Williamson: How the Packers can reload for 2017
Matt Williamson is a former scout for the Cleveland Browns, and spent the last 10 years at ESPN as a scout and co-host of "The Football Today Podcast."
Green Bay Packers offseason to-do list
Notable free agents: Don Barclay, Jared Cook, Micah Hyde, Datone Jones, Eddie Lacy, T.J. Lang, Christine Michael, Julius Peppers, Nick Perry, JC Tretter
Free-agent and draft capital: Weak
Offense
The Packers' ability to fortify their roster this coming offseason is graded as weak because they'll pick near the end of every round in the draft and are currently middle-of-the-road in terms of 2017 salary-cap space. We also know they're not going to go outside the organization to bring in free-agent players. Green Bay's list of upcoming free agents is extremely concerning too. None of those listed warrant the franchise tag, but most are important current members of this team. To free up further cap space to presumably keep a few of those names, the Packers are expected to release Sam Shields (and have similar decisions to make about Clay Matthews and James Starks).
Without Starks, Michael, or Lacy under contract, the Packers would basically have zero at the running back position other than Ty Montgomery. While moving Montgomery from wide receiver to running back was a mostly successful experiment, a big back like Lacy should certainly be on the wish list. This is considered a very strong running back draft class, but Green Bay might be wise to bring Lacy back, as his price tag has to be somewhat down at this point.
At tight end, the Packers absolutely need a true threat in the Cook or Jermichael Finley mold. Cook's past suggests Green Bay should be wary of investing huge money in him, but he was very much a difference-maker in Aaron Rodgers' offense. This is an exceptional tight end draft class as well, but counting on a rookie tight end at a position where rookies generally struggle seems unwise for a franchise that reached the NFC Championship Game this year and has to be in it to win it in 2017.
The Packers also could use a wide receiver with deep speed to add to the equation, and who is to say how long Jordy Nelson can play at a high level.
The offensive line, a major strength in 2016, is in flux right now considering the contract statuses of Barclay, Tretter, and Lang, whose injury Sunday is also worth noting as a factor. Jason Spriggs could be penciled in as one of the starting guards, but he is more of a tackle. Still, that only leaves four starters up front with Spriggs, David Bakhtiari, Bryan Bulaga, and Corey Linsley, and very little offensive line depth. Free-agent offensive linemen are going to be in huge demand across the league when the market opens, and Tretter and Lang won't come cheap.
Defense
On defense, we saw how awful the Packers were at the cornerback position. They should still have high hopes for Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins, and they are set at safety, but cornerback was this team's biggest weakness when it mattered most and must be addressed. Hyde was a key, versatile contributor this year who played the most snaps of any of Green Bay’s upcoming free agents and should be a priority to bring back. And if the Packers were to consider bringing in a starting player from another squad, cornerback is the place to do it, but it would certainly be expensive.
Of course, the best way to help your coverage players is to pressure the quarterback. While Green Bay did that rather well in 2016, they might lose Peppers, Perry, Matthews, and Jones, leaving little in the cupboard other than last year’s third-round pick, Kyler Fackrell. Perry should be the one Green Bay works hardest to retain. Clearly a lot of work needs to be done with their edge pass-rush, a position that's always in high demand in the NFL. The Packers are mediocre on the second level, but young, so they probably won't address that area high in the draft.
Conclusion
The Packers are coming off an excellent year and they have Rodgers, which makes a lot of problems go away. But the roster surrounding him has a chance to be significantly worse than this year's by the time the 2017 season rolls around, as it will be difficult for Green Bay to maintain or improve in quite a few important areas.