We’re barely 10 days into free agency and already the action has slowed to a crawl. I would think this would be an ideal time to go after some mid-value or low-value players. As if by telepathy as I was drafting this, word came down that Tramon Williams was re-uniting with the Packers. Here’s a breakdown by rotoworld.com, of three positions that are key to the Packers’ hopes.
Edge Rushers
Twenty-two of 48 players are still available, nine who were originally in the top half of the group. These include 34-year-old Ahmad Brooks, who was with the Packers last year, and is 11th ranked on the remaining list. There is also 16th-ranked Erik Walden, a former Packers player, who had 11 sacks with the Colts in 2016, but only four for the Titans in 2017. He’s now 32 years old.
Cornerbacks
Of 62 cornerbacks who were free agents, there are 32 still available. With Tramon off the list, number three is now Davon House. Ex-Packer Sam Shields followed closely behind him, and Tramon was ranked a bit behind those two. Well down the list are some other fairly recognizable names: Byron Maxwell and Jeremy Lane (former Seahawks), Terence Newman (39-year-old former Viking) and Darrelle Revis (seven-time Pro Bowler, still only 32).
Wide Receivers
On Friday, 23 of 44 free agents were still available. As I write on Saturday morning, however, there are only 21 receivers still available, and Jordan Matthews has moved from number three to the top of the list. All 10 receivers who were higher rated have been claimed. Allen Hurns, 26, one of my least favorite receivers, topped the list until the Cowboys signed him to a (modest) two-year deal for up to $12 million. Jeff Janis now sits in the top half of those remaining, in the 10th position.
Miscellaneous
Ex-Packer Scott Tolzien is 14th out of 15 quarterbacks who are still free agents. Jay Cutler right now tops that list. Johnny Manziel isn’t listed, though he is reported to have had a good Pro Day workout down in San Diego.
Of 41 free agent running backs, 22 are still unsigned. Eddie Lacy, 31st on the original list, continues to draw little attention. The current fourth-best remaining player is former Viking Adrian Peterson, now 33 years old. Two aging stars, DeMarco Murray (30) and Darren Sproles (34), top the list of those still eligible. Fullback John Kuhn also is without a team.
The top-rated tight end, Martellus Bennett, just announced his retirement. Richard Rodgers is now 11th on the tight end list.
Ulrick John is near the bottom of the still-eligible tackles list. Ex-Packer Marshall Newhouse has signed a $1.5 million one-year deal with Buffalo.
One of the most eligible guards/centers, Josh Sitton, inked a two-year $18 million deal with Miami – not bad! Jahri Evans is now fourth from the top of this list. Don Barclay is next to last of those remaining.
As to edge defenders, Julius Peppers is out of the big money, but he signed on for another year with Carolina, at $5 million. Edge players are in high demand, as all but nine of the highest-rated 27 players on the list have been claimed.
Three players with Packers’ ties are still on the defensive linemen list, though well down it: Mike Pennel, Quinton Dial, Datone Jones, and Ricky Jean Francois. Ex-Packer Jordan Tripp is near the bottom of the linebackers list.
With 16 of the most eligible cornerbacks snapped up, Davon House finds himself third from the top of the remaining list. Tramon Williams just came off this list, and so did Sam Shields, who got a $1 million deal with the Rams. Cornerbacks Jeremy Lane, Deshawn Shead, and Richard Sherman have all left the Seahawks. Only Sherman has been claimed, but the 49ers put up $39 million to get him for three years. Morgan Burnett has moved on to the Steelers.
Jake Schum is one of only two of six free agent punters still unclaimed.
It’s likely that we’ll find out any day now whether or not Davon House, Jahri Evans, Ahmad Brooks, Richard Rodgers and a few others will be staying in Green Bay.
Under the circumstances, and rethinking my position on this, i think the Packers should have signed Shields.
For the league minimum or close, he could have been had. There is the concussion thing, but he’s playing anyway. He’s a grown man, he decided to play. If you sign him, and it doesn’t work out, what did you lose?
Nothing.
Shields wouldn’t return to the team & took away his big $ contract. He hates the Packers
1.1 million, plus a lifetime supply of dinkie dow……DONE
What’s the deal with Bashaud Breeland? I read that after the season, a golf cart rolled into the back of his foot, which reopened a would he first injured…. In the 4th grade.
Apparently it was enough for the Panthers to nullify his FA signing, but I haven’t heard any kind of other specifics or details. I guess word spread among GM’s and no one even wants to bring him in for a visit now.
Seems like a pretty weird situation for one of the biggest free agent cornerbacks.
So strange how quick Revis fell off. Only 32
Revis has had multiple knee surgeries
Is what I want to know is, how do the Packers intend on filling RG if Evans walks??? We got a good O-Line
Sign another band -aid. This team is starting to get good at it.
Evans played well all things considered
Yea, he did ok. But that’s just pushing the problem out a year.
Either Evans is retiring, or he’s holding the Packers up for more money.
Two years, $18 million for Sitton in Miami? Dang… Get that money!
Good for him i say. Good karma comes to those who have gotten fucked by the GBP.
We fukt Sitton, how again!?