First I want to thank FFMM management for letting me submit a report after free agency started because the Packers had a different GM. I wasn’t disappointed. The Packers traded CB Demarious Randall to Cleveland for QB DeShone Kizer, cut WR Jordy Nelson, and signed unrestricted free agents DE Muhammad Wilkerson and TE Jimmy Graham. And in the process, because of the tenders extended or not Green Bay has 9 unrestricted free agents (UFA) and 9 exclusive rights free agents (ERFA). Neither the transition nor franchise tags were used – as per prior Packer protocol.

The list of UFAs looks like this: OG Jahri Evans, OT Ulrick John, TE Richard Rodgers, WR Jeff Janis, LS Brett Goode, CB Devon House, OLB Ahmad Brooks, S Morgan Burnette, and DE Quinton Dial. The list of ERFAs is as follows: WR Geronimo Allison, WR Michael Clark, QB Joe Callahan, CB Donatello Brown, OG Justin McCray, OG Lucas Patrick, OT Adam Pankey, FB Joe Kerridge, and S Jermaine Whitehead. As of this time it is unknown if any of the UFAs will be back. But most if not all the ERFAs should return if the Packers want them back. So that leaves the rest of the roster to look at, and some draft clues are emerging.

On Offense, the Packers are set at running back after drafting the position well last year. But usage will determine fantasy value. At quarterback the Packers now have three on the roster. Those are QB Aaron Rodgers, QB Brett Hundley, and QB DeShone Kizer. In Hundley’s prior three years in Green Bay he hasn’t had any real regular season playing time until he had to take over for Rodgers. There was talk after the Super Bowl how the Eagles and Vikings had backups who played well – why couldn’t Hundley? What they forget is all the real game experiences for other teams those two guys have had. And that was the difference. At tight end the Packers have, TE Jimmy Graham, TE Lance Kendricks, TE Emanuel Byrd, and TE Robert Tonyan. After Graham, none of them will scare anyone. Graham was misused in Seattle as a blocker. If the Packers don’t make that mistake, Graham offers positional versatility and should be considered a good fantasy prospect. This move definitely means that the tight end position is no longer a draft priority. At wide receiver the Packers have; WR Davante Adams, WR Randall Cobb, WR Trevor Davis, WR DeAngelo Yancey, WR Colby Person, and WR Jake Kumerow. After Adams and Cobb there is very little to count on. I suspect the need for a more ready to go wide out is there. There is a possibility this position is in remake mode. On the offensive line the Packers have; OC Corey Linsley, OC Dillion Day, OG Lane Taylor, OG Kofi Amichia, OT David Bakhtari, OT Bryan Bulaga, OT Jason Spriggs, and OT Kyle Murphy. With all that the Packers will be alright if the three ERFAs come back. There is probably minimal help coming in this area unless they release Bulaga for cap reasons.

On Defense, we are about to get a lesson on how things will be different. On the defensive line the Packers have the following; DL Dean Lowry, DL Kenny Clark, DL Mike Daniels, DL Muhammad Wilkerson, and DL Montravius Adams. This is a good group if no one gets hurt. At line-backer there is; LB Nick Perry, LB Clay Matthews, LB Vince Biegel, LB Chris Odom, LB Blake Martinez, LB Jake Ryan, LB Reggie Gilbert, LB David Talley, LB Ahmad Thomas, and LB Kyler Fackell. Green Bay will be looking for some help at edge rusher – probably in the draft. At corner back the Packers have; CB Kevin King, CB Lenzy Pipkins, CB Josh Hawkins, CB Quinton Rollins, CB Demetri Goodson, and CB Herb Waters. Waters would have been a free agent, but the Packers re-signed him. That is the only clue I have about how the Packers feel about him. The only starter quality guy among them (that we know of) is King. They need another - help is going to have to come from somewhere. As more and more free agent cornerbacks sign elsewhere, it looks more likely that it will come from the draft. At safety the Packers have; S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S Josh Jones, S Marwin Evans, and S Kentrell Brice. Again, help will have to come from somewhere. And in this case the draft makes a lot of sense and provides on focus on who the Packer will/should take at #14. I will save the details for next month. On special teams the Packers have; K Mason Crosby, P Justin Vogel, and LS Zach Triner. They have apparently said goodbye to P Jacob Schum, LS Taybor Pepper, and LS Derek Hart. If I were doing my fantasy draft now I would only consider QB Aaron Rodgers and TE Jimmy Graham. Next month we will have most of our free agency answers and then see where the NFL draft might take us. Thanks for your patience and I will return next month.

End.