The 2009 NFL free agency season officially opened just over 9 hours ago. As you can tell we are focusing heavily on this right now for a few a reasons, it’s a great offseason talker, the Packers have $36 million in cap space, and well, you can only break down the combine grades of Dominque Edison and Augustus Parrish so much.
Chris and Gene did great jobs yesteday of breaking down potential free agents the Packers could go after and also bringing forth the reality that Ted Thompson probably won’t make a big signing.
However, that may not be a bad thing looking at the 2010 free agents Green Bay will need to lock up – Greg Jennings, Nick Collins, Daryn Colledge and Aaron Kampman. Jennings is by far the highest priority to be re-signed and signed quickly. As Gene pointed out the potential of a uncapped year looming, Jennings price tag will keep getting higher, and that doesn’t factor his play on the field where he is developing into one of the top deep threats in the league. You can look at the extension Lee Evans signed last season as a benchmark – four-years, $37.25 million – and go from there. Jennings could be looking at an extension worth upwards of $10 million annually on average, along the lines of 4 years, $42-45 million possibly.
Collins also has deserved to be re-signed this offseason, and Thompson could wait on Colledge and Kampman to see how they perform this year, especially Kampman switiching to OLB. Adding in the draft picks they will have to sign and lower-level free agents for depth, that $36 million may go faster than you think.
Taking all of this into consideration, don’t be suprised if the team’s big signing this offseason isn’t someone flashy like Albert Haynesworth, Chris Canty, or even Matt Birk, but a new deal for Jennings. Which could be the best move they make all offseason.
-Adam Somers
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