Newhouse OT
Evan Dietrich-Smith C
Michael Neal DE/OLB
Rob Francois ILB
Johnny Jolly DE
James Starks RB
C.J. Wilson DE
Jamari Lattimore ILB
M.D. Jennings S
Seneca Wallace QB
Matt Flynn QB
Kahlil Bell RB
The seven names I'm keeping:
WR James Jones: Keeping four receivers being Nelson, Jones, Cobb and Boykin will be critical in maintaining a healthy and consistent flow in the pass game. Still would not be surprised to see the Packers target a 2nd/3rd round receiver if Jones is not kept.
QB Matt Flynn: This should be a no-brainer. Ted Thompson has struggled to find a viable back up quarterback in the last few years. Both Graham Harrell and B.J. Coleman were experiments that did not pan out. Seneca Wallace will not be brought back. And with how well Flynn preformed under the circumstances of bouncing around from team to team and landing back in Green Bay, you can't help but give him a pat on the back for winning the Packers a few game to allow them to remain in contention for the NFC North.
CB Sam Shields: I think it's arguable that Shields should be the #1 priority come free agency. With the exception of the dilemma that the Packers have on the defensive line with Pickett, Raji and Jolly, Shields should be retained. Keeping a 26 year old Sam Shields with a young Casey Hayward and Micah Hyde will allow the Packers to uphold a young and talented secondary in a pass happy NFL. You just have to hope that Shields' asking price isn't through the roof.
ILB Jamari Lattimore: Lattimore was featured in 15 games in 2013 with 35 total tackles, 2 sacks and 1 Forced Fumble. In my mind, resigning Lattimore would save time, money and effort. There would be no need to search for another ILB in free agency or waste a draft pick on a 5th or 6th round ILB with hopes of him panning out. You already have an asset with an experienced Lattimore who should be a viable option as a solid back up and should be given a shot in Green Bay.
OLB/DE Mike Neal: If Dom Capers remains the Packers' Defensive Coordinator, I can see a strong case for Neal to be retained. Neal is a player who has quietly snuck up as someone who can flash some production. Featured in all 16 games this season, Neal was able to produce: 47 Total Tackles, 5 Sacks, 1 Forced Fumble, 1 Interception. Not to mention, Neal was moved from defensive end to outside linebacker. Dom Capers was experimenting with Neal's potential at a different position. I think Capers would like to continue working on the experiment so long as he's the Packers D-Coordinator.
DE Johnny Jolly: This was tough. All three big guys on the D-Line are free agents. Pickett, Raji and Jolly. Who comes back? First things first, I think you let Raji walk. He has not been productive and if it's true that he was offered $8M/Year and he declined, he's not staying in Green Bay. Offering Raji that much is simply outrageous. Declining the offer was plain stupid. As for Pickett, resigning him might be more plausible but you would have to think he's not taking the veteran's minimum. This leads me to Jolly. A player who was given a second chance at the NFL. He's younger than Picket by 4 years and perhaps the Packers offer him a 1 or 2 year deal for veteran's minimum. I firmly believe that Mike Daniels will be one of two starting DE for the Packers in 2014. Look for the Packers to target a NT in the draft (Louis Nix III?)
C Evan Dietrich-Smith: Maintaining the chemistry between the center/quarterback is always a favorable decision in my opinion so long as the center can continue to block well. He's 27 years of age, so perhaps bringing back EDS would make some sense.
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