5 Available Free Agents Still Within Green Bay Packers' Reach

The Green Bay Packers remain the only team in the NFL that has not signed another team's player in free agency, and with the NFL draft just over two weeks away, general manager Ted Thompson appears content to address the team's personnel needs then.

However, there remain some intriguing players on the free-agent market, and Green Bay has a couple of players of its own that it may choose to re-sign prior to training camp this summer. 

With about $18 million remaining in salary-cap space after splashy offseason moves such as re-signing Randall Cobb, Bryan Bulaga, B.J. Raji and Letroy Guion, Green Bay could afford to kick the tires on a free-agent veteran. 

The Packers will need about $5 million of that cap space to sign their 2015 rookies, and they'll likely want to keep some cap room freed up for in-season extensions for Mike Daniels and Casey Hayward. 

With that in mind, let's take a look at some available free agents the Packers could target late in the game.

LB Brandon Spikes

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Why hasn't inside linebacker Brandon Spikes signed with a team this offseason?

It could be because Spikes' play during his time with the New England Patriots and then the Buffalo Bills last season showed that he's only a two-down linebacker, adept at stopping the run but not so much in pass coverage. 

However, there are plenty of teams—including the Packers, who finished the season ranked 23rd in run defense—that could benefit from a rotational run-stuffer. 

Spikes played 46.3 percent of the Bills' defensive snaps in 2014, per Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston, and started 10 games. He had 33 total tackles, a sack and three passes defended.

With Spikes a big factor, Buffalo's run defense improved to 11th-best in the league. 

Spikes had a cap hit of $3.25 million in 2014 after he signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Bills coming off of his rookie contract with the Patriots. Some organizations, including Green Bay, might be unwilling to pay $3 million or more per year for a non-starter.

However, the Packers could really improve their depth at inside linebacker by using Spikes while their 2015 rookies develop, so that a full starting role is not thrust upon one of their draft selections from Day 1. 

FB John Kuhn

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Recently, every season has felt like it could be the last for 32-year-old Packers fullback John Kuhn. In 2014, the Packers waited until April 4 to re-sign the veteran to a one-year, $1.03 million contract. 

It's a little later this time around, and the will-they-won't-they dance continues. Kuhn was the only fullback on Green Bay's roster. He only played 337 of 1,053 total possible offensive snaps, per Pro Football Focus, for one touchdown. 

Kuhn also converted four first downs for the Packers. 

The fan favorite was a first-team All-Pro selection last season, and though his role for Green Bay is a small one, there's no denying he's one of the best fullbacks in the league. Per Pro Football Focus, Kuhn was the second-best fullback in the league last season in blocking.

Because the Packers didn't have enough strength at tight end to utilize two-tight end sets to block for running backs, head coach Mike McCarthy increased Kuhn's role as a run-blocker last season, and that's what he truly brings to the table for the team. 

If the Packers decide it's finally time to part ways with Kuhn, they could replace his role by drafting a tight end who excels in blocking or even another fullback. According to ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky, Kuhn's agent met with the Packers at the end of February, and nothing has come of that yet.

But for how much he helps the Packers' run game, Kuhn is a low-cost investment.

CB Jarrett Bush

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He might have a temper on the field, and there's that offseason arrest to consider, though no charges were filed. But cornerback Jarrett Bush was a strong contributor for Green Bay's special teams in 2015, and with the lack of depth at the cornerback position, re-signing Bush could save a draft selection from having to be spent on a low-round corner.

Though the Packers special teams group was dead-last in the NFL in 2014, per the Dallas Morning News' annual rankings, Bush was actually a bright spot.

Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 19th-best overall special teams player in 2014, out of 1,202. He also had only three missed tackles. 

After nine seasons in Green Bay, it wouldn't be surprising if Bush wanted to end his career as a Packer. However, with young guns on the roster to potentially replace his special teams role, such as 2014 rookie Demetri Goodson, the Packers might be ready to part ways with Bush.

If he would agree to the right price, Bush could help Mike McCarthy make a move toward accomplishing his goal of strengthening special teams.

TE Jermaine Gresham

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The Packers remember it well. In a demoralizing 34-30 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in September 2013, tight end Jermaine Gresham wasn't even close to being the Bengals' leading receiver. He had four receptions for 27 yards and no touchdowns. 

However, Gresham caught four of five targets, and the 6'5", 260-pound weapon was nearly impossible for Green Bay to bring down. The Packers had to commit multiple defenders just to getting him on the ground. 

One has to think he almost certainly would have signed somewhere by now, be it the Bengals or another team, were it not for the fact that he discovered during free agency that he would need to have surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back. 

The injury has likely kept teams at arm's length as they wait to see how the tight end recovers. If he appears to be healthy, however, he could be an intriguing option for Green Bay to supplement its tight end group and use its high- to mid-round draft choices on other, more pressing positions. 

In 15 games last season, Gresham had 62 receptions for 460 yards and five touchdowns. He was also the third-best tight end in the league in pass-blocking, per Pro Football Focus, which is where he could really be a good fit for the Packers. 

TE Zach Miller

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Like the other tight end on this list, Zach Miller is also coming off of an injury. However, while Jermaine Gresham only recently underwent surgery for his back injury, Miller had ankle surgery in November 2014 and was placed on injured reserve, so he's much further along in the recovery process. 

Miller wasn't utilized as much in Seattle as he was in Oakland, so his most productive seasons were in 2008 and 2009. He only played in three games in 2014 and had six receptions, 76 yards and no scores. However, in 2013, Miller had 33 receptions for 387 yards and five touchdowns, matching a career-high he set with the Raiders in 2010 on 60 receptions.

If he can score that many touchdowns on that few touches, he could be a great fit for the Packers, who will be looking to utilize two tight-end sets more frequently in 2015. Richard Rodgers is developing into a scoring threat, but Miller's experience would round out the group nicely. 

Miller was also the fourth-best run-blocking tight end in the league in 2013, per Pro Football Focus, which could be a huge boon to the Packers if they do choose not to re-sign fullback John Kuhn.

Miller was scheduled to make $1.050 million in base salary with the Seahawks in 2015. 

All salary-cap information via Spotrac.com.