Green Bay Packers free agency 2017: Top 5 targets
By John Buhler
The Green Bay Packers don’t participate in NFL free agency like everybody else. Here are the five players the Packers need to target this offseason.
The Green Bay Packers rarely participate in unrestricted free agency like the other 31 NFL franchises do. Under the guidance of general manager Ted Thompson, the Packers often direct their attention to the upcoming NFL Draft and re-sign their own players.
That being said, Green Bay does have several tough decisions to make this free agency cycle. Many of the Packers corps will be hitting unrestricted free agency. While Green Bay has roughly $43,568,612 to work with against the salary cap this offseason, are the Packers going to retain all of their top players hitting the open market?
Could we even see them dabble in unrestricted free agency for once? The Packers are full-steam ahead into the offseason. Here are the five players they need to target this spring to make their strong NFC North team even better.
Julius Peppers
Outside Linebacker, Green Bay Packers
Though he just turned 37 years old, it would be difficult for the Packers to let a future Pro Football Hall of Famer walk out the door in outside linebacker Julius Peppers. The 15-year veteran out of North Carolina has totaled 143.5 quarterback sacks in 234 career games.
Peppers has been a Pro Bowler nine times and made three All-Pro teams in his illustrious career. While he did not make the Pro Bowl for a 10th time in 2016, Peppers was still a highly productive player as he entered his late 30s. Peppers had 7.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in 16 games for the Packers.
As a locker room leader, it would tough to see Peppers leave in unrestricted free agency. However, he is still ringless, having never won a Super Bowl though playing in 17 career playoff games. Add in that he is very expensive for his age and it could be time for the Packers to cut bait on the future Hall of Famer.
Peppers just completed the third year of his three-year deal worth $26,000,000 with the Packers last season. Though he is worthy of several million dollars next season, he won’t garner the eight figures he made in 2016.
Is Peppers expensive for his age? Absolutely, but since Green Bay doesn’t dabble in unrestricted free agency very often, it may be worth their time to offer Peppers a one or two-year deal worth up to $5 million annually. Maybe he will get a Lombardi Trophy before he retires as a member of the Packers?