When NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reported last week that Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson would be more active in free agency this off season, it mostly likely caused either one of two reactions from Packers fans: laughter or anger. Nothing against Rapoport, who has become one of the top NFL insiders, but to believe that Ted Thompson will be more active in free agency is a far fetched concept.
Thompson has been the general manager of the Packers since 2005 and during this time, Thompson has rarely dipped into free agency. When he took over as general manager for Mike Sherman, who held the dual roles of head coach and general manager, the Packers roster depth was lacking, which played into one of Thompson’s strong suits, which is college scouting.
Green Bay Packers General Manager Ted Thompson Needs to Evolve
Thompson re-built the Packers roster through the draft and by signing players who went undrafted. The strategy helped build the Packers depth back up to where it needed to be and he found players that not only contributed but also thrived in the NFL. One player that Thompson selected in his early years was quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who helped lead the Packers to a Super Bowl victory in 2011. The selection of Rodgers wasn’t an easy selection for Thompson. At the time, he had Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre on his roster. But Thompson stuck to his beliefs and selected Rodgers, who was the best available at that time.
But fast forward to the present. Rodgers is now 33 years old and is starting to see his chances of making it back to the Super Bowl become limited. In fact, it is startling to most that the Packers haven’t been back to a Super Bowl since they won it back in 2011. However, it isn’t hard to explain why. Rodgers has lacked a supporting cast since then for the most part. That falls on the shoulders of Thompson, whose draft and develop beliefs have held the current Packers back.
In 1992, former Packers General Manager Ron Wolf hired Thompson, who was a former linebacker for the Houston Oilers, as a scout. Since that time, that has all that Thompson has known, to be a scout. Sure, he has made his way up the ladder as an NFL executive, but at the core of Thompson, he is still a scout. Even with being a general manager, he still hits the road throughout the season and visits campuses searching for the next hidden gem playing college football. That is what he has known and that is what he has done throughout his twenty five year career. But now, it is time for Thompson to be more of a general manager and less like a scout.
The Packers have had success led by Thompson. There is no arguing that. Under his guidance, the Packers have won six NFC North championships, made the playoffs nine times, and won a Super Bowl. He has discovered many players who have produced for the Packers, by drafting players, signing un-drafted free agents, and even signing free agents. Although he rarely dips into free agency, when he does, it is successful. He has signed players like cornerback Charles Woodson, defensive tackle Ryan Pickett and most recently outside linebacker Julius Peppers and tight end Jared Cook who have performed at a high level for the Packers, which makes it even more frustrating for Packers fans, knowing when he does utilize free agency, he is successful.
It was a necessity when Thompson took over in 2005 that he needed to find young players who could help the Packers develop into a team that could contend, something he succeeded in doing. But the Packers of 2005 are a lot different than the Packers of the present. Players like Rodgers, wide receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, and outside linebacker Clay Matthews are starting to get to a point where they need a supporting cast that will help them win now, not five years down the road. As magical as it was to watch the Packers reel off eight straight victories this past season and make it to the NFC Championship, the championship game, which the Packers lost 44-21 to the Atlanta Falcons, illustrated why Thompson needs to start thinking more about the present than the future. The lack of quality players on defense showed that day, something Thompson might have been able to change if he would utilize free agency.
In no way does this mean that Thompson should totally ignore the draft or finding undrafted players to help the Packers win. But to totally turn your back away from free agency or even trades, is total lunacy. It also doesn’t mean that Thompson has to sign every over the hill or washed up player with name recognition that is on the open market. But what he does need to do, is find the player or players that will help best the Packers not only get back to the Super Bowl but to win one. If not for the fans, but for players like Rodgers and the rest of the veterans. It will be difficult to take the college scout out of Thompson, but if the Packers are going to get back to the Super Bowl, they are going to need for him to do so.
