Packers Offseason Update

With the NFL draft less than a month away, it is a good time to take stock of the additions and departures for the Packers and what positions still need some work.

Re-Signed

Sam Shields, CB: One of the first moves the Packers made this offseason was signing Shields to a four year $39 million contract. The 26-year-old cornerback has had his ups and downs in his four year career, but the Packers needed to secure a solid young corner to help them defend against the pass, especially when offenses depend more and more on throwing the ball. The Packers have shown that they are not afraid to give substantial contracts to young players that they have drafted and developed. Shields had four interceptions last season and 13 on his career. With teams giving cornerbacks some big contracts this offseason, this deal seems like a great signing for the Packers.

B.J. Raji, NT: With his worst season to date in 2013, it was hard to predict if Raji would come back in 2014 as a Packer, but he decided to ink a one year four million dollar contract with Green Bay. Raji initially tested the free agent market hoping for a team to sign him to a big deal, but that deal never came. Instead, Raji signed a prove-it contract so that he can test the market again next offseason. Look for Raji to have a break out year for the Pack. Really this is a win for both Raji and Green Bay. Raji can leave next season if he performs well this year, while Green Bay pays a low price for a player that has everything to prove.

John Kuhn, FB: Seeing Kuhn in a jersey beside the green and gold would just be wrong. He resigned with the Packers on a one-year deal. Besides being a fan favorite for most of his career, Kuhn provides a sure blocker in the backfield that can also catch the occasional pass or bulldoze his way into the end zone. There could not have been a big market for Kuhn in free agency because many teams do not even carry a fullback on their roster, but Kuhn has proven himself to be a key piece to the Packers offensive puzzle.

James Starks, RB: While this may not appear to be a signing worthy of note, Starks has proved to be a solid running back when he stays healthy. Starks was a great back up for rookie Eddie Lacy last season. He averaged 5.5 yards per carry, and provided a change of pace when Lacy was out. The Packers secured Starks on a two-year deal. He will continue to get at least five carries per game. He is an underappreciated runner, and has proven his worth for the Packers in the past. Starks is a good signing for depth reasons alone. If there is one thing to be sure of for the Packers, it is that there will be injuries during the season.

Additional Signings:

Mike Neal, DE/OLB

Andrew Quarless, TE

Jamari Lattimore, ILB

Key Departures

James Jones, WR: The 30 year old wide receiver finally jumped ship from the Packers, signing a contract with the Oakland Raiders. It is hard to say that the Packers passing attack will miss Jones, as the team already has too many weapons to count at wide receiver. Both Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb have proved to be elite pass catchers with Jarrett Boykin also coming into the passing game fold. The Packers could still look to add some depth at the receiver position through the draft, but Jones’s departure isn’t a big blow to the team’s playoff hopes this season.

Evan Dietrich-Smith, C: This has to be the biggest loss to the Packers that no one is talking about. Dietrich-Smith proved to be a stable performer on an offensive line that has had its problems for the most part of the Packers last few seasons. Dietrich-Smith was not a big name, but he got the job done, and that is why the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed him up before the Packers could get him back. More importantly, Aaron Rodgers felt comfortable with Dietrich-Smith at Center. On their current depth chart the Packers currently list JC Tretter as their starting center. That has to be fixed before the season starts.

Other Departures:

M.D. Jennings, S

Marshall Newhouse, OT

C.J. Wilson, DE/DT

Free Agent Signings

Julius Peppers, DE: The Packers usually do not make a big splash in the free agent market, usually sticking to re-signing their own free agents and only making minor moves to shore up the rest of the roster. This year, Green Bay took a chance on one of the premier pass rushers in the league. With the Bears the last four-year, Peppers was a sack machine averaging almost ten sacks per season. Last year was a down year for Peppers, as he only registered seven sacks. The Packers obviously have a lot of trust in Peppers, as they signed him to a three year $30 million contract. Either this is a great signing or Peppers is starting to regress as his career nears an end. The only way to find out is to wait and see.

Other Free Agent Signings:

Letroy Guion, DT

Positions of Need

Saftey: The biggest area of need that the Packers have to address this offseason is the safety position. The defensive backfield was a mess last season, mainly due to the Packers safety position’s poor execution. There are not a lot of impact free agent safeties remaining, but the draft should produce a couple of standout players in Alabama’s Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Louisville’s Calvin Pryor. If either player is there in the first round at the Packers pick at 21, they could scoop up their safety of the future.

Center: The Packers have to make the offensive line a priority, especially the center position where no true answer is currently on the roster. The Packers have to protect their franchise player in Aaron Rodgers. The center position is one of the most important positions on the offense, as they call out all of the blocking adjustments for the offensive line. The Packers will have to sign a free agent or use a high draft pick in order to provide Rodgers with a center that he is comfortable playing with.

Tight End: With Jermichael Finley now a free agent that is not looking at returning to the Packers as an option, Green Bay must improve the tight end position and provide Rodgers with a solid pass catcher that can make the tough catch in the middle of the defense and also go over the top and beat out slow linebacker in man coverage. This year’s draft provides a lot of options at tight end with at least five players that could step in right away and start for the Packers in their high-powered offense.

Other Team Needs:

Linebacker Depth

Backup Quarterback

Will Rossmiller

wross460@uwsp.edu

@willrossmiller

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