The Green Bay Packers are set to head into the 2016 NFL offseason and have a lot of needs to address. Bleacher Report Packers' beat writer Michelle Bruton took the time to do an exclusive interview with us about the upcoming offseason.
Q. Mike McCarthy is reportedly upset with Ted Thompson's offseason approach to free agency. Do you think Green Bay will be more active on the free agency market this offseason?
A. The Packers will typically make a splashy free-agent signing every few years, the biggest recent names coming to mind obviously being Charles Woodson in 2006 and Julius Peppers in 2014. Given the talent the team already has at key positions, it does seem that even one veteran free-agent signing could give them a push into the Super Bowl in 2017. However, the Packers are currently estimated to have about $21 million in cap space heading into 2016 and have key players approaching free agency: Mason Crosby, B.J. Raji, Casey Hayward, James Jones, John Kuhn, Mike Neal, Nick Perry, and James Starks. If Thompson does sign an outside free agent, it will only be after he has re-signed all the players he wants to retain. From my perspective, he'll also get the most bang for his buck if he goes after a tight end.
Q. Do you think the Packers' offensive issues can be fixed with Jordy Nelson returning to the field, or does more need to be done?
A. The Packers' offensive issues in 2015 certainly weren't all due to the absence of Jordy Nelson, but much of them stemmed from it. The youth and inexperience at wide receiver, with Davante Adams, Ty Montgomery, Jeff Janis, and Jared Abbrederis all having to take on larger roles, showed in the route-running. Many times, receivers would run a route and stop short, or run what was clearly not the route reflected in the playbook. That often meant Aaron Rodgers was throwing a ball to a player who was not at his intended spot. Nelson's absence also forced Randall Cobb to take on a No. 1 role, and defenders could blanket him. While the Packers' young receiving corps still needs to improve on execution, having Nelson back in 2017 will make a huge difference in what defenders can do to limit them.
Q. What are your thoughts on Eddie Lacy? Will he turn things around next season after this years inconsistency?
A. Mike McCarthy wasn't afraid to call Eddie Lacy out after the season; he came into the offseason program in 2015 already overweight and the problem carried through the entire season. His production took a nosedive, and then there were the issues with responsibility, such as missing curfew. Losing the starting job twice to James Starks in 2015 seemed to be a wake-up call for Lacy, but it is imperative that he show up to work in 2016 at a productive weight. That being said, the Packers should still look to draft a power running back in the mid-rounds to develop.
Q. Can you give us five names that the Packers should target in free agency?
A. This is somewhat of a cop-out, but given that Ted Thompson so rarely makes moves in free agency, my first two names are going to be two of the Packers' own free agents: Mason Crosby and Nick Perry. After a strange blip on the radar in 2012, Crosby has regained his consistency, making more than 80 percent of his field-goal attempts since that season. And though Perry never quite delivered on his promise coming out of the draft, he had a turnaround season in 2015 (31 tackles, 3.5 sacks) when he needed it most, after being forced into a contract year when the team elected not to exercise his fifth-year option. As for street free agents, the biggest name on the tight end market is going to be San Diego's Antonio Gates, who had a cap hit of about $8 million in 2015. He's at the end of his career, but if the idea is that the Packers need to make a Super Bowl-push now, he certainly gives Aaron Rodgers another weapon for his arsenal. Along those same lines, New Orleans' Benjamin Watson could also plug well into Green Bay's offense, and for a cheaper price. Inside linebacker seems like a position the team should prioritize drafting early, but if Thompson were to consider signing a veteran, Sean Weatherspoon could be a solid target if the Cardinals don't re-sign him.
Q. How about two or three names to watch for in the NFL Draft?
A. The Packers' three top needs in the 2016 draft are nearly identical to what they were in 2015, which means Thompson has some work to do. In no particular order, Green Bay needs to lock down solid inside linebacker, tight end, and defensive tackle prospects before the second day of the draft is over. I like inside linebacker Scooby Wright III (Arizona), tight end Hunter Henry (Arkansas), and defensive tackle Jarran Reed (Alabama).
Q. Looking back on the 2015 season, what five players stand out to you as being bright spots for the Packers?
A. Rookie cornerback Damarious Randall earned the starting outside job before the end of the season - that's no small accomplishment. Linebacker Nick Perry finally started to flash some playmaking ability and scheme soundness. Wide receiver Jeff Janis, it turns out, really was a hidden gem - though his route-running needs some serious work, he was explosive at times. Defensive end Mike Daniels thoroughly earned his contract extension, by far the most outstanding player on the defense in 2015. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix had exactly the kind of sophomore season you hope to see, improving his execution (decreasing missed tackles) while continuing to make big plays (team-high four takeaways).
Q. What are your expectations for the Packers looking ahead to 2016?
A. There's no reason not to expect the Packers to make the postseason for the eighth straight season. As long as they have Aaron Rodgers, they have a shot - and the defense has taken strides in the last two seasons, approaching the unit that helped carry the 2010 Packers into the Super Bowl. A healthy Jordy Nelson will do wonders for taking some pressure off the young receivers and Randall Cobb, and another offseason together with help that unit develop more timing and chemistry with Rodgers. Green Bay needs to re-institute a wide receivers coach, rather than lumping that group in with quarterbacks. Ted Thompson could help this team become something special by adding immediate help at inside linebacker and tight end, whether through free agency or the first round of the draft.
Q. Do you think that Mike McCarthy is on the hot seat next season?
A. No. The Packers have only missed the playoffs in two of the 10 seasons since McCarthy took over at the helm in 2006, and he has been instrumental in the development of Aaron Rodgers' mechanics. Giving up play-calling for half a season was a distraction and interruption that ultimately hurt the Packers in 2015, but Ted Thompson didn't veto the move. Thompson has to recognize that his draft-and-develop strategy makes life difficult for a head coach, and if he wants to put McCarthy in the best position to succeed, he needs to give him some immediate help with players who can contribute right away.
Needless to say, there were quite a few major points that Michelle made in the interview. She is a great writer and we encourage you to give her a follow on Twitter. Her account is, @Michelle_NFL.
What do you think the Packers should do in the upcoming offseason? Let us know in the comment box below!
