Entering the 2016 NFL Season, Ted Thompson will have more than just wins and losses on his mind throughout the season. The Green Bay Packers have a lengthy list of free agents that the front office will need to address. Each year the fans head into the off-season with high hopes and leave empty-handed and disappointed. It’s not because Ted Thompson loves to break their hearts. It is not because Ted Thompson is too afraid to make those high-priced, splashy-named free agent signings. He is extremely methodical in his acquisitions.
Thompson makes his signings based solely on this team’s best interest. Think about it. When was the last time the Packers were in a salary cap crunch? How about the last time they lost a top tier player because they couldn’t afford him? It doesn’t happen. So instead of over paying for a name, Green Bay keeps the players we know intact. And this year is a big year for Green Bay’s upcoming free agents. There are some questions to answer. Here are the top 5:
To Sign or Not To Sign: Packers Free Agency Questions
David Bakhtiari
This is one of Ted Thompson’s best moves since becoming the Green Bay Packers General Manager in 2005. After a couple failed attempts at drafting a left tackle to protect Aaron Rodgers, Thompson was able to strike gold with David Bakhtiari in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. A young kid from University of Colorado, Bakhtiari came into the organization and started all 16 games as a rookie. The only in the NFL that season.
During his rookie season at left tackle, he helped Green Bay finish in the top 10 in both rushing (No. 7) and passing (No. 6) for the first time since 2004. He also helped fellow Rookie running back Eddie Lacy rush for 1,178 yards, the most by a rookie in team history. That same year Lacy was selected to the Pro Bowl and was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year by AP.
Opened all 16 games at left tackle in 2014 and helped Green Bay Rank No. 1 in the NFL in points per game (30.4), sixth in yards per game (386.1) and tied for first in giveaways with a franchise-record 13. Bakhtiari success was rewarded by voting him the Pro Bowl as an alternate. His quarterback, Aaron Rodgers earned NFL Most Valuable Player honors from The Associated Press that same year.
Last year, Bakhtiari Started all 14 contests he appeared in at left tackle, helping to block for running backs Eddie Lacy (758) and James Starks (601) as they became the first Green Bay duo since 1985 to both rush for 600-plus yards in the same season. Only guards Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang have started more games in the past three seasons.
The Price
Bakhtiari has been everything a team can want from the blindside protector of your franchise quarterback. And to think Thompson was able to get all of that production out of a fourth-round pick. The Packers have been blessed with maximum play at the minimum dollar. In his 3 years since joining the Packers, Bakhtiari has only missed a total of two games. And he has only cost Green Bay a total $2, 615, 400. Pretty remarkable. But the question remains: Does Thompson want to reward Bakhtiari for his level of play or let him go and put his faith in a rookie left tackle from Indiana, Jason Spriggs? Bakhtiari’s resume speaks for itself. But the top four left tackles in the game right now are currently getting paid over $12 million a year. A hefty price. Is that too much to protect their ultimate investment?
This is the hardest one to read because of what Thompson did in this year’s draft. After the general manager moved up in the second round to draft a left tackle its easy to automatically assume that that is the replacement. But, in the same breath, after last year’s catastrophe of depth at offensive line, maybe it was Ted Thompson just acquiring some depth at a position that was bled dry last year. It will be interesting to see what happens here. Thompson may let this play itself out and let Bakhtiari get his opportunity to test the market. Or he may re-sign and continue to build.
Sitton v Lang
T.J. Lang and Josh Sitton have been together since 2011 and have become a staple of this offensive line. Quite arguably the best guard duo since Fred “Fuzzy” Thurston and Jerry Kramer swept the nation during Lombardi’s Glory Years.
When comparing the two players it is hard to find anything to put one ahead of the other. The only saving grace in this is that if Ted Thompson chooses to not re-sign Bakhtiari, then maybe they will have the freedom to re-sign both guards. The Packers front office would be keener on putting the appropriate parts in front of their franchise quarterback than any other position. But how do they choose one over the other?
In the five years they have played together, both Sitton and Lang have only missed two games apiece. So durability and health is not the answer. Josh Sitton just recently turned 30 years old, while T.J. Lang turns 29 in September, so age can get thrown out. It’s not an easy answer. The only real option is to determine which position young lineman J.C Tretter plays best at. Honestly, he can play any position. He is currently the starting center taking over for Corey Linsley. Tretter is also a free agent, but the front office won’t let him go as he is the most versatile asset on the offensive line. If there is one thing that Ted Thompson loves its versatility.
When all is said and done, they end up retaining both Sitton and Lang. Both players are heading into their final contracts and will most likely be looking more for another title run than a chance at a big payout. Currently, the both are the fifth highest paid in their positions.
Eddie Lacy
This is a big year for Eddie Lacy. And he knows it. Which is why he got a hold of P90X founder Tony Horton this off-season to help get him into shape. Last year, we all witnessed an overweight, lethargic Lacy running the ball and you began to wonder if this was it. It didn’t appear as if Lacy’s heart was in the game anymore. His choices off the field were starting to impact his play on the field. He extended his bad eating habits and disregarded the coach’s requests to spend more time in the weight room. Which resulted in more injuries and less playing time.
Now Eddie Lacy is not your typical burner back. He’s not going to outrun defensive backs, heck he probably won’t even outrun your linebackers. He’s a bulldozing, old school, Earl Campbell type back. But when he loses sight of his ultimate goal it effects the entire team. His weight issues last year were a nuisance in the locker room throughout the entire season.
A Key Year
Luckily, Lacy will be entering the 2016 NFL season as a “contract year” player. It’s do or die time for the running back. If he wants to get his big paycheck he is going to have to show the team, as well as the rest of the NFL, that he is ready and committed to being the best back he can be. Usually when there is money on the mind you tend to see a rise in production from players across the board. So expect to see Lacy have a standout year. Mix that in with half of his offensive line in their “contract years” and you’ve got yourself a deadly punch.
If Lacy has a record year at running back for the Green Bay Packers, do the Packers still sign him? If they re-sign him after a big year will he just quit on them again after the check has cleared? Between that concern, the average shelf life of running backs in this league, and the fact that the 2017 NFL Draft is loaded with running backs, don’t expect to see Eddie Lacy returning after this season.
Perry v Jones
There are three big name defensive lineman/outside linebackers on the list. Former first-round picks Nick Perry and Datone Jones, and free agent acquisition Julius Peppers. With Peppers, it is safe to say that this will most likely be his final season with the Green Bay Packers. Which leaves both Nick Perry & Datone Jones as the only outside linebackers opposite of Clay Matthews. And both of them are free agents. So it comes down do we re-sign one, none, or both?
This year, Head Coach Mike McCarthy and Defensive Coordinator Dom Capers have decided to tag Datone Jones with the “elephant” edge rusher label. Jones, who played the previous 3 season on the defensive line will now line up as an outside edge rusher, similar to Julius Peppers. Jones took the challenge to heart and spent his off-season shedding 15 pounds to help increase his burst and first step. If Jones is able to adapt cleanly and put up big numbers, then expect him to get the nod.
Outside linebacker Nick Perry will also be in the same role as Datone Jones. Nick Perry signed a one-year, $5 million deal this off-season in hopes to get one more shot to prove his worth. As Peppers fades into his gold jacket, it will be fun watching both Jones and Perry battle for that spot. Expect a good battle as both of these players has really been improving over the past two years. The drafting of defensive end Dean Lowry and outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell will turn up the heat on both of these players.
Who’s Left
This year brings a total of 15 players entering free agency in the 2017 season. We covered some of the bigger names. But there is still a handful that is left. One of the biggest names on that list is defensive back, Micah Hyde. One of the most versatile players on the entire team, Hyde brings a special skill set to that defense. He will absolutely draw a large interest from teams around the league. Hopefully the Packers can retain him. On the defensive side, linebackers Sam Barrington and Nate Palmer, defensive end Josh Boyd, safety Chris Banjo*, outside linebacker Jayrone Elliot*, and defensive tackle Mike Pennel* are all free agents. Punter Tim Masthay* is also a free agent. (*Restricted free agent)
Barrington and Palmer’s return is dependent on the progression second-year linebacker Jake Ryan and rookie linebacker Blake Martinez. Defensive end Josh Boyd will most likely be retained and continue to develop. Safety Chris Banjo is a strong leader and special teams machine. Expect him to re-sign. Outside linebacker Jayrone Elliot has really stepped up his game of recent and will have an opportunity this year to really shine. Defensive Tackle Mike Pennel is a beast of a man and will hopefully come back after his suspension and prove that he is ready to fill that spot. Lastly, punter Tim Masthay has a real issue going into this season as rookie punter Peter Mortell is continuing to out-punt his teammate.
Overview
It’s obvious to say that Mr. Thompson has a lot to think about this year. Hopefully, the front office will be able to address some of these contracts during the season leaving for less stress heading into the 2017 season. I won’t get into it, but the 2018 list isn’t any prettier than the 2017 list. Be happy that we get to sit back and watch the product. Not that we have to stay up all night worrying about how to assemble the product.
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