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The Packers are projected to be around $24.5M under the cap. They are in pretty solid shape, but have a number of solid players that could be resigned (Shields) or extended (Nelson, Cobb). If they get two compensatory picks (Greg Jennings, Erik Walden), they'll have 9 draft picks and will need around $6.5M to sign those picks. However, they'll be able to carryover $9.8M into next year's cap. That puts them at around $28M under the cap.
QB Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn (UFA), Scott Tolzien
What I'd do: Resign Flynn
RB Eddie Lacy, James Starks (UFA), Jonathan Franklin, DeJuan Harris
What I'd do: Resign James Starks, if the market for him is lukewarm. Otherwise, roll with Harris as the lightning to Lacy's thunder and use Franklin as the change of pace back.
WR Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, James Jones (UFA), Jarrett Boykin
What I'd do: Let James Jones walk (money is better spent at other positions and Boykin has made Jones expendable) and draft a WR relatively high in a deep draft class.
TE Andrew Quarless (UFA), Brandon Bostick, Ryan Taylor, Jake Stoneburner
What I'd do: Resign Quarless for the right money. Draft a TE relatively high (perhaps Jace Amaro if he drops to round 2).
OT Bryan Bulaga, David Bakhtiari, Don Barclay, Derek Sherrod, Marshall Newhouse (UFA)
What I'd do: Obviously, let Newhouse walk. Roll with the rest of this group and hope for better health.
OG Josh Sitton, T.J. Lang, Lane Taylor, Greg Van Roten
What I'd do: Stand pat.
OC Evan Dietrich-Smith, J.C. Tretter
What I'd do: Resign EDS. Go with continuity at OL. EDS was decent this year. Let Tretter develop.
DL B.J. Raji (UFA), Ryan Pickett (UFA), Datone Jones, Josh Boyd, Mike Daniels, Jerel Worthy
What I'd do: Aggressively overhaul this unit. Sign a FA (it's a pretty solid FA market with better players than Pickett on the market) and use draft picks here.
OLB Clay Matthews, Mike Neal (UFA), Nick Perry, Nate Palmer, Andy Mulumba
What I'd do: Unless I could get Jason Worilds from Pittsburgh, I'd try to resign Mike Neal and hope for better health.
ILB A.J. Hawk, Brad Jones, Jamari Lattimore (RFA), Sam Barrington
What I'd do: Cut either Jones (save $2M in cap room) or Hawk (save $1.9M in cap room). I'd rather have Hawk than Jones because of durability, so I'd lean towards cutting Jones. Lattimore and Barrington are intriguing, but I'd roll with a relatively high pick at this position.
CB Sam Shields (UFA), Tramon Williams, Casey Hayward, Micah Hyde, Davon House, Jarrett Bush
What I'd do: I think it's time to cut Bush. They'd save $1.7M in cap space. If it's a choice between Williams and Shields, I'm taking Shields. He's much younger and a better cover corner. They'd save $7.5M by cutting Williams. He had a great end to the season, but I think you'll see more of the 2011-2012 Williams over the 2010-late 2013 Williams over the next few seasons. The CB draft class is deep, so spend a relatively high pick at this position.
S Morgan Burnett, Sean Richardson, M.D. Jennings (RFA), Chris Banjo (RFA)
What I'd do: They need to find somebody opposite Burnett (and even Burnett had a lousy season). The draft class is weak, and the FA market is solid. They won't be able to afford Byrd, but there's an upgrade to be found on the FA market. Richardson has shown enough to keep around. Maybe Banjo also. Don't tender Jennings.
ST Mason Crosby, Tim Masthay, Brett Goode
What I'd do: Stand pat.
Coaches
What I'd do: Whether it's promoting from within, hiring another veterson coach like Wade Phillips, or finding some young hot shot, I think it's time to go in a different direction than Capers.
Draft
With their likely five picks in the first four round rounds I'd target TE (major need), WR (good draft class), DL (major need), ILB (need), and CB (good draft class). I'd target more DL in FA and a safety in FA (good FA market, bad draft class).
QB Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn (UFA), Scott Tolzien
What I'd do: Resign Flynn
RB Eddie Lacy, James Starks (UFA), Jonathan Franklin, DeJuan Harris
What I'd do: Resign James Starks, if the market for him is lukewarm. Otherwise, roll with Harris as the lightning to Lacy's thunder and use Franklin as the change of pace back.
WR Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, James Jones (UFA), Jarrett Boykin
What I'd do: Let James Jones walk (money is better spent at other positions and Boykin has made Jones expendable) and draft a WR relatively high in a deep draft class.
TE Andrew Quarless (UFA), Brandon Bostick, Ryan Taylor, Jake Stoneburner
What I'd do: Resign Quarless for the right money. Draft a TE relatively high (perhaps Jace Amaro if he drops to round 2).
OT Bryan Bulaga, David Bakhtiari, Don Barclay, Derek Sherrod, Marshall Newhouse (UFA)
What I'd do: Obviously, let Newhouse walk. Roll with the rest of this group and hope for better health.
OG Josh Sitton, T.J. Lang, Lane Taylor, Greg Van Roten
What I'd do: Stand pat.
OC Evan Dietrich-Smith, J.C. Tretter
What I'd do: Resign EDS. Go with continuity at OL. EDS was decent this year. Let Tretter develop.
DL B.J. Raji (UFA), Ryan Pickett (UFA), Datone Jones, Josh Boyd, Mike Daniels, Jerel Worthy
What I'd do: Aggressively overhaul this unit. Sign a FA (it's a pretty solid FA market with better players than Pickett on the market) and use draft picks here.
OLB Clay Matthews, Mike Neal (UFA), Nick Perry, Nate Palmer, Andy Mulumba
What I'd do: Unless I could get Jason Worilds from Pittsburgh, I'd try to resign Mike Neal and hope for better health.
ILB A.J. Hawk, Brad Jones, Jamari Lattimore (RFA), Sam Barrington
What I'd do: Cut either Jones (save $2M in cap room) or Hawk (save $1.9M in cap room). I'd rather have Hawk than Jones because of durability, so I'd lean towards cutting Jones. Lattimore and Barrington are intriguing, but I'd roll with a relatively high pick at this position.
CB Sam Shields (UFA), Tramon Williams, Casey Hayward, Micah Hyde, Davon House, Jarrett Bush
What I'd do: I think it's time to cut Bush. They'd save $1.7M in cap space. If it's a choice between Williams and Shields, I'm taking Shields. He's much younger and a better cover corner. They'd save $7.5M by cutting Williams. He had a great end to the season, but I think you'll see more of the 2011-2012 Williams over the 2010-late 2013 Williams over the next few seasons. The CB draft class is deep, so spend a relatively high pick at this position.
S Morgan Burnett, Sean Richardson, M.D. Jennings (RFA), Chris Banjo (RFA)
What I'd do: They need to find somebody opposite Burnett (and even Burnett had a lousy season). The draft class is weak, and the FA market is solid. They won't be able to afford Byrd, but there's an upgrade to be found on the FA market. Richardson has shown enough to keep around. Maybe Banjo also. Don't tender Jennings.
ST Mason Crosby, Tim Masthay, Brett Goode
What I'd do: Stand pat.
Coaches
What I'd do: Whether it's promoting from within, hiring another veterson coach like Wade Phillips, or finding some young hot shot, I think it's time to go in a different direction than Capers.
Draft
With their likely five picks in the first four round rounds I'd target TE (major need), WR (good draft class), DL (major need), ILB (need), and CB (good draft class). I'd target more DL in FA and a safety in FA (good FA market, bad draft class).
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