The NFL announced the 2014 salary cap today at $133 million per team, up $10 million from last year’s mark of $123 million.
As part of the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement, teams can also carry over unspent cap dollars from the previous season. The Green Bay Packers are expected to bring over an additional $9.98 million. With that added amount the Packers are close to $35 million under the salary cap, as it stands right now.
At first glance, it would appear the Green Bay could be poised to do some serious shopping in free agency when it begins in two weeks. Keep in mind that the Packers have a few of their own guys that they are going to want to get taken care of as well.
The most obvious Packers in that category are receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb. Both are currently set to become free agents after 2014 and both are a priority for the team to retain. It would be wise for the Packers to use some of their cushiony cap space now to get Nelson and Cobb done and ease the load for future years.
A few other current Packers players set to become free agents next month and who the Packers surely would like to see back are cornerback Sam Shields and center Evan Dietrich-Smith.
The Packers reportedly held some talks with Shields’ agent Drew Rosenhaus at the NFL Scouting Combine last week. As the team’s top defensive back who is only 26 years old, Shields is exactly the type of player that Packers general manager Ted Thompson likes to spend his money on. That Shields knows the defense, the team and the coaching staff doesn’t hurt either.
With veteran corner Tramon Williams set to make $6.9 million this season, Shields could be looking to land a deal close to four years and between $7-9 million per season, on average. With the team having a major need at the safety position as well, locking up Shields and solidifying the cornerback position seems to make more sense than not.
In Dietrich-Smith’s case, the added cap space may allow the Packers the ability to be more competitive for him. He will surely get offers in free agency, but it’s hard to say where those numbers will fall. Returning EDS would give the Packers essentially the same starting offensive line that they went into training camp with last season. Continuity on the line would be a benefit to the Packers offense.
Beyond their current players, the Packers surely could get after some outside free agents as well. It’s hard to imagine that they wouldn’t, regardless of Thompson’s aversion to doing so. Exactly who he would target is an entirely different conversation altogether so I’ll leave that to you all.
We know the cap number and what the Packers have to work with this year. Where do they go from here?
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Jason Perone is an independent sports blogger writing about the Packers on AllGreenBayPackers.com
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Sign Sam Shields. Get “lucky” in the draft.
Get a journeyman safety, please. Can’t take another year of blown assignments, it is ridiculous how bad we looked because of that one weakness.
Don’t dawdle Ted, the Bears management WILL pull the trigger and they need the same thing as bad or worse.
Even if we take the best and second best blue chip safeties in the draft, we can’t afford for them to flop or “take time to develop.”
Don’t need impact, just good enough to meet his assignment EVERY play. Please Ted, please, just one decent veteran FA safety
DEFENSE is the word. No matter what the money is they need to buy some quality defensive players. If they don’t stop the bleeding on defense the Pack will be hard pressed to go 8 and 8 next season.
They are bringing in 4 key players from IR and with Arod they will win a sixth straight Division title.
DEFENSE is the word. No matter what the money is they need to buy some quality defensive players. If they don’t stop the bleeding on defense the Pack will be hard pressed to go 8 and 8 next season.
If Sam would actually take $5-$6 million, I’d probably do it. TT, he’s another story all together. I honestly have no clue what makes this freak tick. We have enough cap room to keep Shields, extend both Nelson & Cobb and pick up a couple of reasonably priced impact FA’s. Restructure some contracts if need be. We have the best qb in the league. With a few minor tweaks and, for once an effective defensive draft class, the Pack becomes the team to beat….but guaranteed this asshole will not do it! Way frustrating…ask Brett now, and A-Rod when he’s done. TT is the most overrated GM in the biz. Without Rodgers, he’s cruising Hollywood Blvd.
Really, TT signed the top offense and top Defense guy last year, using the cap space he had. His cap management and the $ cap expansion puts him in sixth most this year. Unlike Dallas who is in cap hell.
Now that TT has more cap to work with the contracts for Nelson & Cobb will be dealt with.
By the way 25 teams passed on Arod because they had other needs! Like the Vikings who were set a QB but needed a DE. The next year their QB’s are got hurt and the DE is no longer around.
Meanwhile, TT had Brett one of the Greatest QB’s ever. No need on GB for A QB but value for the pick said Arod. So for my money 25 other GM’s sucked putting TT in the top 10 for GM’s.
” TT signed the top offense and top Defense guy last year”…
One guy is the top player,while the other was merely paid like one.
Farve was also 35 or 36 years old so there was a need. Every expert said once Rodgers got past a certain point in the 1st Round he might fall to the Packers, and thank god he did. Rodgers fell in Ted’s lap plain and simple.
Bobby D is actually right about much of what he’s said. Shields has said he’s looking for Tim Jennings money. 4 years, 22.8 million. What the F is Thompson waiting for? Especially after the contracts he gave Hawk, and Burnett, this should be a no brainer. Maybe if Thompson showed he’s willing to make a moves in Free Agency, players like Williams would restructure. The Packers had 6 players 30 or older last year were Rodgers, Jolly, Hawk, Pickett, Kuhn, and Tramon Williams. Hawk, Rodgers and Williams were just 30. That’s a young ass team. I’m sorry but with that young of team it’s no huge deal to have cap space, especially when you never sign a FA.
3 years ago TT was a genius, the Packers the model of the NFL, build through the draft like Ted Thompson. Now those same people are saying build through the draft, add a few pieces in FA, and if a trade that can help your team pops up, grab it, just like Seattle. Well that and have 74 other teams pass on your QB Russell Wilson.
An article says Shields is looking for that kinda money. If that was the case he would have been signed ages ago. My guess is his contract comes in over 7M and possibly over 8M. If it were at 5.5M like Jennings contract this would be done. We don’t know what the real numbers are, but I’m 100% certain its well over 5.5M.
I just know what I’ve read which means nothing actually. No offense, but what we read is about as accurate as your guess, we really don’t have a idea what the amount is really. The fact that Jennings is a 2 time Pro Bowler to Shields zero makes me wonder why people think Shields $$$ are so high. Look at the other CB on the market in Free Agency, Shields is maybe the 5th to 7th best corner available, depending who’s rating them and what you’re looking for.
We’ve all read it. That doesn’t make it true. What was printed is as much speculation as what I posted. Was there any credible sources? I read a scout say that he thought Shields would command close to the 8M range. I’ll believe that before the article that mentioned Jennings numbers.
Russell Wilson was special. Just imagine if GB had drafted him prior to Seattle getting him. GB sure could have used him last season.
The GM from Seattle is a TT understudy and GB groomed executive. Maybe TT will learn from his understudy.
That’s like a quarter of the whole cap. Sheesh! Were only spending %75 of the available money.
If TT doesn’t pick up a FA (preferably defensive) I’ll be a monkey’s uncle.
Anyone wanna list the possible game-changing FA candidates?
Now that is a good thing. Evidently Five straight division titles and a SB to boot. Plus having signed the greatest Offense and top D player last year and now having the sixth most cap space this year. With to cap expansion, TT has the sixth most cap space which is a good thing.
We don’t even know the FA candidates yet (next week). Tags need to be given, actual transactions of keeping or releasing players has to occur. In the next two weeks expect TT to have announced some of the signings of our own guys. (and maybe a signing of a FA).
Just saw Shields will be allowed to test the market. If that’s accurate keep that homer hat on, you’ll need it next year.
No problem, in TT I trust. Of course Shields is being allowed to test the market. Just relax, shields is not the best CB going to be testing market. There are 3 or 4 CB’s who are better. Take a chill pill. Once an offer is made then TT will have opportunity to match it. That will set the price.
If Shields leaves that will not be the end of the team. GB will still win the Division and make the playoffs with the current roster (minus shields).
My guess is we’ll see what the top CB get and the Packers will sign Shields for less. I’m not worried… See what the top CB’s get then make an offer based on where Shields fits the market. I’m sure it’ll be north of 7M tho.
everson griffin from the vikes
For those who want TT to spend big in free agency are going to be disappointed.
Firstly TT values current Packers players more than other teams players.
Better the devil you know than the one you don’t know.
This works both ways as when players finally test the market some will resign with the Packers once the market establishes their value.
I fully expect TT to pick up a couple of free agents this year to plug some holes, but only once the market has cooled and sign them to reasonable contracts.
The pending contract extensions of Nelson and Cobb have been discussed, but I dare say that TT is looking beyond that to players like Daniels, Hayward and other rising stars, so the carry over caps space for future years becomes important.
With Rodgers at the helm for another 7 to 10 years, TT is not going to throw all the eggs into one basket during this free agency period, but be frugal like he has always been.
I don’t want to see the Packers in cap hell like the Cowboys are facing this year.
Packers need to take care of their own before looking around.
I’m hoping we see a lot of action from Ted & co. before March 11th, signing the guys he wants back.
Then there is Jordy and Randall to consider, extending their contracts would be much more cap friendly, rather than waiting for them to hit FA after next year.
I think Ted will sign HIS guys 1st, then look around to see if there is anyone he feels can contribute, but in the end, I don’t see any outside big time FA signing.
Would be nice if Tramon would restructure, The packers could free up another 4-5 mil that then might be used on a FA.
TT made mistakes during his time with GB, but I got to give him credit for clearing all this cap room. Now I just hope that we can look back in a year and marvel at the great job he did with this extra money, including locking up Shields, Cobb, Nelson , etc. TT needs to hit with this up coming Draft and then fill some holes on D with some of this cap money
Well said GBPDAN. If I had read your comments, I could have saved myself a lot of typing. I am hoping that TT hits it big in this draft. We are quietly building a decent defense – just missing a couple of pieces.
We are in great shape. Financial the team is strong. The team is young. We have some key players locked up. Our coaching staff is solid. We don’t have Darren Sharper or some other donkey. We have a bunch of talent coming off of IR. This team has nothing but up arrows.
Yes we have some holes but they are few and will be addressed. Even if we don’t draft a stud safety (there are not any in this draft) we have a gem in Micah Hyde. If people stop focusing on TT and his occasional mistake, they will see that this is an exceptional well managed organization that fields a contender and isn’t putting out stupid fires.
The new cap number is great, it gives us more flexibility and stability. We will resign some studs, including Shields, Nelson and Cobb. It we not change the way the Packers work and that is a good thing.
you are right, and now can we please do whatever it takes to maybe move on in the playoffs and stop losing at Lambeau…shouldn’t be too hard for a top flight operation…not too much to ask? and we are close..
On the plus side we are in good shape financially, we have players returning from IR and the team is relatively young. The organization is well managed. The concern is that we have lost many of our best personnel people over the last 3 seasons to other teams, John Schneider, being the best example. Since we will be re-signing some of our own FAs, probably extending Cobb and Nelson, and hopefully signing another FA or two, the decisions made during the next 2-3 months will impact the team (cap & performance wise)for a few years. TT needs to be at his best. I hope that the current staff is up to the challenge. Thanks, Since ’61
If & when they sign shields, quarless and eds, the rest is a pretty straightforward formula. 1. Get a safety who can play. Its a position where game changers should be playing, the packers safeties have been game changers helping the other team. 2. Get another lb who is a force. Preferably in in middle. And another to compliment Mathews. That guy might already be on the team. 3. Resign Jordy, Cobb and Bulaga. 4. Resign or draft to continue the stream of guys coming down the pipe to replace the other guys. Hopefully they hit big on a few
If & when they sign shields, quarless and eds, the rest is a pretty straightforward formula. 1. Get a safety who can play. Its a position where game changers should be playing, the packers safeties have been game changers helping the other team. 2. Get another lb who is a force. Preferably in in middle. And another to compliment Mathews. That guy might already be on the team. 3. Resign Jordy, Cobb and Bulaga. 4. Resign or draft to continue the stream of guys coming down the pipe to replace the other guys. Hopefully they hit big on a few
Bring back Woody so he can retire a Packer.
Woody wasn’t good last year, and besides, he’s publicly stated he’d like to retire in OAK… Now, whether that’s true or not, I couldn’t say, but he’s said it.
Oppy Woodson wasn’t great by Charles Woodson standards but he was a whole lot better than Jennings. I think had Woodson stayed Bernett also does much better. Last year it was the blind leading the blind with Burnett and Jennings. Their backups? 2 more UDFA and McMillan who was so bad TT cut him 1 1/2 years after drafting him. TT dogged Charles Woodson and he shouldn’t have. He was actually MORE important than DD the years he was there, and EVERYBODY loves DD. TT just threw Woodson away like a piece of trash. I know it’s a business, but Charles Woodson deserved better. NO WAY do the Packers win SB45 without his leadership, which was lacking in a big way on the 2013 team.
Woodson wasn’t good his last year in GB.
Not by Woodson standards. Not by any standards.
He didn’t have the legs to play coverage at DB anymore, and he didn’t shown anything better than Jennings at Safety.
Sorry, I call ’em like I see ’em. Love Woodson, but he was quickly sliding down the slippery slope.
I agree with:
-Get OUR top free agents that we need to keep, signed.
-Priority #1 in draft is defense & hope some of these guys we’ve drafted over the past few years come to play.
– Be ready to pounce if a top tight end or receiver drops to us in the draft. The way we win most of our games is just outscoring the other team, not keeping them from scoring.
-How does Seattle play with that intensity practically the whole game. we need that next Season & the players to believe they can win it all if they play as a team. WE could have & should have beaten the 49ers at Green Bay in the playoff game last year
It’s called coaching.
Yep
They may not sign Shields–he’s apparently waiting see what FA brings since his agent is NOT negotiating with Packers any more at this point. Somebody will put up big bucks-and he’ll walk so it’s likely Thompson will HAVE to address FA to fill out his roster this year. With more money on table for other teams–Packers could likely lose several other players Thompson has intended to resign.
They may not sign Shields–he’s apparently waiting see what FA brings since his agent is NOT negotiating with Packers any more at this point. Somebody will put up big bucks-and he’ll walk so it’s likely Thompson will HAVE to address FA to fill out his roster this year. With more money on table for other teams–Packers could likely lose several other players Thompson has intended to resign.