Oddly there is not a ton to report from our first look at the 2012 Green Bay Packers. The two biggest stories are that Donald Driver is in the fold for at least 2012 and that undrafted rookie outside linebacker Dezman Moses is turning some heads aka pulling a Shields/Zombo.
Leaving aside the decision to sign Jeff Saturday and lock down Donald Driver for 2012, the Packers usually error on the side of signing younger guys instead of older guys. Despite drafting six defensive players with their first six picks in the 2012 NFL, the Packers could still use some veteran help defensive side of the ball. Here are a couple of potential AARP candidates that Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson should consider signing for 2012 for the veteran minimum:
Aubrayo Franklin (DT): After B.J. Raji and Ryan Pickett, nothing is settled along the defensive line. There are defensive lineman headed for suspensions (Anthony Hargrove and Mike Neal), warm bodies at best (Daniel Muir, Philip Merling, C.J. Wilson, and Jarius Wynn) and rookies (Mike Daniels and Jerel Worthy). Since there are still holes along the defensive line, some of those could be plugged in a big way (no pun intended) by Franklin.
Andre Carter (OLB/DE) & Matt Roth (OLB/DE): As training camp opens the Packers will give Nick Perry, (LINK)their first round pick from the 2012 NFL Draft(LINK), every chance to win the job. If Perry and the myriad of back-ups (Brad Jones, Jamari Lattimore, Dezman Moses, Vic So'oto, Erik Walden, and Frank Zombo) struggle the Packers should call Carter or Roth sooner rather than later since they desperately need some semblance of a pass rush opposite Claymaker.
Jim Leonhard (S): Assuming Leonhard can stay healthy for the year (huge assumption) you know you are going to get consistent, no-nonsense contributions from Leonhard. That is exactly what the Packers need at safety because they have a bunch of question mark after they cut Nick Collins since all that leaves is a guy that never played the position (Charles Woodson if they move him to safety), an under-achiever (Charlie Peprah), an injury-riddled guy (Morgan Burnett), and a bunch of unknown NFL commodities (Anthony Levine, M.D. Jennings, and Jerron McMillian). Add in that Leonhard was one of the best feel-good stories to come out of the University of Wisconsin in the last decade and a homecoming would be a fitting way to end his career.
I know the chances of the Packers even pondering signing Franklin, Carter, Roth, or Leonhard are small but any would be nice addition to the defense since they would help bring a veteran mix to a very young defense.
Related Posts:
- Wednesday What (Should) Happen - 2012 Green Bay Packers 1.0
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