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Green Bay Packers: Ten players to target in free agency

By Kenn Korb

Nov 8, 2015; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Lamar Miller (26) runs with the ball against the Buffalo Bills during the first half at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 8, 2015; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Lamar Miller (26) runs with the ball against the Buffalo Bills during the first half at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 20, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Chicago Bears tight end Zach Miller (86) runs after the catch in the third quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium. The Minnesota Vikings beat the Chicago Bears 38-17. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Chicago Bears tight end Zach Miller (86) runs after the catch in the third quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium. The Minnesota Vikings beat the Chicago Bears 38-17. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /

Zach Miller

While the Allen-Fleener look would be a possible long-term fix, Miller could be a stop-gap option that definitely wouldn’t stop Green Bay from looking to the future in the draft while taking care of the present.

Don’t confuse him with the Zach Miller who used to play for Seattle and Oakland; this one was a Jaguar to start his career but actually didn’t play on a team from 2011-2014 before stepping into Chicago and being a reliable option. He wouldn’t be a dynamic pickup, but putting him out there with Rodgers would give Green Bay the 1-2 punch I mentioned earlier.

Miller came out of nowhere for a nice season that saw him nearly double both his career yardage (439 this season, 470 previous three years) and TD catches (5 this year, 4 previously). He did this with some big plays as well, averaging 12.9 yards per catch.

He graded out as the 8th-best TE in the league by PFF rating (81.0) and was almost that good as a pass blocker (79.6).

His age will undoubtedly affect his price-tag – as well as this being his only season of note – but those would likely work in Green Bay’s favor. Giving him a short one- or two-year deal would secure that position in the short-term, with Green Bay still able to consider other options in the draft.

Secondary Option: Ben Watson

Dec 21, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints tight end Benjamin Watson (left) celebrates a touchdown catch with quarterback Drew Brees (9) in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Lions won, 35-27. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints tight end Benjamin Watson (left) celebrates a touchdown catch with quarterback Drew Brees (9) in the fourth quarter against the Detroit Lions at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Lions won, 35-27. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /

Watson has more of a track record of production (he’s been around since 2004) and has been a part of high-level offenses in both New England and New Orleans.

He is also somehow coming off his best season despite being 35 (74 receptions, 109 targets, and 825 yards are all career-highs, while he also tied a career-high with 6 TD catches.

Watson would be a stop-gap by every definition of the word, but he could provide a capable and reliable veteran presence to an offense that was severely lacking in that area from its skill-position players on offense in 2015 after Jordy Nelson went down.

Next: A huge splash

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