Green Bay Packers: Ted Thompson Must Take a Risk in Free Agency

Ted Thompson has built a young successful team through the draft over the past few years.

However, this year Thompson must make a move in free agency.

The Green Bay Packers started out the 2011 season winning 13 straight games, and finished the regular season at 15-1.

After a disappointing loss to the New York Giants in the playoffs, it was clear that the Packers had holes that needed filling.

The Packers finished the season 27th in the league with 29 sacks. The lack of pressure on the quarterback was mainly due to weak linebacker play, outside of Clay Matthews.

Another problem the Packers may have for next season is the health of Nick Collins.

His status for next season is still unclear, and without him playing safety, the Packers will have decisions to make.

They have already talked about moving Charles Woodson to safety in place of Collins.

The Bottom Line? If Collins does not come back, then the Packers will have a hole at either cornerback or safety, depending on what happens with Woodson.

On defense alone, the Packers have needs at linebacker, defensive end and cornerback or safety. They also need help with their running game, and can use more depth on the offensive line.

All these problems cannot be fixed in the draft.

Free agency is where Thompson needs to make a move. He needs to get one of the top free agents available to help give the team an immediate impact.

The best move Thompson can make is going after defensive stud Mario Williams.

He has played all six seasons of his career as a Houston Texan but is set to become a free agent for the first time.

Williams has only played five games in a 3-4 defense, but recorded five sacks in those games. 

Adding a player like Williams, to play opposite of Matthews, will create a one of the best outside pass rushes in the league.

Matthews was double-teamed for most of the season and the other players could not win their one-on-one matchups.

With Williams in the mix, opposing teams will not be able to double both players, which will lead to more single man matchups for the two and help bring down the quarterback.

Thompson knows that outside linebacker is the top priority for his team this year.

Talk centers around the draft and the Packers picking up a good pass rusher in the first round. Instead, the Packers need to solve their biggest issue by bringing in someone who is a proven player.

If Thompson does make a move for Williams, it can also create more flexibility in the draft. With the outside linebacker taken care of, Thompson and the Packers can focus on other areas of the team.

They can focus, for example, on helping the pass rush more by getting a defensive end, or getting secondary help.

Williams will be hard for the Packers to get, as he will be the most sought after defensive player in this year's free agent class. Teams will be pushing hard to get him, including the Texans.

Williams has already stated that he wants to stay with his current team. However, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, Williams can only stay with the team if he accepts a "hometown discount." The Texans have salary cap issues and have other big name players like Arian Foster who will also be free agents.

Though the Packers' salary cap situation is better than the Texans, they still have some issues of their own.

According to ESPN, the Packers are about 10 million dollars below the salary cap. This does not leave the Packers much room to work with in the offseason.

However, the future of players like Donald Driver and Chad Clifton are still up in the air. Both players have high paying contracts, and if they are let go by the team, it will add additional cap space.

Thompson needs to put a full-court press this offseason in getting a free agent.

More specifically, he needs to make that push for Williams. Thompson has shown that he knows how to find young talent in the draft.

He needs to realize now that Williams is a proven player who can help the Packers be a defensive force for years to come.