On the roster: CB Pat Lee, CB Al Harris, CB Joe Porter, CB Joshua Abrams, CB Trevor Ford, CB Charles Woodson, CB Brandon Underwood, CB Will Blackmon, CB Tramon Williams, CB/S Jarrett Bush, S Anthony Smith, S Aaron Rouse, S Charlie Peprah, S Atari Bigby, S Nick Collins.
How many theyll keep: 9 or 10.
Best guess (*=starter): CB Harris*, CB Woodson*, FS Collins*, SS Bigby*, Smith, Williams, Lee, Blackmon, Rouse, Bush.
Breakdown: Three of four starting jobs almost certainly are locked down by players who went to the Pro Bowl last season, but that doesn't mean there aren't question marks. The transition from Bob Sanders press-oriented scheme to the expanded zone principles of Dom Capers 3-4 in theory will provide more ball-hawking opportunities to the cornerbacks, but it could present a challenge for a player like Harris (6-1, 190), whose physicality at the line always has been crucial to his success.
Harris played younger than his 34 years the second half of last season, after coming back from a torn spleen, and figures to remain a starter opposite Woodson (6-1, 202), who is coming off two of his best seasons at age 32. Neither 12th-year veterans salary is a bank-breaker Harris (signed through 2011) is due $3 million in base salary plus about $1.26 million in bonuses, while Woodson (signed through 2012) is due $4 million in salary and another million in bonuses. Collins (5-11, 207) is coming off the best of his four seasons (99 tackles, seven interceptions, three returned for TDs, 18 passes defended) and has boycotted the bulk of the offseason program largely because of his contract, which is due to pay him $545,000 in base salary in the final season.
As of this afternoon, it remained unclear whether he had reported for OTAs. Bigby (5-11, 213) was a dynamic performer in 2007 (121 tackles, five interceptions) whose 2008 season (31 tackles, one interception in seven games) was lost to injuries, in particular an ankle that required offseason surgery. If Bigby doesnt bounce back as expected, the Packers have Smith (6-0, 200), who started parts of two seasons in Pittsburghs 3-4 but ended up in the doghouse and wasnt tendered as a restricted free agent.
Smith's two-year, $1.45 million deal included a $100,000 bonus and minimum base salaries. Another option is Rouse (6-4, 223), a third-round draft pick in 2007 who has been far too unreliable, in part because of injuries, and isnt a lock to make the team. The No. 3 corner is Williams (5-11, 191), who earned the nickel role last season and finished with five interceptions but gave up too many big plays when pressed into a starting role. Williams has refused to sign his exclusive-rights tender, which would pay him $460,000, but reportedly has been working out with the team. The Packers thought enough of Lee (6-0, 194) to draft him in the second round (60th overall) last year and have to hope he quickly can become at least a regular subpackage contributor something he failed to do before a knee injury ended his rookie season. Blackmon (6-0, 206) has played in subpackages in the past, but at this point, his primary role is as a return man.
The Packers used a sixth-round pick this year on the athletic Underwood (6-1, 198), who was productive in his lone season at Cincinnati (66 tackles, four interceptions, first-team all-Big East) after getting kicked out of the program at Ohio State. Underwoods size and speed (4.5 40) put him in the mix at corner, but he also could get a look at safety, and versatility might help his bid to make the team.
Bush (6-0, 200) has been penalty-prone and was relegated to spot duty on defense last season, but hes so productive on special teams (28 tackles over the past two seasons) he drew interest in restricted free agency and received a three-year, $4.5 million offer from Tennessee, which the Packers matched. Peprah (5-11, 203) is another core special teamer (20 tackles over the past two seasons) who hasnt done much on defense and once again will have to fight to make the team.
Abrams (5-11, 196) and Porter (5-10, 203), who made his NFL debut in December, are holdovers and long shots to make the team. Ford (6-0, 188) earned a contract offer with a strong tryout at rookie camp.