Hoping on a Ghost

After I found the offensive line free agents not worth a look I will turn to the skill (sorry linemen, but that is what they call them) positions to see if an upgrade is out there.

The Real Ghost Jordy Nelson

Wide Receivers: Not a single starter had a good season, including the Ghost of Seasons Past Jordy Nelson.

With Nelson missing the entire season Randall Cobb was the leading receiver (79-829-6TD), but he averaged only 10.3 yards a catch. James Jones was a season saver averaging 17.8 yards a catch with 8 TDs (50-890), but he hit the wall and unless he is signed to a veteran's minimum he shouldn't be asked back.

Davante Adams (50-483-1TD-9.7) had a sophomore slump with 12 drops in 96 targets along with knee/foot/ankle injuries. His 9.7 yards per catch was subpar and he only averaged 3.0 yards after the catch.

Ty Montgomery Is Hoping to Rebound From Injuries

Ty Montgomery (15-136-2TD-9.1) looked promising, but his season ended with an angle injury. Jared Abbrederis (9-111-0TD-12.3) bounced back from a knee injury his rookie season and Jeff Janis (2-79-0TD-39.5) is a producer, but the knock on him has been his route running.

Free Agents: 5. Alshon Jeffery (Bears) and 9. Marvin Jones (Bengals) are the best of the free agent market, but Jeffery (54-807-4TD-14.9) has been franchised, but he also is coming off an injury plagued season limiting him to just 9 games and 8 starts. Jones was the No. 2 receiver on the Bengals (65-816-4TD-12.6) and the one thing the Packers don't need is a No. 2 receiver being paid No. 1 money.

If Nelson, Cobb, Adams and Montgomery return from injury and Abbrederis continues to improve the wide receivers should be fine. I didn't mention Janis because McCarthy hates him although I think he could be the best of the bunch. I hope he gets cut, so he can make McCarthy eat his hatred next season.

Richie Rodgers Was No Ghost

Tight Ends: Richie Rodgers had a good season, at least I thought so. He seems slow when you watch him, but got open enough to be the second leading receiver (58-510-8TD-8.8). He was just 3 catches from tying Jermichael Finley's season record of 61 catches and was tied with Jones for the team in TDs.

Justin Perillo caught 11 passes for 102 yards (9.3) and a TD in 9 games while Andrew Quarless (4-31-0TD) had an injury-filled season resulting in two stints on injured reserve. Mitchell Henry was on the practice squad and supposedly the coaching staff liked him, but his position coach was fired, so who knows what his status is.

Free Agents: 13 year pro and Future Hall of Famer Antonio Gates (56-630-5TD-11.3) from the Chargers is the top ranked tight end at 56 and for some reason the Chargers are going to re-sign him. His backup Ladarius Green (37-429-4TD-11.6)  was ranked next 77. followed by 84. Dwayne Allen (16-109-1TD-6.8) from the Colts, 87. Zack Miller (34-439-5TD-12.9) from the Bears and 95. Coby Fleener (54-491-3TD-9.1) from the Colts.

Martellus Bennett Should Be Signed Just to Get Him Out of the Packers Hair

Rumor has it Martellus Bennett (53-439-3TD-8.3), who missed 5 games with injuries, is going to be released by the Bears. Two years ago he caught 90 passes for 916 yards wth 6 TDs.

As you can see Rodgers had just as good or better stats than all the free agents. However, I could see signing Bennett if he comes at a reasonable price. But in general no need to sign a free agent here either.

Running Backs: Eddie Lacy (187-758-3TD-4.1) had an off-season for whatever reason (I'm not totally buying the fat thing) and James Starks (148-601-2TD-4.1) for the first time wasn't nicked up, but he seems to have limitations. James Crockett (9-21-0TD-2.3) has potential, but he didn't show much.

At fullback John Kuhn (9-28-2TD-3.1; 6-56-0TD) should be seriously pushed by rookie Aaron Ripkowski (0-0-0TD; 1-18-0TD).

I think Lacy should rebound if the offensive line is fixed. I also think Lacy and Starks are as good of 1-2 punch there is in the league. The complication here is Starks is a free agent. However, I don't see any free agents worth pursuing here either.

At fullback the consideration is do they keep a true fullback or not. During the season McCarthy or Edgar Bennett (remember he is offensive coordinator) used a tight end as much as a Kuhn in the fullback spot. The key here is that "Rip" was a demon on special teams.

Quarterbacks: Aaron Rodgers had his worst season since he became a starter. I hope it had more to do with a shoulder injury, a receiving corps that couldn't get open or catch a ball, a line that couldn't block and bad coaching, instead of the start of a decline. Next season we will find out. I like what I saw from rookie Brett Hundley in the preseason, but wasn't happy with Scott Tolzien. If Hundley is ready and isn't traded then maybe we'll be fine, but I think a veteran quarterback needs to be signed.

Brett Hundley Looks Good in the Preseason

Free Agents: 14. Kirk Cousins (Redskins), 19. Brock Osweiler (Broncos), 29. Ryan Fitzpatrick (Jets), 34. Sam Bradford (Eagles) and 96. Chase Daniel (Chiefs) are available. Cousins and Osweiler are starting candidates. Fitzpatrick would be a good sign, but he probably stays with the Jets or, now hear me out, Peyton Manning. He could be Aaron Rodgers' Zeke Bratkowski. I could see that.

Peyton Manning Could Be Aaron Rodger's Uncle Zekie

However, it seems Manning is about to retire, but that hasn't stopped teams or the Packers for that matter from talking them back for one more season. However, as much as having a rested Manning come off the bench would be good I think if he does come out of his expected retirement it would be for a starting job and that place just might be the Los Angeles Rams.

Back to the Future For Matt Hasselback

My backup plan for backup quarterback would be former Packers/Seahawks Matt "We're Gonna Score" Hasselback. It looks like he might want to play another year and it seems the Colts are going to release him.

So when it's all said and done I wouldn't sign any of the high-priced veteran offensive free agents. I'm also guessing Thompson won't either and will use that money to sign his own free agents.

Thompson has $6,953,847 left over from last year's salary cap and has approximately $22 million to spend this year on free agents.

The Packers offensive unrestricted free agents are WR James Jones, RB James Starks, FB John Kuhn, TE Andrew Quarless, OT Don Barclay and QB Scott Tolzien. The offensive restricted free agent is OG Lane Taylor.

My prediction on re-signings is James Starks will be re-signed and the rest are let go. James Jones and John Kuhn then might be re-signed during the training camp if needed because I don't think either will find new homes.