Insiders Blog: Super free agents | greenbaypressgazette.com

Friday, February 1, 2008

Super free agents

Who will be the next Frank Walker?

OK, that probably was not the most intriguing way to start a post. But for anyone who needs reason to do something other than cry into their cheesehead-shaped pillow during Sunday's Super Bowl between the Giants and Patriots, remember this:

The Packers will have a projected $25 million in salary-cap space when free agency begins next month, and with only one in-house free agent of note (defensive tackle Corey Williams), they're poised to make a significant move or two in free agency -- or at least do more than last March, when signing Walker to a one-year deal was GM Ted Thompson's lone move.

Just for the sake of conjecture, here are the most notable players on the New England and New York active rosters who can become unrestricted free agents, with experience and 2007 earnings:

Patriots
CB Asante Samuel (5th year, $7,790,000)
WR Randy Moss (10, $3,001,560)
LB Tedy Bruschi (12, $2,581,120)
S Eugene Wilson (5, $2,442,660)
CB Randall Gay (4, $1,305,160)
LB Junior Seau (18, $1,100,840)
LS Lonie Paxton (8, $786,640)
WR Jabar Gaffney (6, $626,720)
WR Troy Brown (15, $475,000)

Giants
P Jeff Feagles (20th year, $1,103,840)
S Gibril Wilson (4, $1,303,480)
LB Kawika Mitchell (5, $1,000,000)
LB Reggie Torbor (4, $854,800)
K Lawrence Tynes (4, $650,840)

Want any of these guys? If you were Thompson, who would be your top target among all potential free agents? Leave a comment using the link below.

-- Tom Pelissero, tpelisse@greenbaypressgazette.com

13 Comments:

Either of the wilson Safty's or Gay for a corner would be a deffinate inprovemant.

By Prescott, At February 1, 2008 7:57 PM

Of these guys, I'd like to see Randall Gay or Gibril Wilson. Samuel is tempting but that's a lot of money...

Regardless, I'd love to see Thompson use the money to nail down Corey Williams, sign a big name safety and big name corner.

By andyfest, At February 4, 2008 8:07 AM

Asante Samuel

By Anonymous, At February 4, 2008 2:50 PM

Kawika Mitchell. He lit up brady a couple of times last night and would be an awesome addition to Hawk & Barnett. other than him, maybe Samuel, but we dont need either of those safeties. Gay might be worth a look, but Im not so sure about him.

By putzerboo, At February 4, 2008 2:58 PM

Pass. Samuel is certainly a talented player, but he's also a real d-bag.

I'd like to see us pick up Marcus Trufant from the 'Hawks.

By Slex, At February 4, 2008 3:07 PM

Of the guys from those two teams, maybe Gay as nickel. Obviously Samuel would be huge but we already have two good corners that are making alot and neither of those guys are gonna be down with stepping down to a nickel role.

Take all 31 teams into consideration and I'd go for Faneca as we need O-Line help badly.

By Anonymous, At February 4, 2008 3:32 PM

Faneca from Pittsburgh to solidify our O Line and Dallas Clark to give Favre a healthy 2 TE set

By Anonymous, At February 4, 2008 3:40 PM

I would say Jeff Feagles, sure he won't be playing much longer, but the guy has an incredible talent for nailing opponents down inside their own 10. Other than Feagles I would have to say Gay as a nickel corner. Samuel would be good but I don't think there is any chance he will play for any team as a nickel corner instead of a starter.

By curlylambeau, At February 4, 2008 3:50 PM

Nnamdi Asomugha.

Let's get Chuck to convince him.

Then there's Jacob Bell, G for the Tennessee Titans.

By DRV, At February 4, 2008 4:02 PM

Why just look at these two teams, and not check out ALL the other 31, as TT and Personnel are surely doing as we speak?

I'm personally leery of taking FA's off SB teams, as it seems those who leave for the Big Payday don't do as well when on teams w/o the strong supporting casts that SB teams usually have.

A pig in a poke, as it were.

Let TT, et al, keep building from within (which is how NE does it typicaly) and target younger FA's than those out there now. Faneca's too old.

Having said all this, I do like Mitchell's intensity and believe he w/b an extraordinary compliment to Hawk and Barnett.

By Anonymous, At February 4, 2008 5:48 PM

Oakland's #21 Nnamdi Asomugha at CB.

By CDragon, At February 4, 2008 6:09 PM

I would like CB Samuel and
LB Mitchell.
Also would like the Packers to do a
3 cornerback/1 safety when there is a regular formation by the opposition. Maybe the tight ends would not run wild

By Anonymous, At February 5, 2008 12:09 PM

With age and the injury bug at GB's corners, I take Samuel in his prime without a second thought. GB's corners, while still at the top of their game, are old and will need consideration for replacement in the next couple of years. Samuel is one of the few shutdown corners in the league, which are rarely available. I really doubt he would care if he's a #3 CB if he's making his money and playing on a SB contender. A #3 sees the field a ton anyway. Replace Collins with Rouse and GB's secondary would be absolutely sick.

By bob, At February 7, 2008 6:44 PM