Jan 8, 2017; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) drops back to pass against the New York Giants during the second half in the NFC Wild Card playoff football game at Lambeau Field. Photo Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
As they wade through free agency and prepare to evaluate draft prospects at the Indianapolis Combine (March 1-6), the Green Bay Packers must decide which players to keep as they seek to improve upon their 10-6 record from last season.
The Sports Xchange and NFLDraftScout.com evaluated the Packers’ roster and created a shopping list to use in free agency and to reference during the Combine.
Injuries decimated the secondary in 2016, resulting in a pass defense that was ranked next to last in the league. Cornerback Sam Shields was released in early February after being sidelined by a concussion last season. The pass rush also needs help, especially if Nick Perry can’t be re-signed.
On offense, the running game needs attention.
THE BREAKDOWN
2016 finish: 1st in NFC North (10-6)
STATISTICS
TOTAL OFFENSE: 368.8 (8th)
RUSHING: 106.3 (20th)
PASSING: 262.4 (7th)
TOTAL DEFENSE: 363.9 (22nd)
RUSHING: 94.7 (8th)
PASSING: 269.3 (31st)
NEEDS, SHOPPING LIST
*Indicates option not expected to be exercised or expected to be released
TOP 3 NEEDS
RUNNING BACK
The Packers never had a threat at halfback after losing Eddie Lacy to an early-season injury, and he is set to become a free agent.
UFA TARGETS (Age, 2016 salary)
Le’Veon Bell, Pittsburgh (25, $1.03M)
*Adrian Peterson, Minnesota (32 in March, $14M)
LeGarrette Blount, New England (31 in December, $1M)
Latavius Murray, Oakland (27, $567K)
Darren McFadden, Dallas (30 in August, $1.5M)
DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht., Wt., 40 time, Proj. Rd.)
1/5 Dalvin Cook, Florida State, 5-11, 206, 4.43, 1 (underclassman)
2/9 Leonard Fournette, LSU, 6-1, 230, 4.45, 1 (underclassman)
3/24 Christian McCaffrey, Stanford, 6-0, 202, 4.48, 1 (underclassman)
4/60 Alvin Kamara, Tennessee, 5-10, 215, 4.62, 2 (underclassman)
5/86 Joe Mixon, Oklahoma, 6-1, 226, 4.50, 3 (underclassman)
CORNERBACK
Green Bay’s pass defense was atrocious, right down to the blowout loss at Atlanta in the NFC Championship Game. The back end needs help.
POTENTIAL UFA TARGETS (Age, previous contract’s average annual salary)
A.J. Bouye, Houston (26 in August, $1.67M)
Trumaine Johnson, L.A. Rams (27, $13.95M)
Logan Ryan, New England (26, $693K)
Stephon Gilmore, Buffalo (27 in September, $3.02M)
Brandon Carr, Dallas (31 in May, $10M)
Prince Amukamara, Jacksonville (28 in June, $5.5M)
DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht., Wt., 40 time, Proj. Rd.)
1/10 Marshon Lattimore, Ohio State, 6-0, 195, 4.47, 1 (underclassman)
2/15 Teez Tabor, Florida, 6-0, 201, 4.50, 1 (underclassman)
3/21 Marlon Humphrey, Alabama, 6-1, 196, 4.49, 1 (underclassman)
4/23 Sidney Jones, Washington, 6-0, 181, 4.49, 1 (underclassman)
5/34 Desmond King, Iowa, 5-11, 206, 4.53, 1-2
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
This imperative position for the team’s pass rush could be overhauled, what with Julius Peppers, Nick Perry and Datone Jones bound for free agency.
UFA TARGETS (Age, previous contract’s average annual salary)
Chandler Jones, Arizona (27, $2.04M)
Melvin Ingram, L.A. Chargers (28 in April, $2.1M)
DeMarcus Ware, Denver (35 in July, $10M)
DRAFT TARGETS (Rating pos/overall, Player, School, Ht., Wt., 40 time, Proj. Rd.)
1/18 Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt, 6-3, 230, 4.74, 1 (underclassman)
2/26 Takkarist McKinley, UCLA, 6-2, 258, 4.58, 1
3/27 Tim Williams, Alabama, 6-3, 252, 4.76, 1
4/31 Haason Reddick, Temple, 6-1, 237, 4.54, 1-2
5/48 T.J. Watt, Wisconsin, 6-4, 243, 4.76, 2 (underclassman)
UFA KEEPERS
LB Nick Perry (27 in April, $5.05M)
TE Jared Cook (30 in April, $2.75M)
G T.J. Lang (injury; 30 in September, $5.2M)
C JC Tretter (26, $644K)
ROSTER REVIEW
MAJOR COACHING CHANGE
–Associate head coach/offense Tom Clements won’t return.
DEPTH CHART
Starters and backups are listed according to their status at the end of the season, but players who were starters before being injured are included.
* Indicates player who ended 2016 season on reserve.
& Indicates player released since the Super Bowl.
QUARTERBACK: Starter — Aaron Rodgers. Backups — Brett Hundley, Joe Callahan.
RUNNING BACKS: Starters — *Eddie Lacy (UFA), FB Aaron Ripkowski. Backups — Ty Montgomery, Christine Michael (UFA), &James Starks, *John Crockett, *Don Jackson, FB Joe Kerridge.
TIGHT ENDS: Starter — Jared Cook (UFA). Backup — Richard Rodgers.
WIDE RECEIVERS: Starters — Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb. Backups — Davante Adams, Geronimo Allison, Jeff Janis, Trevor Davis, Max McCaffrey.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters — LT David Bakhtiari, LG Lane Taylor, C Corey Linsley, RG T.J. Lang (UFA), RT Bryan Bulaga. Backups — T Jason Spriggs, *C/G JC Tretter (UFA), T/G Don Barclay (UFA), T Kyle Murphy.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN: Starters — DLE Mike Daniels, NT Letroy Guion, DRE Kenny Clark. Backups — DE Dean Lowry, DT Christian Ringo.
LINEBACKERS: Starters — LOLB Nick Perry (UFA), ILB Jake Ryan, ILB Blake Martinez, ROLB Clay Matthews. Backups — OLB Julius Peppers (UFA), ILB Joe Thomas, OLB Datone Jones (UFA), OLB Jayrone Elliott, OLB Kyler Fackrell, ILB Jordan Tripp.
DEFENSIVE BACKS: Starters — LCB Damarious Randall, *&RCB Sam Shields, SS Morgan Burnett, FS Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Backups — CB LaDarius Gunter, CB Quinten Rollins, DB Micah Hyde (UFA), S Kentrell Brice, S Marwin Evans, CB Josh Hawkins, CB Herb Waters, *CB Demetri Goodson, *CB Makinton Dorleant.
SPECIAL TEAMS: K Mason Crosby, P Jake Schum, KR Ty Montgomery, PR Micah Hyde, LS Brett Goode (UFA).
