Off-season priorities

This is an important off-season for Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy coming off a disappointing 6-10 season. There were a lot of bright spots on the team but they lost 7 of their 10 games by 4 points or less, which shows they're close and could make a playoff run next year with a few good moves and better luck with injuries. With Cullen Jenkins and Nick Barnett healthy next year the defense gets a boost automatically, and Aaron Rodgers having a year of starting under his belt can only lead to better play next year hopefully. The Packers pick 9th this year and gained the #84 pick from the Jets in the Favre deal. With 4 picks in the top 84 and plenty of cap room there are plenty of opportunities to address important situations. With that here are my top off-season priorities.

1. Re-sign Greg Jennings and Nick Collins to long-term contracts. Jennings has a year left on his rookie deal and will get paid like Berrian with the past two seasons totaling over 2400 yards and 24 TD's. Collins made the Pro-Bowl while intercepting 7 passes and finally reaching the potential that got him drafted in the 2nd round 4 years ago. These two guys are young cornerstones on the team, and Nick Collins is a unrestricted free agent so hopefully we sign him quickly while not overpaying him.
2. FIX THE DEFENSIVE LINE!!!!!!!!!! This is really Priority 1B technically because this is our biggest weakness on the team. Jenkins was out for the year after week 4, KGB was released mid-season because of his bad knee, and Justin Harrell never can get healthy. Kampman was a beast again this year providing our only consistent pass rush. Johnny Jolly was solid but not spectacular but still faces legal charges in Houston so is not a sure thing. Colin Cole is a backup at DT, and Jeremy Thompson is still raw but could develop down the road. We must bring back Ryan Pickett because he is still and effective clog up the middle. The Packers have two routes to fix the D-line, the Draft or Free Agency: Free agents include Albert Haynesworth and Julius Peppers, neither appears likely to leave their current team but are available. Peppers would be an awesome addition if we could WOO him to come to Green Bay and our next possible Reggie White. Cullen Jenkins could move back to DT where he excelled to start his career. Just imagine Aaron Kampman on one side with Peppers on the other with Pickett and Jenkins up the middle! Ahh to dream though. The Packers could pick a DT or DE in the 1st round if they think he could make an immediate impact and BE HEALTHY unlike another 1st round DT we took (ahem!).
3. Find a way to improve the offensive line. Tauscher is a free agent and might not be back next season. Thompson has to decide if the trio of Colledge, Wells, and Spitz is good enough up the middle, and if Clifton is still our best option at LT. I believe if the right veteran can be signed we should bring in more experience to help gel that line to give Rodgers and Grant more opportunities.
4. Find a upgrade over Bigby at Strong Safety. Bigby was hurt almost the entire season and had a nice season last year btu is short and has limitations despite being very opportunistic with INT's and big hits. Aaron Rouse didn't take advantage of Bigby being sidelined but is still young. If a playmaking Strong safety were available with our second round pick (#41) I would say make the move.
5. Replace Bob Sanders as Defensive Coordinator. Winston Moss our LB coach/asst head coach is a candidate for the head coach position with the Rams and if he doesn't get might be the new man leading our defense. I don't oppose this as long as Moss will bring more pressure to our philosophy, and find ways to maximize each player's abilities. We have a lot of talent on our defense when healthy and must capitalize on it effectively. Plenty of the head coaches getting axed and others available are defensive specialists including Greg Williams, Rod Marinelli, Jim Haslett, etc.

Hopefully Ted Thompson sees a free agent that can have the impact of a Charles Woodson on this team and bring him in. The defensive line MUST be improved one way or the other to have a successful 2009 campaign. Picking 9th in the draft means we have the opportunity to add a playmaker on this team that hopefully would be a starter, obviously its early but here are some guys who we could look at with the #9 pick:

• Aaron Maybin DE (Penn State)
• Everette Brown DE (Florida State)
• Malcom Jenkins CB (Ohio State)
• Brian Orakpo DE (Texas)
• Gerald McCoy DT (Oklahoma)
• Jason Smith OT (Baylor)
• BJ Rajii DT (Boston College)
• Michael Johnson DE (Georgia State)
• Eugene Monroe OT (Virginia)