I have to believe a guy like LaDarius Green has a reasonable chance of being signed by the Packers. That guy ran 4.53 at the combine and has been stuck behind Gates for years. SD would be foolish to let him go now that Gates is at the end, but he is someone who could stretch the field. He runs better than Davante Adams and James Jones and is a hundredth of a second from being a full 3.5 10ths of a second faster than RR.
Also, MM lamented the lack of big targets. Reuben Randle is a big target at 6'3. He fits right in with his mid 4.5 speed that we always seem to get. I don't like it because I want a speedier option but I could see this guy coming here on a reasonable contract to provide that big target who could help in redzone. Ditch the god awful slow James Jones and turn to the Giants once again for help at WR by adding Randle.
Tamba Hali would be a very intriguing option to pair opposite Clay Matthews at 32 years of age. The guy has been a relentless pass rusher. If we don't bring back the well worn Julius Peppers, he might be a nice stop gap for a season, or two.
Danny Trevathan, Shea McLellin, and even Rolando McClain would be interesting options at ILB for us. Denver is focused on Malik Jackson and Von Miller and even Brock Osweiler. A player like Trevathan will fall through the cracks most likely and get his bigger payday elsewhere. McClain can really play but is a real question mark with character. When he wants it he's actually a very very good player. Get his head right here in Green Bay and we might have a cheap boom option. Shea has been a total bust in Chicago but he was a former 1st round pick who has bounced around a ton and wants to stay at ILB. He calls the D in Chicago. Smart but just hasn't found his wings and he may never but he'd come cheap and we don't have much at ILB anyway.
---I know the fact these guys are FA's probably negates them ever being Packers but I think they could be had for reasonable contracts and those are the kind of guys we are even remotely interested in. Most above are 2nd wave FA's and that screams Ted Thompson mild interest. Hope springs eternal. I feel like a Cubs fan every FA period.
from NFL.com
Note: These lists are not intended to be complete, but they include all key free agents in the league.
Quarterbacks
Sam Bradford, Philadelphia Eagles
Matt Cassel, Dallas Cowboys
Jimmy Clausen, Baltimore Ravens
Kellen Clemens, San Diego Chargers
Kirk Cousins, Washington Redskins
Chase Daniel, Kansas City Chiefs
Ryan Fitzpatrick, New York Jets
Matt Flynn, New Orleans Saints
Bruce Gradkowski, Pittsburgh Steelers
Matt Hasselbeck, Indianapolis Colts
Chad Henne, Jacksonville Jaguars
Tarvaris Jackson, Seattle Seahawks
Josh Johnson, Buffalo Bills
Thad Lewis, Philadelphia Eagles
Ryan Lindley, Indianapolis Colts
Luke McCown, New Orleans Saints
Colt McCoy, Washington Redskins
Matt Moore, Miami Dolphins
Dan Orlovsky, Detroit Lions
Brock Osweiler, Denver Broncos
Matt Schaub, Baltimore Ravens
Drew Stanton, Arizona Cardinals
Scott Tolzien, Green Bay Packers
Mike Vick, Pittsburgh Steelers
Joe Webb, Carolina Panthers
Brandon Weeden, Houston Texans
Charlie Whitehurst, Indianapolis Colts
T.J. Yates, Houston Texans
Running backs
Matt Asiata, Minnesota Vikings
Monte Ball, New England Patriots
LeGarrette Blount, New England Patriots
Ahmad Bradshaw, Indianapolis Colts
Bryce Brown, Seattle Seahawks
Reggie Bush, San Francisco 49ers
Travaris Cadet, New Orleans Saints
Shaun Draughn, San Francisco 49ers
Lance Dunbar, Dallas Cowboys
Matt Forte, Chicago Bears
Dan Herron, Indianapolis Colts
Tim Hightower, New Orleans Saints
Ronnie Hillman, Denver Broncos
Kendall Hunter, New Orleans Saints
Chris Ivory, New York Jets
Fred Jackson, Seattle Seahawks
Steven Jackson, New England Patriots
Chris Johnson, Arizona Cardinals
Doug Martin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Lamar Miller, Miami Dolphins
Alfred Morris, Washington Redskins
Bernard Pierce, Jacksonville Jaguars
Chris Polk, Houston Texans
Bilal Powell, New York Jets
Bobby Rainey, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jacquizz Rodgers, Chicago Bears
Stevan Ridley, New York Jets
James Starks, Green Bay Packers
Pierre Thomas, Washington Redskins
Jordan Todman, Pittsburgh Steelers
Robert Turbin, Dallas Cowboys
Fullbacks
Tyler Clutts, Dallas Cowboys
David Johnson, San Diego Chargers
Will Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers
John Kuhn, Green Bay Packers
Mike Tolbert, Carolina Panthers
Will Tukuafu, Seattle Seahawks
Darrel Young, Washington Redskins
Wide receivers
Seyi Ajirotutu, Philadelphia Eagles
Jason Avant, Kansas City Chiefs
Josh Bellamy, Chicago Bears
Travis Benjamin, Cleveland Browns
Anquan Boldin, San Francisco 49ers
Andre Caldwell, Denver Broncos
Riley Cooper, Philadelphia Eagles
Malcom Floyd, San Diego Chargers
Brandon Gibson, New England Patriots
Chris Givens, Baltimore Ravens
Leonard Hankerson, Buffalo Bills
Darrius Heyward-Bey, Pittsburgh Steelers
Andre Holmes, Oakland Raiders
Alshon Jeffery, Chicago Bears
James Jones, Green Bay Packers
Marvin Jones, Cincinnati Bengals
Jermaine Kearse, Seattle Seahawks
Ricardo Lockette, Seattle Seahawks
Marc Mariani, Chicago Bears
Rishard Matthews, Miami Dolphins
Lance Moore, Detroit Lions
David Nelson, Pittsburgh Steelers
Hakeem Nicks, New York Giants
Jordan Norwood, Denver Broncos
Chris Owusu, New York Jets
Terrelle Pryor, Cleveland Browns
Brian Quick, Los Angeles Rams
Rueben Randle, New York Giants
Jeremy Ross, Oakland Raiders
Mohamed Sanu, Cincinnati Bengals
Rod Streater, Oakland Raiders
Brandon Tate, Cincinnati Bengals
Nick Toon, Los Angeles Rams
Bryan Walters, Jacksonville Jaguars
Nate Washington, Houston Texans
Wes Welker, Los Angeles Rams
Kyle Williams, Denver Broncos
Tight ends
Dwayne Allen, Indianapolis Colts
Garrett Celek, San Francisco 49ers
Chase Coffman, Seattle Seahawks
Kellen Davis, New York Jets
Vernon Davis, Denver Broncos
Dorin Dickerson, Tennessee Titans
Rhett Ellison, Minnesota Vikings
Daniel Fells, New York Giants
Coby Fleener, Indianapolis Colts
Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers
Richard Gordon, Baltimore Ravens
Ladarius Green, San Diego Chargers
James Hanna, Dallas Cowboys
Clay Harbor, Jacksonville Jaguars
Michael Hoomanawanui, New Orleans Saints
Rob Housler, Chicago Bears
Marcedes Lewis, Jacksonville Jaguars
Anthony McCoy, Seattle Seahawks
Zach Miller, Chicago Bears
Tony Moeaki, Atlanta Falcons
Bear Pascoe, Detroit Lions
Logan Paulsen, Washington Redskins
John Phillips, San Diego Chargers
Allen Reisner, Baltimore Ravens
Craig Stevens, Tennessee Titans
Benjamin Watson, New Orleans Saints
Offensive tackles
Mike Adams, Pittsburgh Steelers
Don Barclay, Green Bay Packers
Joe Barksdale, San Diego Chargers
Khalif Barnes, Oakland Raiders
Kelvin Beachum, Pittsburgh Steelers
Will Beatty, New York Giants
Byron Bell, Tennessee Titans
Chris Clark, Houston Texans
Charles Brown, Dallas Cowboys
Cordy Glenn, Buffalo Bills
Chris Hairston, San Diego Chargers
Bryce Harris, Atlanta Falcons
Ryan Harris, Denver Broncos
Tony Hills, New Orleans Saints
Ben Ijalana, New York Jets
Jeffrey Linkenbach, San Diego Chargers
Jake Long, Atlanta Falcons
Bobby Massie, Arizona Cardinals
Mike McGlynn, New Orleans Saints
Jordan Mills, Buffalo Bills
Russell Okung, Seattle Seahawks
Donald Penn, Oakland Raiders
Tyler Polumbus, Denver Broncos
Mitchell Schwartz, Cleveland Browns
Andre Smith, Cincinnati Bengals
Bradley Sowell, Arizona Cardinals
Donald Stephenson, Kansas City Chiefs
Byron Stingily, Pittsburgh Steelers
Eric Winston, Cincinnati Bengals
Sam Young, Jacksonville Jaguars
Guards
Jeff Adams, Houston Texans
Jeff Allen, Kansas City Chiefs
Mackenzy Bernadeau, Dallas Cowboys
Alex Boone, San Francisco 49ers
Brandon Brooks, Houston Texans
Chris Chester, Atlanta Falcons
Willie Colon, New York Jets
Tyronne Green, Carolina Panthers
Vladimir Ducasse, Chicago Bears
Jahri Evans, New Orleans Saints
Ramon Foster, Pittsburgh Steelers
Michael Harris, Minnesota Vikings
Richie Incognito, Buffalo Bills
Ted Larsen, Arizona Cardinals
Ronald Leary, Dallas Cowboys
Joe Looney, Tennessee Titans
Lance Louis, Indianapolis Colts
Evan Mathis, Denver Broncos
Jacques McClendon, Miami Dolphins
Jamon Meredith, Tennessee Titans
Brandon Mosley, New York Giants
Kelechi Osemele, Baltimore Ravens
Austin Pasztor, Cleveland Browns
Manny Ramirez, Detroit Lions
Geoff Schwartz, New York Giants
Chris Scott, Carolina Panthers
Amini Silatolu, Carolina Panthers
Shelley Smith, Miami Dolphins
J.R. Sweezy, Seattle Seahawks
Johnnie Troutman, San Diego Chargers
J'Marcus Webb, Oakland Raiders
Ryan Wendell, New England Patriots
Centers
Tim Barnes, Los Angeles Rams
Tony Bergstrom, Oakland Raiders
Gino Gradkowski, Atlanta Falcons
Lemuel Jeanpierre, Seattle Seahawks
Ben Jones, Houston Texans
Doug Legursky, Pittsburgh Steelers
Josh LeRibeus, Washington Redskins
David Molk, Philadelphia Eagles
Will Montgomery, Chicago Bears
Dallas Reynolds, New York Giants
Lyle Sendlein, Arizona Cardinals
Fernando Velasco, Carolina Panthers
J.D. Walton, San Diego Chargers
Stefen Wisniewski, Jacksonville Jaguars
Defensive ends
Robert Ayers, New York Jets
Jason Babin, Arizona Cardinals
Stephen Bowen, New York Jets
Da'Quan Bowers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Andre Branch, Jacksonville Jaguars
Alex Carrington, Buffalo Bills
Adrian Clayborn, Atlanta Falcons
Chris Clemons, Jacksonville Jaguars
Jack Crawford, Dallas Cowboys
Jared Crick, Houston Texans
Vinny Curry, Philadelphia Eagles
Mike DeVito, Kansas City Chiefs
Demarcus Dobbs, Seattle Seahawks
Leger Douzable, New York Jets
Larry English, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Junior Galette, Washington Redskins
Wallace Gilberry, Cincinnati Bengals
Kedric Golston, Washington Redskins
Letroy Guion, Green Bay Packers
Greg Hardy, Dallas Cowboys
William Hayes, Los Angeles Rams
Akiem Hicks, New England Patriots
Jaye Howard, Kansas City Chiefs
Malik Jackson, Denver Broncos
Jarvis Jenkins, Chicago Bears
Jason Jones, Detroit Lions
Mike Martin, Tennessee Titans
Ricardo Mathews, San Diego Chargers
Jeremy Mincey, Dallas Cowboys
Jason Pierre-Paul, New York Giants
Kendall Reyes, San Diego Chargers
George Selvie, New York Giants
Derrick Shelby, Miami Dolphins
Eugene Sims, Los Angeles Rams
Antonio Smith, Denver Broncos
Darryl Tapp, Detroit Lions
Cam Thomas, Pittsburgh Steelers
Cedric Thornton, Philadelphia Eagles
Justin Trattou, Minnesota Vikings
Justin Tuck, Oakland Raiders
Mitch Unrein, Chicago Bears
Olivier Vernon, Miami Dolphins
Muhammad Wilkerson, New York Jets
Billy Winn, Indianapolis Colts
Corey Wootton, Detroit Lions
Defensive tackles
Red Bryant, Arizona Cardinals
Barry Cofield, New York Giants
Jermelle Cudjo, Detroit Lions
Kenrick Ellis, Minnesota Vikings
Nick Fairley, Los Angeles Rams
Clifton Geathers, Pittsburgh Steelers
Damon Harrison, New York Jets
Sammie Lee Hill, Tennessee Titans
Cullen Jenkins, New York Giants
Frank Kearse, Washington Redskins
Terrance Knighton, Washington Redskins
Markus Kuhn, New York Giants
Kyle Love, Carolina Panthers
Tony McDaniel, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Steve McLendon, Pittsburgh Steelers
Brandon Mebane, Seattle Seahawks
Henry Melton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Haloti Ngata, Detroit Lions
B.J. Raji, Green Bay Packers
Ahtyba Rubin, Seattle Seahawks
Pat Sims, Cincinnati Bengals
Devon Still, Houston Texans
Brandon Thompson, Cincinnati Bengals
Tyrunn Walker, Detroit Lions
Ian Williams, San Francisco 49ers
Kevin Williams, New Orleans Saints
Al Woods, Tennessee Titans
Outside linebackers
Sam Acho, Chicago Bears
James Anderson, New Orleans Saints
Kroy Biermann, Atlanta Falcons
Nigel Bradham, Buffalo Bills
Dwight Freeney, Arizona Cardinals
Chad Greenway, Minnesota Vikings
Tamba Hali, Kansas City Chiefs
Bruce Irvin, Seattle Seahawks
Emmanuel Lamur, Cincinnati Bengals
Travis Lewis, Detroit Lions
Albert McClellan, Baltimore Ravens
Von Miller, Denver Broncos
Mike Morgan, Seattle Seahawks
Mike Neal, Green Bay Packers
Calvin Pace, New York Jets
Nick Perry, Green Bay Packers
Vincent Rey, Cincinnati Bengals
Aldon Smith, Oakland Raiders
Courtney Upshaw, Baltimore Ravens
Philip Wheeler, Atlanta Falcons
Tahir Whitehead, Detroit Lions
Kyle Wilber, Dallas Cowboys
Frank Zombo, Kansas City Chiefs
Inside Linebackers
Jasper Brinkley, New York Giants
Zach Brown, Tennessee Titans
Tank Carder, Cleveland Browns
Chris Carter, Baltimore Ravens
Audie Cole, Minnesota Vikings
Will Compton, Washington Redskins
Demario Davis, New York Jets
Dane Fletcher, New England Patriots
Mason Foster, Washington Redskins
Jerrell Freeman, Indianapolis Colts
Erin Henderson, New York Jets
Derrick Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs
Steven Johnson, Tennessee Titans
James-Michael Johnson, Miami Dolphins
Jamari Lattimore, New York Jets
Casey Matthews, Minnesota Vikings
Joe Mays, San Diego Chargers
Rolando McClain, Dallas Cowboys
Shea McClellin, Chicago Bears
Spencer Paysinger, Miami Dolphins
Craig Robertson, Cleveland Browns
Keenan Robinson, Washington Redskins
Kelvin Sheppard, Miami Dolphins
Sean Spence, Pittsburgh Steelers
Anthony Spencer, New Orleans Saints
Andy Studebaker, Indianapolis Colts
Danny Trevathan, Denver Broncos
Jason Trusnik, Minnesota Vikings
Sean Weatherspoon, Arizona Cardinals
Dekoda Watson, New England Patriots
Cornerbacks
Prince Amukamara, New York Giants
Johnson Bademosi, Cleveland Browns
Alan Ball, Chicago Bears
E.J. Biggers, Philadelphia Eagles
Will Blackmon, Washington Redskins
Antwon Blake, Pittsburgh Steelers
Ron Brooks, Buffalo Bills
Tarell Brown, New England Patriots
Crezdon Butler, Detroit Lions
Nolan Carroll, Philadelphia Eagles
Morris Claiborne, Dallas Cowboys
Marcus Cooper, Kansas City Chiefs
Nate Ebner, New England Patriots
Cortland Finnegan, Carolina Panthers
Jamell Fleming, Kansas City Chiefs
William Gay, Pittsburgh Steelers
Leon Hall, Cincinnati Bengals
Brandon Harris, Tennessee Titans
Casey Hayward, Green Bay Packers
Jayron Hosley, New York Giants
Charles James, Houston Texans
Janoris Jenkins, Los Angeles Rams
Mike Jenkins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Trumaine Johnson, Los Angeles Rams
Adam Jones, Cincinnati Bengals
Jeremy Lane, Seattle Seahawks
Trumaine McBride, New York Giants
Sherrick McManis, Chicago Bears
Sterling Moore, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Terence Newman, Minnesota Vikings
Josh Norman, Carolina Panthers
Chris Owens, New Orleans Saints
Tracy Porter, Chicago Bears
Jerraud Powers, Arizona Cardinals
Josh Robinson, Minnesota Vikings
Patrick Robinson, San Diego Chargers
Coty Sensabaugh, Tennessee Titans
DeShawn Shead, Seattle Seahawks
Marcus Sherels, Minnesota Vikings
Sean Smith, Kansas City Chiefs
Josh Thomas, Dallas Cowboys
Charles Tillman, Carolina Panthers
Greg Toler, Indianapolis Colts
Cassius Vaughn, San Diego Chargers
Darrin Walls, New York Jets
Corey White, Arizona Cardinals
Josh Wilson, Detroit Lions
Kyle Wilson, New Orleans Saints
Shareece Wright, Baltimore Ravens
Safeties
Isa Abdul-Quddus, Detroit Lions
Husain Abdullah, Kansas City Chiefs
Antonio Allen, New York Jets
Nate Allen, Oakland Raiders
Will Allen, Pittsburgh Steelers
Colt Anderson, Indianapolis Colts
Mark Barron, Los Angeles Rams
Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs
Robert Blanton, Minnesota Vikings
Omar Bolden, Denver Broncos
Tyvon Branch, Kansas City Chiefs
David Bruton, Denver Broncos
Rafael Bush, New Orleans Saints
Chris Conte, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Craig Dahl, New York Giants
Louis Delmas, Miami Dolphins
Quintin Demps, Houston Texans
Charles Godfrey, Atlanta Falcons
Robert Golden, Pittsburgh Steelers
Tashaun Gipson, Cleveland Browns
Michael Griffin, Tennessee Titans
Roman Harper, Carolina Panthers
James Ihedigbo, Detroit Lions
George Iloka, Cincinnati Bengals
Jaiquawn Jarrett, New York Jets
Rashad Johnson, Arizona Cardinals
Don Jones, Cleveland Browns
Shiloh Keo, Denver Broncos
Dwight Lowery, Indianapolis Colts
Sherrod Martin, Chicago Bears
Taylor Mays, Oakland Raiders
Danny McCray, Dallas Cowboys
Brandon Meriweather, New York Giants
Ryan Mundy, Chicago Bears
Reggie Nelson, Cincinnati Bengals
Chris Prosinski, Chicago Bears
Sean Richardson, Green Bay Packers
Brandian Ross, San Diego Chargers
Jamarca Sanford, New Orleans Saints
Andrew Sendejo, Minnesota Vikings
Keith Tandy, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Walter Thurmond, Philadelphia Eagles
Eric Weddle, San Diego Chargers
Tavon Wilson, New England Patriots
Kickers
Josh Brown, New York Giants
Randy Bullock, New York Jets
Mason Crosby, Green Bay Packers
Phil Dawson, San Francisco 49ers
Kai Forbath, New Orleans Saints
Nick Novak, Houston Texans
Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens
Adam Vinatieri, Indianapolis Colts
Greg Zuerlein, Los Angeles Rams
Punters
Bryan Anger, Jacksonville Jaguars
Marquette King, Oakland Raiders
Shane Lechler, Houston Texans
Brad Nortman, Carolina Panthers
Jon Ryan, Seattle Seahawks
Ted Thompson sits on his hands per former GM: "because they’ve had 25 fricking years of great quarterbacks. Of course it works. Try it without a special quarterback."