Let’s cut to the chase. Here [...]]]> (Before we begin: Just to reiterate, if you’re worried this is it for OBOD’s offseason coverage, don’t be. We’ll be all over free agency when it starts and we’re already busy researching for the draft and we’ll be beginning our coverage of that soon enough. Three words: Mock drafts, baby!)

Let’s cut to the chase. Here is part two of our look at some potential free agent targets for Green Bay (scroll down a bit for part one).

Again, enjoy.

3. Strong safety – As I said earlier this week, I think Atari Bigby showed just enough flashes to warrant one more shot as the starter in the 3-4. He likely comes back on another one-year tender, but if the team decides to upgrade, it will have some very intriguing options. New Orleans’ Roman Harper, just 27, had a very good season (103 tackles, two forced fumbles, 1.5 sacks) playing opposite a ballhawking free safety in Darren Sharper. Well, the Packers certainly have one of those in Nick Collins. Indianapolis’ Antoine Bethea is perenially underrated, but has averaged around 87 tackles and three interceptions in his four years in the league. He’s restricted and, at just 25 years old, could command a high tender. Since the Packers are clearly in love with the way the Steelers do things on defense, Pittsburgh’s Ryan Clark could be a nice fit. He’s basically the same player as Bigby, but Clark is better in coverage. He’s 30 years old and has had some injury problems, but would definitely be an upgrade. Baltimore’s Dawan Landry, 27, is a restricted free agent who had a nice season, with or without Ed Reed in the lineup (89 tackles, four interceptions). If Reed makes good on his threat to retire, Baltimore likely locks Landry up long-term. Finally, Cleveland’s Brodney Pool had a good 2009 season with 50 tackles, four picks and 10 passes defended in just 11 games. Problem with Pool, though, is that he was put on injured reserve in early December due to multiple concussions. He’ll be restricted, but if the Browns decide to just let him go in fear of those concussions, he could make for an intriguing – and cheap – option. Side note: Pool was the player I wanted Green Bay to pick with its first-rounder in 2005. Good thing the Packers didn’t, eh?

4. Defensive line – If Ryan Pickett and Johnny Jolly both return (and I think they will), those two – along with Cullen Jenkins and B.J. Raji – could make for a solid d-line next season. The one problem, though, is that there isn’t much behind those four, meaning all of them have to stay healthy or else the remaining players get overworked. The Packers need one more guy to make that group formidable, and the odds are good that Ted Thompson uses the draft to find him (in, say, the third round). But if he opts for free agency, there are some players who’d be a nice fit. Pittsburgh’s Casey Hampton is getting older (he’ll be 33 by the time next season starts), but still competes at a very high level. He put up 43 tackles and 2.5 sacks, a lot from a 3-4 nose tackle. He’s only got a few years left, so he could be had at a reasonable rate. San Francisco’s Aubrayo Franklin, also a nose tackle, was outstanding this past season (36 tackles, two sacks) as the anchor of the Niners’ defense. He eats up blocks, doesn’t turn 30 until August and would instantly make Green Bay’s linebackers better. Only problem with him is that he’s a near-lock to be hit with the franchise tag, meaning he’d cost two first-round picks in addition to a big contract. If the Packers are in search of a defensive end, Dallas’ Marcus Spears would be a nice fit. His numbers aren’t overly impressive (25 tackles, 2.5 sacks last season) but he’s strong as a bull, can occupy blocks and turns just 27 in March. He’ll be restricted, so he’ll likely cost a bit (maybe a second-rounder). New England’s Derrick Burgess, obviously, has experience as an end in the 3-4. He’s a bit undersized – just 260 pounds, light for a 3-4 end – but recorded five sacks at the spot for the Pats last season. He’s older, turning 32 in August, so he could be had for a decent, short-term rate.

5. Punter – As I said earlier in the week, Jeremy Kapinos is pretty much awful and provides no help in winning the field position battle. Green Bay should just let him go and try to find an actual punter (for the first time, seemingly, in forever). We all remember Seattle’s Jon Ryan, of course, only now Ryan is actually pretty good (and still only 28 years old). Baltimore’s Sam Koch and Atlanta’s Michael Koenen are both under 30, as well, and both in the prime of their careers. Chicago’s Brad Maynard is still outstanding, despite being nearly 36. Did I dedicate enough space to punters? More than enough, I’d say.

6. Kicker – The Packers seem dead-set on bringing Mason Crosby back, although they are likely to bring in legitimate competition (thank God). They’ll likely take a kicker late in the draft or bring in an unsigned free agent or two. But if they decided to go get an actual, established kicker, there will be some options. Cincinnati’s Shayne Graham is as steady as they come and, at 32, should still have a few years left. New England’s Stephen Gostkowski and Pittsburgh’s Jeff Reed are both solid, if unspectacular, kickers who have experience kicking in crappy weather. Gostkowski is only 26, so he’d be a better target than the soon-to-be-31-year old Reed (plus, Reed seems to really like his booze, potentially a disaster in Green Bay). Did I dedicate enough space to kickers? WAY more than enough, I’d say.

7. Outside linebacker – The Packers appear to be set for the long haul at the position with Clay Matthews and Brad Jones (yet another seventh-round steal by the Pack). Still, if Brady Poppinga is cut (like I hope), Aaron Kampman isn’t re-signed (like I suspect) and Jeremy Thompson retires due to his neck problems (like I fear), the Packers could be short-handed in terms of depth. Thompson likely drafts a guy late – why not if you hit on Jones late last season, right? – but he should also target a veteran presence. Kansas City’s Mike Vrabel would be a perfect fit, despite the fact that he turns 35 in August. Plus, that’d give the Packers two linebackers who can catch touchdowns (Vrabel and Spencer Havner). That’d be kinda cool.

That concludes our week-long look at Green Bay’s post-season, pre-draft to-do list. Thanks for checking back throughout the week and I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did. Or, at the very least, hopefully I allowed you to kill some time at work.

-Chris Lempesis

Here are some quick hits on the other high-profile [...]]]> Albert Haynesworth’s $100 million deal with the Redskins (who called that?  I can’t remember) and the Kansas City Chiefs’ acquisition of Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel from the New England Patriots are far from the only big transactions 43 hours into the NFL’s free agency signing period.

Here are some quick hits on the other high-profile moves made:

• Cleveland Browns trade tight end Kellen Winslow to Tampa Bay Buccaneers for second round pick in 2009 draft and fifth round pick in 2010 draft.

This is a good move for both teams. Tampa Bay picks up a proven playmaker who will benefit from a fresh start after never quite clicking in Cleveland, for various reasons (injuries, displeasure with management). Plus, now we know where some of that estimated $60 million of cap space will go. For the Browns, they get a first-day selection and rid themselves of problem child Winslow.

• New York Jets sign inside linebacker Bart Scott to six-year, $48 million contract.

I can’t remember who called this one, either. Great move by the Jets, who struggled in switching to a 3-4 defense last season. New York will run that same alignment this season under new head coach Rex Ryan and who better to help bolster it than Scott, who starred in the 3-4 under Ryan in Baltimore. The Jets also traded a fifth round pick this year and a conditional pick next year to Philadelphia for cornerback Lito Sheppard, so look for them to be much improved on defense this season.

• Denver Broncos sign free safety Brian Dawkins to five-year, $17 million contract.

Dawkins, a seven-time Pro Bowler, is nowhere near the player he was in his prime as he is now 35 years old. Still, Denver was an utter trainwreck defensively last season, finishing 26th in passing yards, 27th in rushing yards and 30th in average points allowed. Dawkins, for at least a year, should be able to help settle things down somewhat. But why did Denver give him five years?

Now, onto a some deals with NFC North implications:

• Minnesota Vikings send fourth round pick in 2009 draft to Houston Texans for quarterback Sage Rosenfels.

And the mediocre wheel of Vikings’ quarterbacks keeps on spinning. With an estimated $25 million of cap space and, basically, a quarterback away from being scary good, Minnesota decided against pursuing an actual signal caller (Kurt Warner, for example). Instead, the purple dealt for a 31-year old already on his fourth team. Then, the Vikings gave him a two-year, $9 million contract extension.

Thank you God.

Had the Vikes picked up Warner – or even, say, Derek Anderson or Jeff Garcia – they would be the clear-cut favorite to rule the division again. But they didn’t and now the division is wide-open.

• Detroit Lions sign running back Maurice Morris to three-year, $7 million contract and trade quarterback Jon Kitna to Dallas Cowboys for cornerback Anthony Henry.

The Morris signing gives the team someone to spell Kevin Smith. Don’t have much of a problem with that move or the Kitna trade (which finally gives the Cowboys a competent backup). Henry is a solid cornerback who will help the Lions improve on last season’s 27th-ranked pass defense. For a team looking to simply win a game, neither move will hurt that cause.

-Chris Lempesis