Packers Morning Buzz: Safety first for Green Bay? Big names hitting the market

Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers from around the web and here at PackersNews.com.

We'll start with Ryan Wood's preview of free agency and the five positions of greatest need for the Packers. In addition to edge rusher, safety is a position that figures to be a Packers priority, and there are some big-name options available in Earl Thomas, Landon Collins and Tyrann Mathieu, as well as former Packers starter Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.

Ryan writes:

This year’s safety class is flush with proven talent, and the likes of Thomas, Collins and Mathieu will be hellbent to not settle with whatever deal they sign. Something’s gotta give. For the Packers, it could be an opportune time to strike for a starting safety. Given their need and Gutekunst’s past willingness to deal, none of the above can be discounted as possibilities. That includes Clinton-Dix, whom the Packers traded away in October. One source suggested a reunion is possible, though that remains difficult to fathom.

You can read about all the positions the Packers could look to fill in free agency here:

The Packers are interested in Chiefs edge rusher Dee Ford, whom Kansas City franchise-tagged but still might trade:

More on potential roadblocks to a deal for Ford:

The Chiefs made another pass rusher available Sunday when they released veteran Justin Houston, who (like Ford) was with new Packers outside linebackers coach Mike Smith in Kansas City:

Tom Silverstein writes that the Packers will be making a big mistake if they choose to keep tight end Jimmy Graham over edge rusher Nick Perry:

Pete Dougherty goes three-and-out with free agency approaching:

Conor Orr of The MMQB projects likely landing spots for their top 10 free agents ... and none of them are pegged for the Packers:

Doug Farrar of The Touchdown Wire does the same thing with their expanded list of the top 21 free agents ... and again, none are projected for the Packers:

The Packers released linebacker Antonio Morrison before a raise went into effect:

Tom Oates of the Wisconsin State Journal offers his blueprint for getting the Packers back on track:

The former Packers fan favorite was beset by injuries during his two seasons in Detroit, missing 13 games:

Jason Wilde weighs in on the Matt LaFleur-Aaron Rodgers dynamic:

Peter Bukowski of Acme Packing Co. lays out what he envisions would be a perfect offseason for the Packers:

Congrats from one former Packers defensive back to another:

And finally .... Aaron Rodgers responded to former teammate John Kuhn's remarks during Kuhn's Packers retirement news conference: