Free-agent countdown: DT Letroy Guion
Editor's note: Prior to the start of the new league year in March, Press-Gazette Media is counting down the top unrestricted, restricted and exclusive-right free agents the Green Bay Packers will have to decide on this offseason.
Letroy Guion's arrival in Green Bay was years in the making.
Before the 2008 NFL draft, the Packers had their eye on the 6-foot-4, 315-pound defensive lineman out of Florida State. His brute strength made his resume jump off the page. The organization penciled him in as a possible late-round selection.
However, the Minnesota Vikings beat the Packers to Guion, drafting him in the fifth round. He stayed on the Vikings' defensive line for six seasons before they released him last March in a cost-cutting move.
A week later, the Packers signed Guion to a one-year deal. The decision paid dividends near the end of training camp when starting nose tackle B.J. Raji was lost for the season with torn right biceps.
Guion played with something to prove. He started all 16 games on the line and set new career-highs in tackles (32) and sacks (3½). If his noteworthiness ended there, the Packers might have already signed him to a long-term extension.
However, Guion was arrested last month in his hometown of Starke, Fla., for felony possession of marijuana and a firearm. His camp maintains the situation should be resolved soon, but it has put any negotiation talks on indefinite hiatus.
Guion's attorney, Robert Rush, said Wednesday that he hopes to have a deferred prosecution agreement in place in the next couple weeks that would result probation and no jail time. A civil case for the return of more than $190,000 in cash and his 2015 Dodge Ram would still need to be handled separately.
Guion could face discipline and possible suspension from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell under the league's personal conduct policy. The incident might also hurt his chances at landing a long-term deal with the Packers or elsewhere in the NFL.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy told reporters at the NFL scouting combine that Guion has returned to Green Bay where the organization continue to monitor his situation. He's reiterated his interest in bringing Guion back once his legal issues are resolved.
Until then, the pleasant surprise of the Packers' 2014 season must wait to see if he'll receive an encore.
-- whodkiew@pressgazettemedia.com and follow him on Twitter @WesHod.
Letroy Guion, eighth-year defensive lineman
The skinny: Unrestricted free agent.
The snaps: 662 total (622 defense).
The stats: 32 tackles, 3½ sacks.
2014 salary: $1 million.
Previous installments:
15. S Chris Banjo and RB DuJuan Harris
12. QB Matt Flynn
11. FB John Kuhn
10. CB Jarrett Bush
6. DT B.J. Raji