Packers: Ted Thompson’s work speaks for itself
By Brennen Rupp
The NFL Free Agency period has become a time in which the majority of Green Bay Packers fans go crazy. With each passing year that Ted Thompson doesn’t make a splash or a signing the madness gets worse. This season it’s boiled over to mass hysteria. If you were to scroll through Packers twitter you would think that the Packers finished 4-12 last year and had more holes than a sinking ship.
If the season were to start right now the Packers would have two glaring holes; tight end and inside linebacker. Two holes that wouldn’t stop the Packers from being contenders. Both of those positions can be addressed in the draft if need be. The tight end position is a weak position in the draft this year, but there are viable options for the Packers to choose from. There is a need to add an offensive lineman for depth. Which again, can be addressed in the draft. There is also a need to add another young outside linebacker. Once again that can be addressed via the draft. If James Starks does not return the Packers will likely find his replacement in the draft with a talented group of running backs awaiting.
The fans want Thompson to go sign a veteran player to get the Packers over the hump. Would signing a veteran player help this team get over the hump and back to the Super Bowl? Maybe. But, let’s play the what if game for a moment.
Let’s rewind the clock to January 6, 2014. What if Micah Hyde makes that interception with 4:31 left in the game in San Francisco territory during the Packers 23-20 loss to the 49ers in the Wild Card round? If he does the Packers are once again likely moving onto the divisional round. Remember the Packers were playing without Clay Matthews, Sam Shields and Mike Neal in that game.
Let’s rewind the clock back to January 19, 2015. If Brandon Bostick doesn’t botch the onside kick the Packers are playing in the Super Bowl. (Bostick wasn’t the sole reason the Packers didn’t win, but let’s not bring up the rest of the plays).
Now let’s go back to to January 17, 2016, against the Arizona Cardinals. The Packers went toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in football without Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson, Ty Montgomery, and Davante Adams. They held arguably the best offense in the NFL to 26 points with a very young secondary.
The mad mob who wants Thompson’s head wants everyone to believe that the Packers need to sign an impact player to get over the hump. In each of the last three playoff losses the Packers have been right there. What if Matthews or Shields had been healthy in 2014? What if Bostick doesn’t botch the onside kick? What if Cobb had stayed healthy or if Shields makes that interception against the Cardinals?
Thompson’s approach to the offseason has led to seven straight trips to the playoffs. They are the Patriots of the NFC. The Packers have a solid young core and Thompson said they aren’t going to chase ghosts because people think the window is closing. Rodgers is only 32 years old. He still has five to seven years left in him. Thompson should stick to his guns and aim to keep adding quality pieces via the draft.
Last year Thompson set the secondary up for the future by adding Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins. Does the draft yield those players if he adds a veteran cornerback like Byron Maxwell in free agency like many fans wanted? Do the Packers draft Eddie Lacy if Thompson signed Steven Jackson like many fans wanted? Do the Packers draft Ha Ha Clinton-Dix if Thompson signs Jarius Byrd like many fans wanted?
Signing a veteran free agent would make a lot of Packers fans feel all warm and cozy. But more often than not Thompson has made the right choice by building through the draft rather than overpaying for a free agent.
In the 2017 NFL Draft compensatory picks can be traded. Those compensatory picks that Thompson loves will be huge assets on draft day moving forward and could give Thompson the ammunition to move up in rounds. Thompson could lose out on getting those poker chips if he were to sign a player like Ladarius Green. Remember, free agency is only three days old. There are still tight end options out there that wouldn’t cost Thompson a potential compensatory pick. Players like Jared Cook and Owen Daniels. There is also the potential that Martellus Bennett gets cut by the Chicago Bears. Rumor has it that the Packers would be interested in adding him if that happens.
The NFL doesn’t hand out championships in March. Just remember that Thompson’s approach has led to seven straight playoff appearances; eight playoff appearances overall. Five NFC North titles. Three appearances in the NFC Championship game and one Lombardi Trophy. I think his work speaks for itself.