I couldn't disagree more with the idea of trading Pickett, even if Raji is ready, which I think he is.

You need depth along your front seven whether it's a 3-4 or 4-3. Doesn't matter. Pickett and Raji play the same position, but they're both going to play a lot this year due to the rotation Green Bay uses. Not to mention, if Jenkins or Jolly go down or are suspended, Raji moves to DE and Pickett plays NT. If Raji goes down, I want a player of Pickett's caliber playing NT. You may say don't overpay for a backup, but Pickett isn't a backup. He's apart of a four-man rotation that plays close to the same amount of snaps.

Jenkins, obviously, plays the most for obvious reasons, but the other three need each other, especially as the season lingers on.

Franchise him and get him extended for probably three years. I'm guessing Pickett is pushing for four though, but they can compromise.

---

Bear in mind too that the coaching staff has made no secret of the fact that they're grooming Raji to play DE, at least in the short term. I'm pretty confident Pickett stays.

---

Makes sense, but I hope we're not resting on our laurels and taking too long to re-sign players.

---

So we are going to franchise him and let Collins walk? Damn.

---

Collins is only going to be a RFA and will definitely receive the maximum tender. A first & third rounder. A team would have to give that up in order to sign him away from Green Bay, and even though Collins is a great player, no team is probably going to be willing to give that up for Collins services.

In other words, Collins is going nowhere. The Packers biggest worries right now though with Collins is that he is probably a high-risk candidate to hold out until he receives a long term deal.

---

Collins will be a RFA unless the CBA is redone by March 5th... which we all have a better chance of Peppers being a Packer this season..

In other words.. Collins isn't going anywhere without the Packers getting value in return... or more bluntly put.. he will be a Packer next season.

---

I wonder what Pickett's trade value would be. With Hampton, Wilfork and the guy from San Fran all likely getting the F-tag Pickett may be the ONLY quality D-lineman available.

At 30 he's no too old, we've kept his snaps down and last year he was rock solid vs the run. There just aren't that many big run stoppers in the league, let alone available on the trading block.

I'm all for keeping him for the reasons stated, but I'd love to know what some desperate team might offer up.

---

It's official.



http://twitter.com/Adam_Schefter/status/9594107827 

sweet. I bet he gets a new contract worked out before the season starts.

---

The last time we used the franchise tag, we traded the guy.

---