With A-Rodg still years away from retirement, a rebuild in Green Bay surely isn't in the cards . So we need to figure out what's wrong, and fix it quickly to get us back to contention. I'm not going to speculate on which coaches/GMs will return and which won't. I'll let the powers that be figure that out - though I have little doubt we'll see some new faces in some positions next year . This is just for putting on our own GM hat and coming up with a plan to return the Packers to glory in 2017. Here's mine :
1). Cuts/let walk: Shields, Peppers, Datone Jones, Starks, Hyde, Tretter
Cutting Shields is a very difficult decision, and it's a medical one, not a performance one. This secondary has struggled without him. That said, even if he's medically cleared, we simply can't count on him anymore and it might be in his best interests to walk away from football. That will save 9M. Starks simply isn't worth his 3.5M cap hit and should be moved on from as well. There's no reason to bring back Peppers, Hyde, or Datone. I have a very difficult time letting Tretter walk, but I think he's going to get overpaid and we have a near equally serviceable center in Linsley. Other minor players will also be let go but this covers the main ones .
2. ) Free agency: Re-sign Nick Perry, TJ Lang, Jared Cook, sign Alshon Jeffrey. Sign Eddie Lacy to 1 year 'prove it' deal.
This is obviously a tremendous splash for a team normally very conservative in free agency. I simply think it's time . The bargain bin shopping is not working right now. We desperately need a young offensive weapon, and Jeffrey fits the mold. It won't be cheap, but the injuries and now the PED suspension should keep him from breaking the bank entirely. Nonetheless, he's a rare talent. I have a tough time ******* Perry's value. He started out strong, but lately hasn't showed up as much . I'd look to lock him up on a 3 year deal prior to free agency , if possible.
I was really torn on Lang and Tretter. I'd be happy to keep either of the 2, but if Tretter would be the one signed , I think he'd have to move to guard. Lacy was another tough one, especially with the injury . There's no denying he was running well before the injury. If the season continues to spiral away, I'd shut him down and give him the entire offseason for his ankle to recover . I think he might be receptive to returning on a 1 year deal for $3-5M to try to re-establish his value in a healthy year. Cook should be obtainable for a similar amount with a similar strategy.
3. Draft targets: CB, LB, OL, WR, RB
There are plenty of needs, and some depend on departures, but CB has to top that list, especially if Shields departs. The good news is, this draft class is loaded with great corners. It's possible we could bypass corner in the 1st and still get a 1st round talent corner in the 2nd. I'm less concerned with what the position is in the 1st as I am with hitting a home run with the pick. We need it. This will likely be our highest pick since 2009. Depending on QB needs around the league and interest , I'd also be open to shopping Brett Hundley for a high draft pick.
If we draft at say #10, and can land a low 2nd/high 3rd for Hundley, and get a 4th or 5th round comp for Hayward, we should be in good shape. We need at least 2 corners in this deep draft .
Just to spitball, if we took Marshon Lattimore in the 1st, or Jourdan Lewis in the 2nd, and surrounded these picks with other talent at positions of need already mentioned, combined these with the FA moves suggested, I think we'd be in good position to prove this year was a fluke.
1). Cuts/let walk: Shields, Peppers, Datone Jones, Starks, Hyde, Tretter
Cutting Shields is a very difficult decision, and it's a medical one, not a performance one. This secondary has struggled without him. That said, even if he's medically cleared, we simply can't count on him anymore and it might be in his best interests to walk away from football. That will save 9M. Starks simply isn't worth his 3.5M cap hit and should be moved on from as well. There's no reason to bring back Peppers, Hyde, or Datone. I have a very difficult time letting Tretter walk, but I think he's going to get overpaid and we have a near equally serviceable center in Linsley. Other minor players will also be let go but this covers the main ones .
2. ) Free agency: Re-sign Nick Perry, TJ Lang, Jared Cook, sign Alshon Jeffrey. Sign Eddie Lacy to 1 year 'prove it' deal.
This is obviously a tremendous splash for a team normally very conservative in free agency. I simply think it's time . The bargain bin shopping is not working right now. We desperately need a young offensive weapon, and Jeffrey fits the mold. It won't be cheap, but the injuries and now the PED suspension should keep him from breaking the bank entirely. Nonetheless, he's a rare talent. I have a tough time ******* Perry's value. He started out strong, but lately hasn't showed up as much . I'd look to lock him up on a 3 year deal prior to free agency , if possible.
I was really torn on Lang and Tretter. I'd be happy to keep either of the 2, but if Tretter would be the one signed , I think he'd have to move to guard. Lacy was another tough one, especially with the injury . There's no denying he was running well before the injury. If the season continues to spiral away, I'd shut him down and give him the entire offseason for his ankle to recover . I think he might be receptive to returning on a 1 year deal for $3-5M to try to re-establish his value in a healthy year. Cook should be obtainable for a similar amount with a similar strategy.
3. Draft targets: CB, LB, OL, WR, RB
There are plenty of needs, and some depend on departures, but CB has to top that list, especially if Shields departs. The good news is, this draft class is loaded with great corners. It's possible we could bypass corner in the 1st and still get a 1st round talent corner in the 2nd. I'm less concerned with what the position is in the 1st as I am with hitting a home run with the pick. We need it. This will likely be our highest pick since 2009. Depending on QB needs around the league and interest , I'd also be open to shopping Brett Hundley for a high draft pick.
If we draft at say #10, and can land a low 2nd/high 3rd for Hundley, and get a 4th or 5th round comp for Hayward, we should be in good shape. We need at least 2 corners in this deep draft .
Just to spitball, if we took Marshon Lattimore in the 1st, or Jourdan Lewis in the 2nd, and surrounded these picks with other talent at positions of need already mentioned, combined these with the FA moves suggested, I think we'd be in good position to prove this year was a fluke.
