Green Bay Packers free agency grades: Some are surprising

If one were to look up polar opposites in the dictionary, there would be pictures of Green Bay Packers GM Ted Thompson and NFL free agency.

That’s because we all know the history … Ted Thompson’s philosophy has been to draft and develop. He simply isn’t in the habit of breaking out the checkbook and writing out checks to veteran players who may or may not fit the Packers Way.

That said, Thompson hasn’t been totally absent from the free agency game.

He re-signed defensive linemen Mike Daniels and Letroy Guion, running back James Starks, linebacker Nick Perry and kicker Mason Crosby.

Though he lost cornerback Casey Hayward to the San Diego Chargers, Thompson understands that the depth at the cornerback position has never been better for the franchise and that the team could afford to cut ties with Hayward.

So, as free agency continues to wind down with signings of second and third tier players, the Packers may actually still be in the hunt and may still surprise us with some splashes yet this spring.

For instance, former Rams tight end Jared Cook did visit the Packers, but no signing took place. Is the team still in play for his services? We shall see.

But in the meantime, several media outlets have put together grades for teams and grades for individual free agent moves made the past couple of weeks.

Though Thompson has been slow to the trigger, the moves he has made so far have not been considered top-notch, but neither have they been considered total failures.

That said, on the next pages you will find what others are saying about the moves the Packers have made in the past couple of weeks.

Next: SI.com says ...