And explores a vet or two. Who of the pending free agents outside GB could help?
What about Ryan Clark? Very familiar with the current defense in GB.
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He went bat schit crazy in the 2012 offseason by signing Jeff Saturday.
James Ihedigbo - Ravens - Strong Safety
Baltimore has a couple of young Safeties in Matt Elam and Anthony Levine. May be able to get him for a decent 2 year deal. Not a lot of mileage and has played in 3-4s his whole (short) career. He or Burnett would have to switch to Free Safety.
He just turned 30, but has only played 2 full seasons as a starter.
Originally Posted by AZPackerBacker:
Brian Orakpo.
that will happen right after he fires Mike McCarthy as head coach and hires Brett Favre to replace him.
Definitely need to explore FA this season. Some real quality defensive talent should be available. Must improve Safety and add more help on the DL. Draft LB/DL throughout the draft and things will be looking up. Some much needed improvement/growth from 2nd/3rd year players as well. Worthy, Perry(stay healthy), Hayward, Hyde, Datone Jones....need these guys to step things up
Healthy orakpo and Matthews is a dream but gb isn't giving up on perry that quick.
At safety, here's who Bleacher claims is the best available:
I think all the FA safeties re-sign. It's an increasingly important position and it doesn't look like any of those teams have adequate replacements lined up. Unless cap issues hit.
Upgrading at ILB would require 2 things: TT replacing Hawk and Jones with a FA or high draft pick (their recent contracts make that a tough pill to swallow) AND the coaches actually playing the replacement. We've seen it with Bishop, Lattimore, and even Starks and Franklin to give Lacy a breather. Don't know what it is, but the coaches have to pull the trigger too.
I'd love to see them bring in at least a couple of solid, rotational guys at least. Paul Soliai could be a Pickett upgrade on a 3 year deal, Randy Starks similar. They're both 30 so they shouldn't garner the big bucks but for 3 (maybe 4 years) they'd be good additions.
I've alsways loved Karlos Dansby at ILB, but he seems to be primed for fading soon and would be a one-two-year stop-gap, most likely, so probably not. However, an O'Brien Schofield or Matt Shaughnessy are only 27 and would be good rotational guys at OLB.
Nothing bank-breaking, but guys that can contribute regularly.
Throwing it out there...wait...wait...
Jared Allen?
At a reasonable contract, would do it in a heartbeat. Tampa or Dallas may blow him away but he would be a great addition to the defense. If he can't play end in a 3-4, put him at OLB and put Perry back on the line.
In the last five years, there have been few big-name free agents who have truly made a difference with their new team. I wouldn't want TT to break the bank on anyone.
That said, I think it could be beneficial if TT would pick up one or two key veterans - someone who just needs a change of scenery (like Woodson did), or someone who hasn't fully realized their potential (like Pickett). Please no washed up, past-their-prime-in-a-big-way players (Jeff Saturday).
I don't know if it is possible, but I think it would be great if TT could pick up a veteran safety similar to how Ron Wolf acquired Eugene Robinson, who instantly improved the defensive backfield.
I would also love it if TT is able to re-sign Shields to a reasonable contract.
The available safeties are a hot commodity, unfortunately.
TJ Ward, Jarius Byrd and Donte Witner are all great safeties, but they're all SS. Now, I know SS/FS is often interchangable in the NFL but I think what TT is looking for is a fast, rangy FS who can cover a large, deep zone and make tackles. Not sure any of those guys fit the bill, they all seem like in the box, SS. Which is what Burnett is.
Then that would also be the problem with Hyde at FS. Not his strong points.
If the plan is to move MB over to FS then...
Originally Posted by bubbleboy789:
TJ Ward, Jarius Byrd and Donte Witner are all great safeties, but they're all SS. Now, I know SS/FS is often interchangable in the NFL but I think what TT is looking for is a fast, rangy FS who can cover a large, deep zone and make tackles. Not sure any of those guys fit the bill, they all seem like in the box, SS. Which is what Burnett is.
Nothing about Burnett says Strong Safety. He's the Packers' Free Safety of the future after his big new contract and continued public endorsements from the coaching staff. I personally think he stinks, but he's not going anywhere. But I think the Packers are still open to finding a better Strong Safety. Whitner would be awesome, as I don't think he's going to be resigned by the 49ers.
Guys on NFL Radio were just touting this guy as the safety the Packers should go after (taken from article about Giants cap problems):
Antrel Rolle, S: $9,250,000
They're deep at safety and would save $7.25 million if they cut Rolle, who has one year left on his deal. Problem is, Rolle is a really important player for them and a defensive captain. They'd have to be extremely creative elsewhere in order to allow Rolle to account for 7.3 percent of their cap. They'll surely approach him about an extension beyond 2014 that could help knock down his 2014 cap number, but he's not likely to cut them any breaks on the deal in terms of money or years. How much do they want to commit to a 31-year-old safety?
A 31 year old safety has probably 5 good years left in him.
Rolle works for me. Time to get that position "fixed"
