NFL Rumors: What Green Bay Packers Will Do with Matt Flynn and Jermichael Finley

For a team that finished the regular season with 15 wins and the No. 2 scoring offense in NFL history, the Green Bay Packers certainly have some question marks heading into this offseason. 

While the need exists to find a pass-rusher opposite Clay Matthews, an impact player along the defensive line and someone to potentially cover for the career-ending injury to Nick Collins, the Packers have decisions to make with their own scheduled free agents on the roster.

Central to those decisions are the futures of both Jermichael Finley and Matt Flynn.

Let's take a quick look at how the Packers may handle the free-agent status of each player. 

Jermichael Finley

An inconsistent season that was plagued by drops and mental errors has given many the assumption that the Packers won't give Finley the long-term contract he desires. And until the Packers get a better feel for the 25-year-old tight end, that's the plan they'll likely take.

With all his physical attributes and sky-high potential, it's likely that Finley wants top-five tight end money over several years. It's very unlikely that the Packers give in to those demands.

The most likely scenario is that the Packers slap the franchise tag on their talented tight end to give him another year in the organization to prove he's worth a long-term deal.

Regardless of how frustrating Finley is at times, the Packers would be crazy to let such a talented player that they developed get away before he can realize his potential.  

Matt Flynn

There are some who want to see the Packers franchise tag Flynn and then deal him for a top pick or two. That's an unlikely scenario.

With so many big-name players—including Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews—due for extensions and raises in coming years, Packers GM Ted Thompson simply can't risk getting stuck with Flynn at a $14 million price tag for franchised quarterbacks.

While the Patriots successfully pulled off a move of this type with Matt Cassel, the money is on Thompson letting Flynn walk to the team of his choice and taking the high compensatory pick. Either way, the Packers are going to get something back.