What free agents will stay and which will go? The following players are unrestricted free agents for 2014: Ryan Pickett, B.J. Raji, Jermichael Finley, James Jones, Sam Shields, John Kuhn, Evan Dietrich-Smith, Marshall Newhouse, Andrew Quarless, Seneca Wallace, Matt Flynn, Johnny Jolly, Rob Francois, Mike Neal, James Starks, C.J. Wilson. Here are my predictions on who stays and who goes:
- Ryan Pickett (DT): I think he stays, because their defense has struggled and they need to keep some veteran leaders around. He’s a great locker room guy and since he’s 34, he probably won’t be asking for too much on the market. He’s still a big body on the defensive line.
- B.J. Raji (DT): I think he’s gone. He didn’t do much in his walk-year and will probably ask for too much. He already turned down an offer that would pay him $8 million per year. Anything more than that isn’t worth it for a player that has regressed the past few seasons. He’s still young at age 27, but the Packers can’t afford to keep all their free agents. They’ll need to replace him in the draft or through free-agency.
- Jermichael Finley (TE): Finley suffered a career-threatening neck injury that might force him to retire. If he can prove that he’s healthy and suffered no setbacks, he might be brought back, but there are too many healthy concerns to count on him long-term. It’s a shame, because he was having a solid season before he was injured. He probably would’ve priced himself out of Green Bay anyway, but now it’s almost certain that he’s gone. Hopefully he can return to the NFL next season.
- James Jones (WR): This is tough, because they already have Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Jarett Boykin and might ask for too much. He is so valuable to their offense that I think he has to come back at a reasonable price. Assuming he wants to stay, I think they bring him back. He is a reliable red-zone target and despite battling injuries all season, still had 59 catches for 817 yards and 3 touchdowns. It’s tough to even judge his stats since Rodgers was out for a while.
- Sam Shields (CB): He is almost certain to be brought back. He was the team’s most reliable cover corner and has to come back since their defense struggled without him. He’s young at 26-years old and has plenty of upside. He really stepped it up late in the season when the Packers needed him the most.
- John Kuhn (FB): Kuhn is an unsung hero in Green Bay. He does all the little things, like making key blocks, short-yardage plunges and leadership. There aren’t many reliable fullbacks in the NFL, but Kuhn is so important to the offense. He’s one of the best pass-blocking fullbacks in the NFL and is money in short yardage situations. He’s most likely coming back.
- Dietrich-Smith (C): Dietrich-Smith was the starting center all year and they missed him greatly when he was injured. He’s done a solid job for them and unless they find somebody better on the market or in the draft, he’s coming back.
- Marshall Newhouse (T): I think it’s time to move on from Newhouse. He hasn’t shown much of anything when he’s been in there and he doesn’t have much upside. He’s as good as gone.
- Andrew Quarless (TE): Quarless turned into a reliable target for Flynn and Rodgers late in the year. He should be cheap and why not bring him back? He’s only 25 and they should see what they have with him. It would hurt if he left since Finley is almost a lock to be gone. I heard an interesting rumor that the Giants might look into him since former Packers’ QB coach, Bob McAdoo, is their new offensive coordinator and they also need a tight-end. If Quarless leaves, they’ll probably have to replace him in the draft or through free agency.
- Seneca Wallace (QB): He’s gone. No doubt about it. He showed nothing when he had to fill in for Rodgers.
- Matt Flynn (QB): Flynn should be back. He fits in so well with the Packers’ system and saved their season with Rodgers out. He’s a reliable backup for them.
- Johnny Jolly (DT): Jolly suffered a knee injury late in the season that ended it in a hurry. He’s 30 and coming off a serious injury. He had a career resurgence, but he’s probably gone. He might ask for too much anyway.
- Rob Francois (LB): Francois didn’t show anything this season and is likely gone.
- Mike Neal (LB): Neal showed some flashes of his potential this season with five sacks and a forced fumble, but he’s too injury prone and the defense struggled this season, to say the least. He’s still young at 26-years old, but he’s replaceable. I think he’s gone.
- James Starks (RB): Starks had a nice season with 582 combined yards and four touchdowns. There are plenty of teams that need running-backs and DuJuan Harris will probably be back for the Packers next year. Starks will probably be asking for too much. He’s probably gone.
- C.J. Wilson (DE): Wilson didn’t play much this season and hasn’t shown much in his four years with the team. He’s probably gone.