National Football League

Green Bay Packers free agency preview: Will they keep their own?

Published Mar. 4, 2015 10:32 a.m. ET

Ross Jones

Barring any deals that get done from now until the beginning of the new league year, the Green Bay Packers have made some difficult decisions by allowing wide receiver Randall Cobb and offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga to hit the open market.

Cobb, who reportedly is eyeing well north of $10-12 million a year, wasn't given a contract extension and didn't have the franchise tag placed on him. It didn't happen for Bulaga, either. Things will need to heat up quickly if the Packers hope to re-sign two of their home-grown contributors.

The Packers, however, have other areas on their team that they need to address as well.

With a defense that ranked 23rd against the run a season ago, the Packers will look to get more stout up the middle.

How they finished:

2014: 12-4 -- Lost in NFC championship to Seattle

2013: 8-7-1 -- Lost in wild card to San Francisco

Adjusted salary cap space: $32.7 million

Potential free-agency targets: General manager Ted Thompson doesn't usually dabble too much in free agency, but made a splash a season ago by signing Julius Peppers. If lightning were to strike twice, expect Thompson to give the defensive linemen a look. Arizona's Dan Williams could help fortify the interior of that line and help boost the defense against the run.

Potential cap casualties: By getting inside linebackers A.J. Hawk and Brad Jones off the books, the Packers save a little over $7 million.

Offseason needs: ILB, DL, CB

Notable free agents:

WR Randall Cobb

OT Bryan Bulaga

FB John Kuhn

QB Matt Flynn

DT Letroy Guion

LB Jamari Lattimore

CB Tramon Williams

CB Jarrett Bush

CB Davon House