I thought this was an interesting debate over the different positions that the Packers could use more help at and fits in to what a number of us have talked about and might be perfect for a bye week.

So Neal, Perry, Daniels, Raji, Guion and Datone are all FAs at the end of this year? WOW Packers are going to need some defensive front help... unless they're able to resign almost all of these guys, at least more depth.

Based on the contracts (assuming we're not going to be able to resign all of them)... DL, OLB, OT and TE are where I think their needs to more help.

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Ted will extend most of those Dlinemen. I'd look at TE, OLB, LT.

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I would also include RT to the wish list.

So in reading it appears, everything except QB and DB, kicker and long snapper.

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Assuming Jordy is fine, I think the Packers feel really good #1-4. Also if Janis or Abbrederis show anything I would be surprised if the Packers draft anyone before the 7th round.

I'm assuming Starks prices himself out of what the Packers want to spend at his age and they draft a 4th-7th rounder to replace him, but if they can agree on a 2-3 year deal then RB is probably good for awhile.

I'm not sure on the contract details of the starting O-line but I think the Packers like the backups at guard-center, so unless they're already planning on a replacement for Lang/Sitton (doubtful) they probably are only targetting a Tackle. Also with Bulaga just getting a new deal and Bakhtiari up for a new contract I think the Packers are only going to take later round projects here as well. Unless they don't think Bakhtiari is worth the big 2nd contract starting left tackles usually command

I see the Packers focusing on TE, D-line, and linebacker in the draft.

Tolzien will be gone, Hundley should step up, but we'll need a #3.

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It is strange how much of the DL is up. I understand most of these guys are on a "prove it" type deal, but you certainly don't want to be replacing all of them. The good thing is the Packers have shown loyalty to Raji and Guion through their down periods and I would hope this will lead these guys to want to re-sign with us.

Looking at the draft, I think Ted will select what is best on his board where there may be a need. I can see Hayward and Richardson possibly being gone next year so I can see us again thinking DB early.

I do think that we should look at Tackle, but will one be available at 32?

TE and OLB should also get a look if the talent is there at the drafting position. I am not as high on RR as many. He doesn't seem to bring down the tough catch and it disappoints me as I think the TE should be a hands-guy more than the WRs. I think with OLB Perry has been a medical nightmare for most of his career and CMIII is being used more effectively switching between out and middle to me we need secure somebody for the long haul on the outside.

If Starks goes, I would still like to see us draft a small speed back with hands. I was hoping that was going to be Franklin. I love the screen game and a wish we would use it more to keep the defense guessing and to chew up the clock. It would make sense to draft a RB anyway with Lacy's contract coming up.

Teams don't typically do much negotiating during the season, but it would be nice to get a few of our guys signed early that we hope to keep around. We have a decent amount of cap space that could be used to front-load and create space for when other big contracts become due down the road.

The season's almost half over hahahaha - it's about time we start discussing this.

I see us re-signing Daniels and maybe Neal if he is cheap enough. All the rest of those D Linemen are easily replaceable with low round picks or UDFAs, and we already are loaded at OLB.

Clearly we don't need help at WR.

As was said, we might need a #3 QB, but that is easy with UDFAs - bring in 2 or 3 and pick the best. Maybe even sign Tebow (hahahaha said in jest, but not really)

We have more DBs than we know what to do with now, and we shouldn't lose any of them.

Specialists? We are strong there, and even if we weren't, it doesn't call for a draft pick.

So what's left?

Has anybody mentioned ILB? If we could get a real stud there, I'd use a first or second rounder, but that position doesn't seem to correlate well between college stardom and pro success. Palmer and Barrington are maybe adequate, but it would be nice to have somebody the equal of Matthews there.

O Line? We really don't seem to have success with high draft picks there - most teams don't seem to. I guess that is another position where college stardom doesn't necessarily translate. I'd go for a mid-rounder or two though, hopefully aiming more for strength than mobility.

TE? I've changed my tune about Richard Rodgers - I like him now; I always liked Quarless - if he ain't damaged. Backman looked damn good to me; This is another position where it is just too easy to find somebody decent as a UDFA or whatever.

Running Back? Adequacy is easy to find - we had 3 of those as UDFAs this year and cut 2. I tend to think Starks is NOT gonna be too expensive because he is a little older - and of course, because teams are realizing more and more it's not a good idea to invest long term in a RB. I'm on record as saying DON'T re-sign Lacy for big money - I'm unclear whether his contract is up after this season or after next, or if there is a team option or what. IMO, I'd go for a RB in the first or second round, provided a great one is there. I wanted Melvin Gordon so bad; For this year, I want that type RB - NOT a Lacy clone but a SPEED BACK.

So in order, Speed RB, Stud ILB, Quality O Lineman - hopefully big and brutal, that's about it. We don't have any great needs. I'd like to see (although doubtful Ted would do it) some packaging of picks and moving up to get better quality - if we can be fairly sure somebody is worth it.

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Ted Thompson will draft BPA. Most likely, when it's our turn, they'll be several guys of different positions all in the same talent tier, then the BPA becomes the guy who sits at our greatest position of need. Our positions of need will be determined by who we resign. The FAs are:

UFA (In order of importance-Guion and Neal move down the list if Raji and Perry are signed)
Daniels
Crosby
Goode
Raji
Guion
Perry
Neal
Hayward (Luxury, if cheap enough, he's gonna get a big offer)
Starks (Luxury-if cheap enough, we should get him for close to min contract)
Quarles
Barclay
Tolzein
Kuhn
J.Jones

RFA
Banjo
Mulumba
Taylor

ERFA:
Abby
Perrillo

We have 39 guys under contract for 2016 for 123,615,980.
D.Jones, Pennell, Boyd
Peppers, Palmer, Barrington, CM3, Elliot, Ryan, Thomas, Rasco
Shields, Dix, Burnett, Randall, Rollins, Hyde, Goodson, Gunter

Baktieri, Sitton, Linsley, Lang, Bulaga, Walker, Tretter
R.Rodgers, Cobb, Nelson, Adams, Lacy, A.Rodgers Backman, Monty, Janis, Harris, Hundley

Mastay

At the moment we are set to carry over 12M, leaving the 2016 cap salaries at 112M. If the cap goes up to a conservative 150M, we'll have 38M to spend; if to 160 as some are predicting; we'll have 48M to spend in 2016.

If we tag Daniels at about 12M; sign Banjo, Ringo, Abby, Crockett, Henry, Perillo, Vukjonivich and Rotheram for about 4.3; our rookie class for another 3.7M our 53 will be covered for 132M. Leave 7M for 2017. Then 11-21M in cap space is there for the rest of the FAs and a bunch more if Daniels is signed [Note: for every other FA signed about a .5M salary can be deducted].

CB, Safety, CB, CB, CB

I hope to be wrong.

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