For pretty much the entire afternoon today, it was sort of looking grim if you are a fan of the Green Bay Packers.

Green Bay’s starting left tackle, Chad Clifton, was visiting with the Washington Redskins. The ‘Skins need a left tackle and have an owner (Daniel Snyder) who loves to overpay for aging [...]]]> Friday, 11:50 p.m.

For pretty much the entire afternoon today, it was sort of looking grim if you are a fan of the Green Bay Packers.

Green Bay’s starting left tackle, Chad Clifton, was visiting with the Washington Redskins. The ‘Skins need a left tackle and have an owner (Daniel Snyder) who loves to overpay for aging veterans on the open market. Add to that the fact that Clifton and agent Jimmy Sexton had already balked at the Packers’ offer of $5 million a year and you had a scenario where Green Bay was surely set to lose the man who had owned the left tackle spot for more than a decade.

Plus, the Chicago Bears had just landed prized defensive end Julius Peppers (six years, $91 million with $42 million in guaranteed dough) and the Detroit Lions snagged end Kyle Vanden Bosch (four years, $26 million). Combine that with Jared Allen’s irritating presence in Minnesota and Green Bay was staring down the barrel at the following scenario: Six divisional games in 2010 against solid-to-All Pro-level pass rushers with, as of earlier today, no real left tackle to speak of.

My how quickly things change.

Clifton will indeed be returning to Green Bay, signing a three-year, $20 million contract ($7.5 million guaranteed) tonight. There are a few different layers to this story and I’ll attempt to cover them all now.

First: Did the Packers overpay for Clifton?

Yes and no. They did in the sense that three years is a lot for a soon-to-be 34 year old player who is likely breaking down physically. That $20 million overall figure is also a bit hard to swallow. They did not overpay in the sense that, well, they kind of needed him. T.J. Lang is just not a left tackle. They could draft a rookie in the first round (I still think they will, by the way), but sending a rookie out there right away against those guys – plus any other top-notch pass rushers they may face – could spell disaster. They could have handed over first-and-third round picks, plus a contract in the neighborhood of $60 million, to someone like San Diego’s Marcus McNeill. Personally, I’d have gone for this last option, but handing over picks like that just isn’t Ted Thompson’s style. Instead, Thompson saw the lay of the land brought on by the Peppers/Vanden Bosch signings and decided to go with the devil he knew. He showed some flexibility – not normally his strong suit – with this move and you have to credit him for that.

As for the money, don’t panic too much. I’m sure Thompson, as usual, front loaded the hell out of the deal, meaning it’s likely closer to a one-or-two year contract. Everyone, Clifton included, knows Clifton will not see the third year of this contract.

Secondly: What does this mean for Mark Tauscher?

As beloved as the homegrown Tauscher is by us Packers fans, this move likely brings his time in Green Bay to an end. I’ve always been of the belief that Thompson would bring back just one of the two tackles. I believe that even more now, given the amount of money paid to Clifton. I just don’t see a scenario in which Thompson pays starter money to two players in the same position group who are over the age of 32.

Yes, Tauscher was nothing short of outstanding and, as I’ve said before, you can make the case that he was the savior for the offense last season. I’m not against his return, personally. But, from Thompson’s perspective, the team already has a young player (Lang) whom they are clearly in love with and whom they feel can play that position next season. They’ve also spent a lot of time on Allen Barbre and Breno Giacomini. Barbre is likely nothing, but Giacomini could have some potential, meaning that there are at least two possible options at RT going forward. My guess is that Thompson wants to find out – much sooner rather than later – if any of these three can be the longterm option there.

That brings us to this: What kind of impact does Clifton’s re-signing have on the team’s draft plans?

It doesn’t have one - or, at least, it shouldn’t. Even with Clifton coming back, and the stability it provides, you can pretty much bank on him suffering an injury or two and missing anywhere between two and five games next season. And, as I said before, he is breaking down physically so there’s always that chance that he misses even more games than that. The team needs a suitable backup option, one who would also be ready to take over the reigns in the not-too-distant future.

The best way to find a left tackle like that? Take one in the first round. In the latest OBOD mock draft, for example, we have the Packers taking USC tackle Charles Brown. At under 300 pounds, Brown needs time to put weight on and get acclimated to the pro game. But he doesn’t need THAT much time. He’d be ready by 2011, if not sometime during this upcoming season. And if Clifton, as expected, has to miss time this season, a player like Brown would likely be able to hold down the fort for a stretch or two on pure talent alone (hey, anyone’s better than Daryn Colledge at LT, right?).

People accuse Thompson of not setting up the o-line for the long term and, for the most part, they’re right to do so. He can start amending that now. He’s got the first part right; now he just needs to finish it.

Okay, final question: What should we expect the o-line to look like next season?

The starters, from left to right, will likely be Clifton, the winner of the Jason Spitz/Colledge battle, Scott Wells, Josh Sitton and Lang. The backups are likely the loser of the Spitz/Colledge battle, Evan Dietritch-Smith, Barbre, Giacomini and (hopefully) the player Green Bay takes in the first round.

How much better is that line than the one that allowed the most sacks in the league last season? If Clifton holds up (or the rookie does well if forced into duty) and Lang is a player (like I think he will be), the line should be better overall. We won’t know the answer to that for some time, obviously.

But for now we can all breathe a little easier as Clifton’s return provides some definite insurance at a position that suddenly became a hell of a lot more important for the Packers on Friday than it was on Thursday.

-Chris Lempesis

This week, Green Bay Press Gazette assistant sports editor Tom Pelissero kicked off his 10-part daily series of chats on “The State of the Packers.”  [...]]]> (After taking an ever-so-brief post-Super Bowl sabbatical, I’m back, baby! Also, was anyone else seriously bumming for a minute there that the season was over? Tell me it was not just me!)

This week, Green Bay Press Gazette assistant sports editor Tom Pelissero kicked off his 10-part daily series of chats on “The State of the Packers.”  Every day, Pelissero has touched on a different position on the team. Thursday, it was a doozy as Pelissero and the chatters talked about Green Bay’s offensive line.

Just over an hour was alotted for the chat. In all honesty, that might not be enough time to cover such a quagmire.

Obviously, everyone has their own opinions on what should happen regarding the Packers’ o-line heading into next season, but no one can argue with the fact that it’s a situation that must be addressed and cleared up, not just for next season but for the immediate future.

Another fact that’s hard to debate is this: For all the good general manager Ted Thompson has done, he has failed at properly setting up an offensive line for the future. It’s true that he’s only really used one high draft pick on a lineman (Daryn Colledge in the second round in 2006) and has never seriously targeted the position in free agency. But given the coaching staff’s inability to develop any of the mid-to-late round linemen taken – outside of right guard Josh Sitton – Thompson should have put further resources into the position, either through trades, free agency or higher draft picks.

It must be the position of focus for the Packers this offseason; they can afford to wait no longer. As Cheesehead TV’s Aaron Nagler said, while asking Pelissero a question: “You’re close – very close to contending for a Super Bowl.”

Well, a powerhouse offensive line can go a long way to making that a reality.

So, what should the Packers do? Also, what are some of the options they already have? That’s what we’ll be looking at here as we go position-by-position on the o-line, left-to-right:

Left tackle

I’ve said before on this blog that Chad Clifton should not be brought back and I’m sticking to that. Clifton has been a very solid blindside protector for nearly a decade. But he’s also old (about to turn 34) and is breaking down, physically. You could try to bring him back on a one-year deal (the absolute most I’d offer, in terms of years) but I don’t think he’d take it. Pelissero is right when he says someone could very well overpay Clifton, especially if there’s no cap (all but a lock at this point). And Clifton’s mindset will likely be to get as much as he can, since this is probably his last contract. I don’t fault him for that at all, but that means it’s time to find someone new.

If you stay in-house, you only have one option: T.J. Lang. It’s not a bad option, either, as Lang showed some flashes in his brief time at the position last season. Given a full offseason at the position, Lang could grow even more.

The first round of the draft is always good for finding a left tackle (plus, as Adam likes to say, first-round linemen almost never bust). At pick No. 23, Green Bay won’t be able to get a player like Oklahoma State’s Russell Okung or Iowa’s Bryan Bulaga. But it could land someone like USC’s Charles Brown (Charlie Brown!), Maryland’s Bruce Campbell (think of the “Evil Dead” jokes!) or Rutgers’ Anthony Davis (no jokes come to mind here). All are looked at as projects of sorts, but all could play right away, as well.

Some players, like San Diego’s Marcus McNeill or Tampa Bay’s Donald Penn, might become restricted free agents. To land one of them, you’d have to surrender a first and third round pick, plus a massive new deal (think six or seven years for $65-plus million). For a position as valuable as left tackle, though, that might not be too much to give up.

If it were me (which it’s not), I’d get the best lineman available at 23 and sign a cheap veteran backup who could provide a decent amount of stability if the rookie struggles (someone like Tra Thomas, recently released by Jacksonville).

Left guard

Colledge was, in a word, terrible last season. Some think his disastrous time at left tackle, in place of an injured Clifton, wrecked his confidence and he never got it back. The problem with that theory is that Colledge had an up-and-down history even before that. I’ve said before I wouldn’t even place a tender on him and I’ll stick to that.

If you stay in-house, you’ve got a few options. Jason Spitz could be the guy, provided his back is healed up. It’s a position Spitz knows well as most of his starts have come there. Plus, as a restricted free agent, he’ll likely come back cheap as no team will give up a third-round pick for a guy coming off what some said was a fairly serious back injury.

Evan Dietrich-Smith is a guy that the team appears to be high on. He provides added value in that he can play center, as well.

Then there’s that Lang guy again. To me, this is the spot he should be playing. He’s got the physical build and nasty streak that are perfect for the position. Plus, his short arms won’t hurt him here as much as they might at a tackle spot.

Yes, yes, I know I said before that I think the Packers should make a serious run at New England’s Logan Mankins, provided he hits restricted free agency. I still think they should. A first and third round pick (plus a new deal in the range of six years, $40 million) is a lot, but again, he could be to Green Bay what Steve Hutchinson was to Minnesota. That said, Thompson will never do it and I know it.

The Packers could draft a guard high, but rookie guards can take a year or two to develop (as opposed to first round tackles who tend to be ready to go right away). Plus, in my plan, you’re already going with one rookie. You can’t go with two.

If it were me (which it’s not), I’d sign Mankins (wait – nevermind). I’d give Lang the job and keep Spitz and Dietrich-Smith as valuable backups.

Center

This one’s a bit easier. After starting the year frustrated because he lost the job to Spitz – he was right to be mad, as he was never given a fair shot to actually win the gig - all Scott Wells did was wait. Then, when Spitz got hurt, Wells took his job back and was fantastic. He’s still fairly young (just turned 29) and should be the guy there for the immediate future.

If it were me (which it’s not), I’d give Wells the job again, continue to apologize to him for screwing him over in the training camp “competition” and keep Spitz and Dietrich-Smith as valuable backups.

Right guard

This one’s really easy. Sitton is the guy. He was great last season and will only get better.

If it were me (which it’s not), I’d make sure Sitton was enjoying his time in Green Bay. Depth-wise, again, there’s Spitz and Dietrich-Smith.

Right tackle

Okay, this one isn’t as easy. It’s not unfair to say Mark Tauscher was one of the saviors of the offense last season. As soon as he fully returned from his knee injury, the offense took off. He’s an unrestricted free agent, though, and if someone will overpay Clifton, you have to think someone would overpay Tauscher. A one-year deal might not be enough; if that’s the case, offer him a two-year deal. He’s worth it.

If you stay in-house, you have Breno Giacomini, whom the Packers are high on. Taken in the fifth round of the 2008 draft out of Louisville, Giacomini is a massive 6-feet, 7-inches. But he’s still somewhat small at just 311 pounds (pro football is ridiculous, isn’t it?). Plus, he didn’t start playing o-line until his junior year of college (formerly a tight end) so he’s still learning. When he was taken, it was said he’d be a two-to-three year project. Well, this year is year three. The clock is ticking as the team needs to find out if he’s more Jon Runyan or Allen Barbre (i.e., a project who the team developed, only to find out he sucked).

Speaking of Barbre, I’m not as down on him as some (who want him run out of town on a rail). But, I’m also not high on him, either. He’s got some tools and was solid in his run-blocking. He’s just a terrible pass protector, though. That said, he only got about a half season’s worth of a shot at right tackle and could still improve (yes, Barbre haters, it is possible).

Again, I don’t think you can draft a right tackle high (say, in the second round) if you’re already using one high pick on a left tackle. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations – which Green Bay should absolutely have next season – you can’t start over with rookies at both tackle spots.

Sort of the same thing with regards to free agency. It seems silly to spend a bunch of money on a free agent if you’ve already got two guys – Tauscher and Giacomini – who could potentially play the position.

If it were me (which it’s not), I’d make sure Tauscher was back as a Packer. But I’d also give Giacomini a legitimate shot to win the job. Barbre sticks around for one more year for depth.

Conclusion

So, to recap, my offensive line would look something like this:

• Left tackle: First round pick (starter), veteran backup (depth)
• Left guard: Lang (starter), Spitz and Dietrich-Smith (depth)
• Center: Wells (starter), Spitz and Dietrich-Smith (depth)
• Right guard: Sitton (starter), Spitz and Dietrich-Smith (depth)
• Right tackle: Tauscher (starter), Giacomini (depth, but a legit contender to win the job) and Barbre (depth)

By going with this line, I’ve gotten younger while still maintaining a good degree of stability and keeping things financially responsible. The group would still be talented and I’d also have better depth than last year.

Whew – that was a long post.

What say you, Packers fans? What do you think the line should look like? Comment, baby, comment!

-Chris Lempesis

But what about some players, currently on other teams, who might be able to help the Pack next season?

That’s the focus of the final part of our post-season, pre-draft to-do [...]]]> So, we’ve just about covered the current in-house situation for the Green Bay Packers with regards to their upcoming free agents and the players who could be released.

But what about some players, currently on other teams, who might be able to help the Pack next season?

That’s the focus of the final part of our post-season, pre-draft to-do list as we’re going to take a look at some impending free agents in areas of need for Green Bay.

I’m going to rank the positions in order of most-to-least in need of upgrades. I won’t list every position possible, of course, as the Packers are more-than-set at a few spots (quarterback, wide receiver, etc.). Again, this thing ended up being just too long to run as one post, so I’ve broken it up into two sections. Part two will run later today (I promise).

And, finally, remember that the Packers are currently about $10 million under the cap. Yes, there likely won’t be a cap next season, but a fiscally-conservative franchise like Green Bay could very well set a number for what the cap would have been and a number for what they would have spent had there been one. Even if there isn’t a cap, the Packers aren’t likely to go over whatever number that might be. In other words, Ted Thompson isn’t going to start dishing out $50 million contracts left and right. He’ll let Daniel Snyder and Jerry Jones do that.

Alright, no more stalling. Here is our early free agency look.

As always, enjoy.

1. Left tackle/left guard – If you’ve been following our coverage this week, you know that I think both Chad Clifton and Daryn Colledge should be sent packing. Clifton’s old and likely to fall apart soon enough and Colledge is just too up-and-down and when he’s down, he’s a wreck. Of course, by doing that, the Packers would then need an entirely new left side of the o-line. If Mark Tauscher’s brought back (which I think, and hope, he will be), my best guess is that T.J. Lang fills one of the two slots on the left side. The draft very well could be Thompson’s place to fill the other spot. If he chooses free agency, though, he looks to have a number of options at both guard and tackle, as of now. If Lang is placed at left tackle, New England’s Logan Mankins would make for an outstanding fit at left guard. He turns 28 in March, has been voted to two Pro Bowls and has started every game since being drafted in 2006. He’s equally good in run and pass blocking and could be to the Pack what Steve Hutchinson was to Minnesota – yeah, he’s that good. The Pats made interior o-line a priority of sorts in last year’s draft and might decide to let Mankins go, albeit as a restricted free agent. It might cost the Packers a first-and-third rounder (plus a new contract), but Mankins is absoultely worth it. San Francisco’s David Baas is a big boy at at 6-feet, 4-inches and 330 pounds, but is a solid starter who would provide some much-needed size and aggression (he’s a Michigan guy and Michigan always produces o-linemen with nasty dispositions). He’s restricted, too, and might cost a second-round pick. Not a bad price, though. At left tackle. Tampa Bay’s Donald Penn appears to be the best of the bunch. He doesn’t turn 26 until April and has done a very nice job on the bad Bucs’ teams of late (the Bucs’ struggles in recent years are likely the reason he doesn’t get as much pub as he should). Again, he’s equally solid in both areas and, while some concerns exist about his weight, he’d be a nice fit for the longterm. San Diego’s Marcus McNeill, 26, like Mankins, has also been to two Pro Bowls. At 6-feet, 7-inches and 336 pounds, he’s a throwback type of left tackle in the sense that he’s just a monster. He’s done a nice job protecting Phil Rivers’ blindside and we all know the numbers that Tomlinson guy was putting up for awhile there. Baltimore’s Jared Gaither is just 23 years old (he turns 24 in March) and has done a solid job, particularly in opening holes for Ray Rice. He’s a step down from Penn and McNeil, but would still be a nice fit. Same goes for New Orleans’ Jermon Bushrod, who has done a nice job replacing the injured Jammal Brown this season. He’ll turn 26 in August and likely has his best days ahead of him. Keep in mind that Penn, McNeill, Gaither and Bushrod are all set for restricted free agency also. Penn and McNeill will likely get the highest tenders (first-and-third round), Gaither is probably tendered at the first-round level and Bushrod is likely a second-round tender. A high price any way you cut it, but when you’re picking in the mid-20s, as Green Bay will be, you can definitely argue that any of these guys would provide more value than what the Packers would get in the draft.

2. Cornerback – This is not likely to be a place where Thompson makes a move in free agency, at least in terms of going after any big fish. Charles “Defensive Player of the Year” Woodson, Al Harris (make no mistake, he will be back in Green Bay next year) and Tramon Williams (if the Packers suck it up and pay him like I think they should) make for a formidable, and expensive, top three at the position. But clearly help is needed in terms of depth (we all saw the wild card game, after all). Jarett Bush stinks, Will Blackmon and Pat Lee are somewhat intriguing, but oft-injured and Brandon Underwood is an unknown. In my mind, the team needs at least two new corners who specialize in playing zone coverage in a 3-4 scheme. Thompson likely uses the draft to take at least one corner fairly high, but he should look to free agency for the other corner. You know who’d be a nice fit? San Francisco’s Dre Bly. Sure, he turns 33 in May, but he still had three picks and 13 passes defended last season in a 3-4 scheme. His age likely means he’d come fairly cheap and he’s unrestricted, meaning no compensation would have to be surrendered. Indianapolis’ Tim Jennings isn’t in a 3-4 – and he’s a bit small at just 5-feet, 8-inches - but he knows how to play the zone and recorded two picks and 10 passes defended for the Colts this season. He’s also unrestricted and just turned 26 years old, although he could cost a bit more. Finally, Philadelphia’s Ellis Hobbs might be coming off of neck surgery that caused him to miss more than half the season, but if he can fully heal up, he could provide a ton of value. He’s played in a 3-4 before (recording nine picks in his four years in New England) and has returned three kicks for touchdowns (we all know the Pack could use an actual return threat). He’ll be restricted if there’s no cap, but Philly might just let him walk coming off such an injury. He won’t turn 27 until May and would be worthy of a fairly cheap gamble. Hey, anything’s better than Bush.

Again, look for part two later today.

-Chris Lempesis