Desmond Bishop is being tabbed as a starter at inside linbebacker, but who will back up inside is something yet to be decided. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

With day three of Packers camp in the books and the first day of pad work being held Monday night, there seem to be three things (among others) developing that are of interest to the final coming together of a team.

First, the rookies – it looks like first and second round choices, Derek Sherrod and Randall Cobb, are being looked to quickly for contributions.

Cobb, according to tweets last night and early morning news reports, made several difficult catches yesterday, showed impressive bursts of speed and is being touted as everything he’s been billed in the early going. Getting his timing with quarterback Aaron Rodgers is going to take some time. (more…)

First on the list, in addition to preparing for the arrival of players, will be the front office’s decisions in dealing with players on the free agent list.

On top of the list are three key players: Cullen Jenkins, James Jones, and Brandon Jackson.
As I’ve  written before in this Blog, the Packers probably have no choice but to let Jones and Jackson walk.

Jones, who showed a disturbing tendency to drop the ball in crucial situations has become expendable at this point with the emergence of Jordy Nelson and the drafting of Randall Cobb.
Jackson faces a similar fate. The breakout of James Starks at the end of last season and the drafting of Alex Green have left Jackson in a tough spot and most likely on the road to another team.

That brings us to Jenkins … If there is one free agent on the Packers squad worth keeping, he would be the one.
Defensive linemen of his caliber don’t come around every day. When the Packers have the opportunity to sign one of their own … one of the key cogs in their defensive dominance and drive to a championship … They should jump on it.
The Packers do have a solid stable of defensive linemen already on the team.

Howard Green and C.J. Wilson have demonstrated their worth and Wilson may be better than many think. When you add in B.J.  Raji and Mike Neal, the promising rookie who spent the majority of last season on IR, you’ve got a pretty good group.

So … What to do?”

It will be interesting to see Ted Thompson in action this year. Will this be the year he locks up as many of his own as he can? Will this be a year when he takes the plunge into free agency and signs one or two established players?

We will find out soon.

Stay tuned …