The Packers Pre-Draft Plan

It's that time of the year when everyone likes to play NFL GM.  A plethora of mock drafts can be found with a simple google search.  Every second of the NFL combine can be seen online.  Youtube is full of highlights of nearly every prospect out there.  We are in a new age where the NFL fan has nearly as much access to the same information as NFL head offices do.  I like to play GM as much as the rest of them, so every year I go through my offseason plans for the Green Bay Packers.  My exact plan will never happen, but it's always fun to pretend.  But before we can even get into the draft, we need to look at the depth chart and what can be done prior to the draft.  We'll start off by breaking down are situation and each position:

QB
The Packers have arguably the best quarterback in the NFL.  Rodgers is due for a big payday, but there is no doubt the Packers will get it done.  There is no need to focus on backup quarterbacks at this time.  Without Rodgers, this team will go nowhere.

HB
Although we are a pass first offense, a reliable runningback is a need for GB.  DuJuan Harris came on well at the end of last year and Alex Green is coming off an injury, so a veteran who can pound it between the tackles is a priority.  It is unlikely the Packers will pursue Cedric Benson, but there are several big names out there that the Packers could be looking at.  Steven Jackson, Michael Turner and Ahmad Bradshaw all are looking for jobs this offseason. 

WR
Greg Jennings will likely not be a Packer next season.  Franchising Jennings would have eaten up a majority of the cap space and its unlikely we look to sign him.  Jordy Nelson, James Jones, and Randall Cobb alone are a top-5 receiving corps.  Look for the Pack to target a WR in the mid-to-late rounds of the draft to add some depth.

TE
The biggest question remaining this offseason is what to do with Jermichael Finley.  Finley and his agent have come out and said a pay cut is not an option.  Finley has been a liability both on and off the field, so it's likely Ted Thompson will cut ties with the tight end.  This move will free up nearly $9 mil in cap space, allowing the Packers to pursue other players in free agency. Tom Crabtree and Andrew Quarless wait in the wings, but expect the Packers to take a tight end in the early rounds if Finley is indeed let go.

OL
Offensive line is the biggest need for the Packers this offseason, particularly left tackle.  TJ Lang and Josh Sitton are reliable at the guard position and the Packers' brass is optimisitc about Evan Dietrich-Smith transitioning into the center role.  Bryan Bulaga will be the starting right tackle in 2013, but he needs to show he can be reliable.  Marshall Newhouse and Derek Sherrod are a liability though at the left tackle position, so expect the Packers to address this issue.  Jake Long is on the market and the cap space freed up by cutting ties with Jennings and/or Finley could make Long in a Packers jersey a possibility.  It is also a deep draft at OL, so expect a draft pick or two to be used on depth at this position.

DL
Injuries to Mike Neal and Jerel Worthy left the Packers thin on the defensive line last year.  BJ Raji, Ryan Pickett and CJ Wilson remain at the top of the depth chart, but expect Worthy and Neal to see an increase in snaps this year.  Depth on the defensive line will be addressed in the draft, but don't expect it until the final day of the draft.

LB
injuries also left the Packers thin at linebacker as well.  Nick Perry, AJ Hawk, Desmond Bishop and Clay Matthews are slated to begin the season as the starters, however 30 games were missed total amongst them last season (AJ Hawk was the only one to play 16 games).  If they stay healthy, the Packers will get solid play from the position this year, but depth is a concern for sure.  AJ Hawk may be on his way out of Green Bay as well, so if an Alec Ogletree or Jarvis Jones falls to the Packers at #26, they may consider a replacement for Hawk, but either way linebacker will be targeted in the draft.

DB
Tramon Williams, Sam Shields, and Casey Hawyard lead a solid group of cornerbacks, but 
the vacancy left by Charles Woodson will be the biggest competition in the offseason.  MD Jennings, Morgan Burnett and Jerron McMillian are in line to see playing time at the safety position.  There are bigger needs elsewhere for the Pack, but the safety position could be addressed in free agency or day two of the draft.

Now that I've outlined the situation at each position, here is the plan the Packers should take leading up to the draft:

1. Release Finley - Finley simply is too much of a hit on the cap to keep around.  The $8.75 million freed up by this move will allow us to pursue some big name free agents.

2. Sign Jake Long - Long is an elite left tackle who is coming off an injury.  Signing Long will likely require a contract somewhere around 6 years for $60 million, but most forget he's only 27 years old.  Locking up a left tackle of Long's caliber would make Rodgers a happy man.

3. Sign Aaron Rodgers to a new contract - It is time for the Packers to lock up #12 to a long term deal.  The bar has been set by Joe Flacco's deal, so Rodgers' deal will be above that.

4. Sign a free agent runningback - The ideal candidate is Steven Jackson, who should still be considered a top runningback in the league.  A 2-year $11 milliion contract could get the workhorse in Green Bay.  Michael Turner and Ahmad Bradshaw could help the team, but only at a discounted price.

If the Packers can get these moves done, it would put them in position to approach the draft with more freedom.  Tight end would need to be addressed early in the draft, but Ted Thompson would be able take the best defensive player available in the mid rounds.  As usual, I'll give you my Packers mock draft, so stay tuned for that in another post.