Packers Ready to Explore Options at Cornerback
After ridding themselves of two Super Bowl XLV heroes in two days between running back James Starks and cornerback Sam Shields, both dealing with concussions or concussion symptoms to finish their 2016 seasons, the Packers are beginning the process of getting younger.
Starks' removal didn't leave much of a gap, other than the fact he may have been the best pass-blocking tailback on the team's roster. However, wide receiver-turned-running back Ty Montgomery is the only player under contract at the position. Eddie Lacy, who finished his 2016 season on injured reserve, still awaits a new deal to remain in Green Bay.
Meanwhile, Shields has been the speedy veteran talent that spear-headed the leadership role amongst the Packers' cornerbacks. It's a role he has gradually fallen into during his seven-year stint with the team, and a role that was likely first entertained after his two interceptions in the 2010 NFC Championship game – one of which sealing the victory and a berth in the Super Bowl.
He announced his release from the team before any team sources or reporters did, and he didn't seem too ecstatic about the sudden news. At least, not based off of his Instagram hashtags.
"StillMad," "AtleastLetMeRetireFromThePack" and "ThanksGreenBay" recapped with an eye-rolling emoji highlighted a lengthy series of hashtags that stunned a fanbase despite the likelihood of this scenario.
Shields' career in Green Bay ended with 62 starts of a possible 80 games – a majority missed due to the five reported concussions he sustained through the duration fo his career. A major motivating factor in why Shields will likely call it a career and venture into the land of retirement. In his 62 starts, Shields amassed 18 interceptions, 211 tackles and was a helping hand in the aforementioned Super Bowl run in 2010. His 16 interceptions since 2011 are the fourth-most in the NFL during that span.
In the absence of Shields, uncertainty looms.
Ladarius Gunter (UDFA), Quinten Rollins and Damarious Randall (both second-year corners) highlight the cornerback position for the Packers. A less-than-optimal group based off of their performance in 2016, and although there are underlying factors as to why this group in the Packers' secondary struggled the way they did, what is becoming clear is that the team may need to invest in a veteran (or at least partially experienced) cornerback sometime in the next few months.
While many big deals will be made on the first day of free agency, which is on March 9th, Packers general manager Ted Thompson will likely wait for the many players that will be re-signed as well as for the other teams to throw out wads of change like toilet paper at players who anxiously await their new paycheck. Even when the time comes, who can the Packers consider targeting?
Even with the hoard of its own free agents seeking new deals, Green Bay's $43,568,612 in cap space gives the team a little more leverage in free agency. Especially after freeing up $12 million with the cutting of Starks and Shields.
A.J. Bouye from the Houston Texans has become a hot commodity amongst fans, and after spending the first four years of his career with the Texans, he's ready to hit the market. Before 2016, he had just eight starts under his belt in three seasons. Just last season, many were applauding his consistent performance, including Pro Football Focus, who rated Bouye as one of the 10 best cornerbacks in the league.
Out of Los Angeles comes the 27-year old Trumaine Johnson, just a year older than Bouye. He's spent five years in both St. Louis and Los Angeles, starting 47 of 69 games and tallying 16 interceptions during his tenure with the Rams. What stands out above all else is his 54 pass deflections, solidifying his role as the team's shutdown cornerback - a title that would fit well with the Packers, whose cornerbacks unit was given fits by playing too softly on their assignments in 2016. Johnson also recorded 224 tackles during his career with the Rams.
Another top free agent acquisition that many teams will likely be drooling over is the Patriots' Logan Ryan, who spent all of his four-year career in New England. Ryan turns 26-years old today, and as a result offers a high ceiling with his performance that hasn't shown any sign of descending. His resume isn't far off from Johnson's, as, in four seasons, Ryan has recorded 42 defensed passes, 13 interceptions and 202 tackles. He'd bring two big pieces of jewelry to the Packers from both Super Bowls XLIX and LI.
Other big-name cornerbacks set to hit the market in March include Stephon Gilmore, Prince Amukamara, Morris Claiborne, Deshawn Shead, Ross Cockrell, Dre Kirkpatrick, Captain Munnerlyn, Marcus Williams, Darius Butler, Leon Hall and Terence Newman.
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Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].
Comments (34)
NickPerry
February 09, 2017 at 06:24 am
Well the Packers have $43.5 Million in Cap Space and Free Agency is looming large about 30 days away. Cutting Shields and Starks was expected, what happens next is the mystery. Will it be business as usual for GB or will TT actually hear what Rodgers said after the NFCCG and "Reload". Obviously it depends on what your idea of "Reloading" is. IMO Rodgers idea was to sign a few FA who can finally help this team get over the hump. Thompsons idea is the 7 or 8 draft picks he'll have plus 10 or 12 UDFA.
Zach mentions in the top of his piece the Packers are beginning the process of getting younger, even though they were the 3rd youngest team in the NFL last season. Hey maybe Ted goes out on a limb and signs one or two of those OLD 25 or 26 year old players. Maybe one who could make sure Randall, Rollins, and Gunter aren't our top 3 CB's or they aren't depending so much on Matthews to be the "Pass Rusher" MM keeps telling us he is.
Handsback
February 09, 2017 at 06:51 am
TT isn't signing anyone until the first few weeks of FA are over. Frankly if I'm the GM I would be hard pressed to determine who I would sign.....just yesterday I read that Green Bay cut Shields for Cap reasons, really? Let's see who's available and their physical condition and then make some decisions.
carusotrap
February 09, 2017 at 06:54 am
I believe someone edited your headline. They left out the, "we hope" at the beginning.
And as far as the cap space is concerned, Ted is like the little old lady with a million dollars in a closet who eats cat food for dinner. "Well, you know, if I spend that money then I won't have it any more in case I need it." I put the likelihood of acquiring a significant FA at CB at around 35%. Oh, he'll sign someone, but it'll be an UDFA from somewhere you've never heard of.
Ted is brilliant at looking out for the future of the the team two years down the road. The problem is that he's ALWAYS looking two years down the road.
Lphill
February 09, 2017 at 07:13 am
I would be happy with any of those mentioned to bring veteran experience and the best corner available in the first round . Or at least in the first round the best defensive player on the board.
RCPackerFan
February 09, 2017 at 07:29 am
I would love for the Packers to go and sign one of the better CB's that will be available. They could really use a veteran presence.
Out of the group mentioned I'm the most skeptical of Bouye. He had 1 really good year. Before that he only had 8 starts over 3 years. Maybe the light just went on for him, but I would be a bit skeptical of signing him to big money.
Johnson would be the big physical CB the team is lacking.
This all being said, it doesn't mean Thompson will go and sign any of them. Odds are he will be more likely to go and sign a player that gets released over a player that is a true free agent.
I am hoping that Thompson signs a CB of some sort that can come in and help right away. I hope he doesn't let this be like the S or TE position after Collins and Finley's careers ended early from injury. It took 2 years for him to truly address each position after losing each player. We can't wait 2 years to find a replacement for Shields.
Tundraboy
February 09, 2017 at 08:25 pm
"Johnson would be the big physical CB the team is lacking"
That is exactly what this team needs
Whether it's Johnson or someone else. A FA, or even 2! to start and another in the draft. Please no more short or Goodson like project players.
Since'61
February 09, 2017 at 07:34 am
I would like to see TT sign two FA cornerbacks then focus on pass rushers during the draft. If we sign 2 veteran corners plus Randall, Rollins and Gunther we can field a solid CB corps. Picking at #29 it's unlikely that we can draft better CBs than who we currently have and neither Randall or Rollins are good enough to match up with the Julio Jones and OBJs etc. of the league. CB is a premium position on defense and it's time TT treats it as such. For pass rushers we have Perry and CM3 who make a good tandem if they can stay on the field. Give more snaps to Eliott. Pass on Peppers and get some help in the draft. Focus on one position in FA and get it settled. For this year that position in CB. Use the draft for other needs. We can sign 2 CBs and still have $30 millions of cap space. Get it done. Thanks, Since '61
RCPackerFan
February 09, 2017 at 08:17 am
Currently they are at about $43-45 million giver take in cap space. We have to figure they will use a good portion of it to try and resign some of their players. I would think they will likely try to bring back as many out of this group as they can. Between Perry, Cook, Lacy, Lang, Tretter, Jones, Hyde and Goode.
After that they should be able to go get at least 1 CB. Maybe another pass rusher.
I would like to see Elliott get more pass rush opportunities. He just makes plays when he is on the field.
And I agree try to draft some pass rushers. Add a guy like TJ Watt in the first and later in the draft find a speed rusher of some sort.
Ideally I would like to see them draft Watt in the first add another CB in the 2nd, then maybe TE and RB in the 3rd-4th rounds.
4zone
February 09, 2017 at 09:54 am
I would prefer we get bot a CB and NT in free agency. Guion is entering his 10th year. If we can do that, we have more options we could consider in the first 3 rounds.
We should be able to stock up at DL or LB in the first. Add CB depth in the second and another DL/LB in the 3rd. RB in 4th and grab a G project after that.
If we don't upgrade either position in FA. And I mean UPGRADE, we are severely limiting our early round draft options.
TKWorldWide
February 09, 2017 at 10:18 am
I think TT treated CB as a premium position when he picked CB's in rounds one and two with Randall and Rollins. I'd also not quarrrel with a pretty high priced veteran FA at CB.
I really do wonder exactly why it is that TT has invested so much draft capital on defense these last several years with such crummy returns on those investments overall.
Since'61
February 09, 2017 at 08:45 am
RC - I agree with your post except for resigning Lacy and Jones. I have very mixed feeling about resigning Lacy especially without a weight clause and for no more than $2-3 million for one year. Also, I think that the Packers should move on from Jones. He has not been a factor at all, especially for a #1 pick. Thanks, Since '61
Big_Mel_75
February 09, 2017 at 08:51 am
Even with Lacy's weight issues he still is productive. Every other RB on this team are unknowns.. Monty hasn't carried the rock for a year yet and disappear in the playoffs last year. At least you know what you have in Lacy 800-1000 yd back.
RCPackerFan
February 09, 2017 at 09:16 am
I would definitely resign Lacy. If he has some sort of a weight clause or whatnot, that is fine. That being said he was having one of his best years this year until he got hurt. He was averaging 5.1 yards per carry.
Lacy is a career 4.4 yard per carry RB. Weight issues or not, he is a productive RB, and needs to return.
Jones, I'm not saying they have to resign him. Just saying they will have to decide on him. I would be fine if they brought him back on a 1 year deal like they did with Perry. With Peppers likely gone, Jones should get more opportunities.
TKWorldWide
February 09, 2017 at 10:20 am
Lacy has been productive in the past, but the question marks are weight and health moving forward.
Big_Mel_75
February 09, 2017 at 08:49 am
My guess is he over pays for Perry and uses 35mil on our own guys and draft class to carry over the other 8 mil to next year.... Will not sign one outside green bay free agent. Same old same old. Just enough to get to playoffs is good enough for this GM and President.
egbertsouse
February 09, 2017 at 09:05 am
He will overpay for Perry and Cook. Otherwise, you are dead-on.
dobber
February 09, 2017 at 01:25 pm
SOMEONE is likely to overpay for Perry and Cook, whether they land in GB or somewhere else...why NOT TT?
stockholder
February 09, 2017 at 01:45 pm
My thinking is perry was never a fan favorite. Cook is not going to get any faster. ((Think Keith Jackson) So if he wants to get away from the elephants and get faster. Good Bye. And what do you think about TT finding or making the safeties play OLB. You know what Brian Urlacker was when he got drafted.
egbertsouse
February 09, 2017 at 09:04 am
I don't see TT changing his spots this year. That 43 mil will disappear quickly if he sticks to his past practice of wildly overpaying a couple of his own FAs (as he did with CMIII and Cobb) and pissing away a mil here and a mil there moderately overpaying stiffs on which he has a man-crush (past contracts of Barclay, Bush, and Richardson, to name a few). Then, of course, he likes to keep 10-15 mil under his mattress for a rainy day. So, in TT's mind, they have no money for any other FAs.
lou
February 09, 2017 at 09:06 am
It is fun but too early to project at this time any future moves, that will come when Ted actually knows what he has to spend. First he has to slot prices for who he would like to keep (Lang-Perry-Cook etc.) and press to sign them before free agency begins. Then he has to approach like he did with A.J. Hawk potential contract restructuring (Cobb-Mathews) to determine if he can still retain them and gain more cap space or if he needs to move them. Lastly he needs to project the cost of the upcoming draft/undrafted signings. Remember this is big business, at the end of these processes he can then determine what he can spend on the free agency market also knowing at this point what the league increase in cap space will be. Lets hope he enters free agency to some degree and is as successful as he has been in the past when he has done so, lets give him a chance before writing him off.
al bundy
February 09, 2017 at 09:18 am
I agree but think we need one corner free agent, and the best corner still around in the first. Thus, fixing one thing first. The three mousketeers are backup guys that's all they ever will be.
Next draft two running backs, pay lacy peanuts, now you fixed two things.
G wild now Ted we just have a ball. A pass rusher in the middle would be very nice but now we're just being silly
4zone
February 09, 2017 at 10:18 am
Lacy is only good for 12 games per year at best. You have to account for those lost games. Offer a short term low end contract or let him walk.
Lang is getting old. I would wait on him till the end. I would try to sign Kawann Short before him.
Depth is not an issue for this team. We have TONS of depth. What we don't have are STARTERS. We have 1 starting DL. Zero starting CBs, Maybe 3 starting LBs. And 2 Safeties. Out of those, we have 3 upper tier players at best. Daniels and our two safeties. Ryan and Martinez have upside as do Elliot and Fackrell. Perry is north of 'guy' status but Clay is just toi prone to hammy pulls to be effective more than 12 games per year.
Clark and Lowrey showed potential but we have no other penetrator besides Daniels. I dont see anyone who stands out at NT in the draft.
If we signed 2 guys like Short and Johnson, the only real hole left on the roster is RB. There are other positions that are less than impressive, but not glaringly deficient either. Then just re-sign who you can afford and draft a few projects for the future. I wouldn't miss a lot of our own FAs. All they would be, besides Lang and Perry, are depth or gap replacements for other teams.
stockholder
February 09, 2017 at 11:53 am
TT will not sign anybody. Forget it. He's going with Gunter, Rollins,Randall and the draft. Perry gets overpaid. Cook gets the 2 year. (Only because he wants to come back) Jones gets a 1 year 5 mil. deal, like perrys, to prove himself. Yes these three will get overpaid. Lacy and Lang will beg and leave. So there you have it. TT is not going to give up on his picks . Forget the CBs. No Bargains. If you were a veteran , would you want to play for Capers? TT won't change. He knows what he needs! Just to keep money coming in.
Razer
February 09, 2017 at 02:56 pm
While I agree with many of your conclusions, I am not sure that I share your bottomline. TT is not a first or second week free agency guy so yes he will not be paying a big name CB on the open market. He will rely on the draft and the development of our young corners just as he does when it comes to WRs. There are no FA bargains on CBs or WRs.
I am not sure that he will overpay everybody but I agree with the names that you throw around for retention with maybe Eddie Lacy in the mix on a prove it contract.
The "just keep the money coming in" sounds like frustration. I am sure that TT would love to field another SB Champion but not with an "all-in" wager. He has demonstrated that he knows how to build a contender but his draft misses, our draft position and his inability to get veteran pieces keep us one step off of the pace. I do not think he is inspired to "keep the money coming in".
Lphill
February 09, 2017 at 12:48 pm
Although TT did address corner 2 yrs ago with Randall and Rollins, he chose those 2 guys who played safety , maybe if he had taken 2 actual corners we would not be having this discussion, safeties to convert to corner , ends to convert to OLB , enough of that just take a guy who plays the position no more experiments please.
Lphill
February 09, 2017 at 12:48 pm
Although TT did address corner 2 yrs ago with Randall and Rollins, he chose those 2 guys who played safety , maybe if he had taken 2 actual corners we would not be having this discussion, safeties to convert to corner , ends to convert to OLB , enough of that just take a guy who plays the position no more experiments please.
PETER MAIZ
February 09, 2017 at 02:29 pm
Well, the question remains if Thompson would actually spend two cents on any of the above or will 2017 be deja vu 2016 all over again. Thompson is funny, so much talent out there, so little commitment.
Free agent
February 09, 2017 at 03:46 pm
Ted, kick the tires in free agency. Then, glance at your roster and realize it's flat and due for a new set.
4thand1
February 09, 2017 at 06:13 pm
TED, it is time.
snowdog
February 09, 2017 at 10:33 pm
All things considered . BRAVO !! to the whole Green Bay Packer Origination for putting the health of a player , before the bottom line . I'm proud to be a Packer fan .
WE are America's team
RCPackerFan
February 10, 2017 at 06:46 am
Its crazy to think how much the league has changed. Probably 5-10 years ago Shields probably would have been playing.
I'm definitely a proud Packer Fan! I love this team!
Rossonero
February 10, 2017 at 08:02 am
Don't hold your breath. Ted first and foremost wants to re-sign his own guys. I could see him bringing back Tramon Williams, but only for the right price on a 1 year deal. He'd be a band aid obviously. Ted likes Wal-Mart specials. If he does wade into the CB market and make a big signing, it'd be the biggest thing since the Charles Woodson signing.
Is it just me, or does Demarious Randall remind you of Craig Newsome too? (1995 1st round pick, also from Arizona State). While he had a pick and forced fumble during the '96 Super Bowl, he never developed into the player we hoped he'd be, having only 4 interceptions in 4 years.
He was traded to the 49ers in '99 and then his career was over. I hope Randall does not have the same fate.
oldfart
February 13, 2017 at 08:30 am
PERHAPS TT AND MM SHOULD CONSIDER CONVERTING JEFF JANUS TO CORNER BACK. HE HAS THE SIZE AND SPEED PLUS BEING A RECEIVER THE ADJUSTMENT SHOULD NOT BE TOO DIFFICULT. OTHER TEAMS HAVE CONVERTED RECEIVERS TO DEFENSIVE BACKS. DO WE HAVE THE COACHING TO DO THIS? WE CONVERTED MONTGOMERY TO RUNNING BACK AND IT APPEARS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
Dzehren
February 14, 2017 at 12:23 am
Significant Free agent talk in GB is a waist of time & debate unless a Woodson or peppers type is somehow available later in FA that does not tie into compensatory picks