Packers: Five-step plan for addressing needs in free agency
By Evan Siegel
4. Re-sign Jared Veldheer to a 1 year/ $1 million deal
The Packers are probably going to lose Bryan Bulaga to free agency this year. While it is necessary, it is definitely going to sting. The Packers signed Billy Turner last year in part to prepare for this to happen. Bulaga has had a great career with the Packers and surely has plenty of good football left in him, but he will command well more than the Packers can afford at this point. Given Bulaga’s endless injury history, this is his last chance to cash in.
The Packers appeared to hit the jackpot with Elgton Jenkins in the second round of last year’s draft, but Lane Taylor‘s potential release could open up another spot on the depth chart along the offensive line.
Jared Veldheer has bounced around a little bit but has been a competent contributor when need be after his days as an elite tackle. Aaron Rodgers has far too often been asked to deal with inexperienced and unprepared backups when starting linemen leave with an injury. Byron Bell, Jahri Evans, and Veldheer all gave the Packers decent contributions as opposed to Don Barclay, Jason Spriggs, and others.
5. Re-sign Ibraheim Campbell to a 1 year/$1.5 million deal
The Packers should be excited about getting Raven Greene back from injury this year. He missed all but two games in the regular season, and was cleared to play in the NFC Championship Game, but remained inactive. The Packers have publicly shown their excitement about the potential of Ibraheim Campbell in his limited time on the field. Campbell was up and down last year, but while sitting behind Savage and Amos, there isn’t too big a risk here.
Green Bay should seriously consider how good their defense could be with a total overhaul of the middle linebacker position. Every other position is at least mostly accounted for. Brian Gutekunst should shoot for some continuity here and bring back one of his younger defensive backs.
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The Packers should attack the defensive tackle and wide receiver positions hard in the draft, in particular receiver. This is possibly the most talented and deepest class of wide receivers in draft history, and pairing at least one high draft pick with Hooper now in the picture will take some attention away from Davante Adams.