Weighing the Pros and Cons of Green Bay Packers' Top Free-Agent Targets
This season, the Green Bay Packers may not sign a high-profile free agent like Julius Peppers, but that doesn't mean Ted Thompson won't look to existing veterans to supplement the moves he makes in the draft in April.
Though Thompson rarely pays big money for other team's free agents in March, he hasn't been totally inactive in free agency during his time in Green Bay either. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel compiled a list of free agents signed by the Packers since 2006, 15 in all.
This year, Thompson could look at inside linebackers, tight ends or even defensive tackles, given the team's own free-agent situation. After cutting Brad Jones and A.J. Hawk, the Packers may want to turn to both the draft and free agency to fill the bench at the position behind Sam Barrington, as well as fill their vacant starting position.
At tight end, 2014 rookie and third-round pick Richard Rodgers is developing nicely, but Green Bay still lacks a complete tight end, and adding an experienced veteran with blocking ability could allow the Packers to employ the two-tight end sets they like to use.
At nose tackle, B.J. Raji is coming off a torn biceps suffered last offseason, and Letroy Guion is waiting out the legal process after his arrest in February on federal drug and weapon charges. Either (or both) would be relatively inexpensive to re-sign, but if the injury or the legal issue give the Packers pause, they could strengthen the position with a veteran.
If the price is right on any of the following free agents, they could help provide a foundation for Green Bay's draft in April.
ILB Mason Foster
1 of 5
Pros
Only 25 years old and with a cap hit of just $1.5 million in 2014, Mason Foster of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers combines experience with affordability and potential to grow. Foster could be a needed veteran presence at a young position that will get even younger with the selection of one or two more players at the position in April.
Foster, standing at 6'1" and 241 pounds, called the plays for the Buccaneers in Lovie Smith's system in 2014 and increased his role in coverage, which makes him versatile enough to play three downs or rotate in depending on Green Bay's needs.
Cons
Foster sat out six games in 2014 with injuries to his shoulder and Achilles, but he had a productive 15-game campaign in 2013, with 63 total tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble, three interceptions for two touchdowns and seven passes defended.
He's not super experienced in coverage, though he improved on that in 2014, and he won't be an explosive playmaker, but he'll be a solid run-stopper.
Final Verdict
The price and experience level are both right for Foster. He's not the long-term answer for the starting role next to Sam Barrington, but he could provide some much-needed depth at a thin position. He could give Green Bay options depending on the development of their draft selections through training camp.
ILB Josh Bynes
2 of 5
Pros
The Detroit Lions' Josh Bynes ranked in the top 15 among inside linebackers in 2013, per Pro Football Focus, and is only 25 years old. He started nine games with the Baltimore Ravens through 2013 but was a rotational player in Detroit in 2014 and could provide a similar role for Green Bay if the Packers draft a starter next to Sam Barrington.
Bynes had his first career interception in 2014. A restricted free agent, his cap hit in 2014 was only $469,412. Packers fans may remember Bynes from the 2013 matchup against Baltimore; he earned the third-highest overall grade on the team from Pro Football Focus being stout against the run and breaking up a crucial pass to Jermichael Finley to force a field goal.
Cons
Bynes didn't start any games for the Lions in 2014, so although he would be less expensive for Green Bay to re-sign than Jamari Lattimore, he would be a rotational player only. He suffered a cracked vertebrae during training camp in 2012. Bynes is a restricted free agent, so the Lions may match any offer he receives.
Final Verdict
A solid rotational player, signing Bynes would be about the equivalent of drafting a second inside linebacker in the seventh round of the draft for Green Bay. He proved he can come up big in key moments when he took over for an injured Ray Lewis on the Ravens, but the Lions didn't use him much in 2014.
NT Dan Williams
3 of 5
Pros
A 2010 first-round draft pick, Dan Williams has started 40 games for the Arizona Cardinals and could be the run-stuffer the Packers are seeking.
At 27 years old, Williams is younger than B.J. Raji and only a few weeks older than Letroy Guion. In nine starts in 2014, he had 31 combined tackles, a sack and a pass defended. He was ranked the No. 8 defensive tackle in the league against the run last season by Pro Football Focus, which is exactly what Green Bay is looking for to anchor the line.
Cons
Williams had a cap hit of $2.185 million in 2014, in the final year of his rookie contract, and his performance has warranted a payday.
Final Verdict
Williams could be a longer-term answer at nose tackle than B.J. Raji or Letroy Guion, but he could also be more expensive to re-sign than both of them combined. Green Bay may get a better and more explosive run defender out of Williams but not for the price he could command in free agency.
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TE Jordan Cameron
4 of 5
Pros
The Packers currently only have three tight ends on the roster, and two were rookies in 2014. Though Richard Rodgers' development spiked in the second half of the season as he built chemistry with Aaron Rodgers and capitalized on red-zone opportunities, the Packers could use a complete tight end to be a pass-catching weapon as well as a blocker.
Jordan Cameron's size can't be beat. At 6'5" and 249 pounds, he is bigger than any tight end on Green Bay's roster. In his best year in 2013, he had seven touchdowns and 11 catches of 20 yards or more. Having never had an elite quarterback throwing him the football, Cameron could have just scratched the surface of his potential so far in his career.
Cons
Coming off his rookie contract, Cameron could be looking for a bigger payday in free agency than the Packers would be willing to give. But his case is hurt a little by the fact that he only played 10 games in 2014 as the result of various injuries.
Those injuries, however, could give potential suitors pause, especially Cameron's concussion that caused him to miss four games.
Final Verdict
Signing a bigger-name offensive player like Jordan Cameron in free agency isn't Thompson's usual MO, but he'd be a fantastic addition to Green Bay's receiving corps, especially if Randall Cobb leaves in free agency. The Packers' seam passing game has been ineffective since the loss of Jermichael Finley, and it's clear that Andrew Quarless isn't the answer.
DT Terrance Knighton
5 of 5
Pros
Terrance Knighton was one of the best defensive tackles in the league against the run in 2014, with 30 combined tackles. He came in ninth in Pro Football Focus' grading, right behind Dan Williams. He also had three batted passes, near the top among all defensive tackles.
Knighton has also been sturdy, playing a full 16-game slate in both 2013 and 2014. In fact, there has only been one season in his six-year career he hasn't played 16 games: 2011 in Jacksonville.
Cons
The Packers have moved toward getting smaller and faster on the defensive line, and Knighton's weight might be a concern for them. Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman reported Knighton has incurred fines totaling approximately $300,000 for missing weight markers.
Final Verdict
Though the Denver Broncos play a hybrid 3-4/4-3 defense, his size means Knighton would be more of a strict nose tackle for Green Bay. Thus, it's the same situation as I broke down for Williams; if the Packers choose not to re-sign Raji or Guion due to injury or legal concerns, Knighton could be a candidate for a long-term deal to anchor the line.
However, Knighton had a cap hit of $2.750 million in 2014, and the Packers could potentially re-sign Raji and Guion for that cap hit in 2015, if Raij accepts a $2 million one-year deal (half of what he did last offseason) and Guion is signed for the seven-year veteran minimum of $870,000. Thompson may miss the opportunity to sign Knighton when other suitors come around early in free agency. After all, Thompson makes his signings after the dust has settled.
Contract and salary-cap information is courtesy of Over The Cap and Spotrac.
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