Green Bay Packers Top Three Offseason Needs

I am taking a pause in my position analysis series to talk about the Green Bay Packers top three offseason needs. This may tip everyone off about how I might be analyzing other positions, but this seems the right time to address this issue with teams already releasing and franchising players.

I am approaching this from the standpoint of the general manager position. In other words, if I was vice president of player personnel Mark Murphy, what expectations would I tell Ted Thompson I have?

Note: While I would suggest he consider spending money in free agency, I would not demand it. I believe the relationship between a supervisor and his staff should involve trust in their judgment and an allowance to operate as they deem best. All the person pulling the trigger should do, whether it is Murphy to Thompson or Thompson to McCarthy, is make it clear what the expectations are. Namely, we must make the playoffs in 2009.

Before looking at the needs, it is important to examine the depth chart. Before the depth chart can be established, we must look at players eligible for free agency.

Unrestricted Free Agents

1. Mark Tauscher, RT. A nine-year veteran out of Wisconsin, he has been a stud on the line and until 2008, played nearly every game. At just 31 years old, he is too young to cut loose; he will be re-signed unless his asking price is ridiculous—Thompson saves his cap room for keeping players rather than bringing in new ones.
2. Mike Montgomery, DE. A four-year veteran, he may be too lanky to play DE in the 3-4 system, which requires linemen to be bulkier. On the other hand, he has been a guy getting rotated in and may not command enough on the open market to make him worth not keeping. I would expect him back.
3. Colin Cole, DT. Another four-year veteran whose impact has been limited, he possesses the bulk at 6'1" and 330 pounds to be valuable at the NT position in a 3-4; I expect him to come cheap enough to keep, as well, but if not, there would be little loss in letting him go.
   

Restricted Free Agents

Rather than make a list of this extensive group, I will divide them into the "keep" and "release" categories, with a brief explanation why. The Packers should be able to keep those they want to because they can make qualifying offers that require too much compensation by any other team.

• Keep: Atari Bigby (play-making safety), Johnny Jolly (perfect tackle in the 3-4), John Kuhn (economical, solid fullback), and Jason Hunter (DE might be convertible to OLB and should be low cost)
  
• Release: Ruvell Martin and Shaun Bodiford (four good receivers with a fifth easy to find), Jarrett Bush (cost us the NFC Championship by trying to make the highlights and commits too many penalties), Tory Humphrey (third TE easy to find), Kenny Pettway (who? exactly...he's an OLB, by the way).

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?