PACKERS FANTASY NEWS

February 22, 2006 12:00 PM ET

It was far from a banner year in Green Bay: injuries decimated the Pack at the skill positions, they surrendered their three-year stranglehold on the NFC North to the hated Bears, and the Brett Favre era may have ended with the New Year's Day win over Mike Holmgren's Seahawks.

The Pack tabbed new coach Mike McCarthy to restore the luster to Lombardi's legacy, but he'll have more than just a few issues to address even if Favre returns for another season.

Needs
The Packers will have an extremely different look without the only quarterback they've known for the past 14 years. While it's no guarantee that Favre will ride into the sunset following last season's 29-interception campaign, that seems to be the general consensus. The Pack hoped they had addressed that inevitability when Aaron Rogers fell to them in last year's draft, but he looked extremely rough in limited duty last year. Favre's retirement might necessitate the Packers institute a short-term solution while Rogers develops, something along the lines of Jon Kitna.

With or without No. 4, the Green Bay backfield will look different as Ahman Green, Najeh Davenport, William Henderson, and Tony Fisher are all unrestricted free agents. Green's production has regressed dramatically over the past two seasons, and Davenport has been unable to capitalize due to a constant series of injuries. Samkon Gado was a find last year as the Packers were forced to their fifth-string runner, but he suffered a season-ending knee injury of his own and missed the season's final fortnight. Gado and fellow deep reserve Noah Herron will likely enter camp as the top two backs on the depth chart, unless Green Bay looks for low-level veteran help (such as Chester Taylor or Michael Bennett) in free agency or addresses backfield needs on the first day of the draft.

The receiving corps should return relatively intact, with Javon Walker coming off a season-ending knee injury to provide either Favre or Rogers with a Pro Bowl-caliber target opposite Donald Driver. Beyond the big two, question marks abound. Robert Ferguson has flashed talent but spent more time in the training room than the end zone, Antonio Chatman isn't an every-down receiver—even though he was forced into such a role and finished second on the team in catches, yardage, and TD grabs—and by the end of the season castoff Rod Gardner was looking like a legitimate option. Tight end Bubba Franks was hampered by injury all season, and backup David Martin posted better numbers. Assuming the Packers can find a way to keep this crew healthy, there's little need for anything more than depth here.

Much of the team's offensive woes can be traced to the offensive line, which never recovered from last offseason's free agent defections of guards Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera. With Mike Flanagan and backups Grey Ruegamer and Kevin Barry all UFAs, this position will need attention via both free agency and the draft. The good news is, the line is anchored on the outside by tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher, so money and picks can be focuses on the interior.

Defensively, the Packers passed over coordinator Jim Bates for the head job, but they'll get at least a taste of Bates—and some continuity—with the ascension of defensive line coach Bob Sanders to the DC job. Sanders coached under Bates in Miami and last year with the Packers, so he has an idea of what he'll be working with. And as the former line coach, Sanders knows full well the importance of UFAs Aaron Kampman and Grady Jackson—or lack thereof—to the Packers' plans. After focusing on the secondary in the past few drafts—and not having much to show for it—Green Bay will probably spend its first-round pick on front-seven help. Later rounds and free agency will also be used to address defensive shortcomings, as there are several areas in need of assistance.

Finally, the Packers may be looking for a new kicker if UFA Ryan Longwell isn't brought back—and after last season's struggles, that wouldn't be a shock. Green Bay won't have to shop for a new long snapper, however, as longtime Longwell partner Rob Davis reupped for one more year of looking upside down and backwards between his legs.

Salary Cap Situation
The Packers are approximately $22 million under the projected $92 million salary cap for 2006, according to NFL.com.

Unrestricted Free Agents
QB Craig Nall, RB Ahman Green, RB, Najeh Davenport, RB Tony Fisher, FB, William Henderson, C Mike Flanagan, G Grey Ruegamer, T Kevin Barry, DT Grady Jackson, DE Aaron Kampman, LB Paris Lenon, K Ryan Longwell, LS Rob Davis

Restricted Free Agents
DE Kenny Peterson

Free Agent Signings
None.

The Draft
It's a microcosm of the year that was to note that Green Bay has the fifth pick in a draft that includes four bona fide studs. With Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart, Vince Young, and D'Brickashaw Ferguson likely off the board, expect the Packers to be the first club to go defense in 2006.

But don't pity the Pack, because they should be able to address two key needs on the first day of the draft. With the fifth overall pick, Green Bay can choose the defensive help they prefer most. Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk is a trendy pick and would be a much-needed addition to the Packers' defense, but if the free market claims either Kampman or Jackson—or both—there are other options. Imagine North Carolina defensive end Mario Williams coming off the corner opposite Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, or Oregon tackle Haloti Ngata plugging the gap left by Jackson; Packer fans certainly do.

The depth of the offensive line class of 2006 should allow Green Bay to shore up the middle of their line later on day one. Players such as Ohio State center Nick Mangold, USC guard Taitusi Lutui, or Georgia guard Max Jean-Gilles would all help fill the void created by the free agency departure of both guards last offseason—one the Pack still hasn't recovered from.

Green Bay may also look for running back help, especially if they find themselves without an additional rusher or two after the free agency dust has settled. Former Badger Brian Calhoun is familiar with the area and would bring a dash of speed to the mix if he slips to the Pack later in the first day of the draft.

Injury Watch
Many of Green Bay's wounded—such as Green and Davenport—won't be returning in 2006. However, the success of the Packer offense hinges as much on the knees of Walker and Gado as it does the return of Favre for another season.

Walker dislocated a finger late in the preseason, but that was merely an appetizer to the season-ending torn ACL he suffered in the second half of the 2005 opener. The good news is, Walker will have had a full 12 months to recuperate by the time the 2006 schedule kicks off. The better news is, Walker is in the final year of his contract and will be playing for big money. And the even better news is, Walker fired Drew Rosenhaus as his agent so Drew won't be getting any of that coin.

Coming into last season, folks in Green Bay thought Samkon Gado was a) the host of a Japanese cooking show on the Food Network; b) a new species of alligator discovered in the rainforest; or c) one of the Decepticons from the animated kid's show, "Transformers." But by week nine, the Packers were out of healthy backs and ended up giving Gado 26 carries against the Steelers. Gado also scored, then followed that up with six more touchdowns and three 100-yard efforts in the next five games to endear himself to Lambeau faithful. Unfortunately, Gado suffered a torn MCL and missed the final two games of the season. However, if you're going to tear a knee ligament the MCL isn't a bad way to go, and with both Green and Davenport unlikely to return to Green Bay, the full-time gig appears to be Gado's if he proves in training camp he's up to the challenge.

Just one year into a seven-year, $28 million deal, Franks found himself dealing with neck and back issues that prematurely ended his season. It doesn't appear to be anything an offseason of rest won't fix, but tight ends tend to get banged around pretty good and if Franks isn't going to be able to withstand the pounding you can expect the Packers to unload as much of that salary as possible.

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