Steven Jackson To The Falcons And That's OK

As we watch RB Steven Jackson sign with the Falcons for $4 million per season, Green Bay Packers LB Desmond Bishop has something to say:

My opinion on RB situation .. Don't need 1 really... Starks, who ll stay healthy this year will be a beast! D Harris is the truth. Done!
— Desmond Bishop (@Desbishop55) March 12, 2013

I'm not as big a fan of either RB James Starks or RB DuJuan Harris as Bishop, but he's got a point. Bill Barnwell wrote about this in regards to S Dashon Goldson; he's the best safety on the free agent market but why give Goldson $8 million per season when you get can a player like S Kerry Rhodes (who's almost as good) for $2 million per season? The odds are decent that Rhodes might even be better than Goldson next season, depending on whether Rhodes can find a starting job.

Football Outsiders (subscription required) liked the Jackson signing, but the Falcons got so little from RB Michael Turner last season that it's hard not to see how they improved. Yes, Jackson is better than either Starks or Harris, but it's possible they'll be just as good next season as Jackson would have been. And combined they'll cost about $1 million in 2013. Avoiding Jackson now is just good business because nearly every contract signed over the first few days of free agency has been a "risky big-money contract."

The salary cap isn't getting any higher in 2013 so there are going to be some bargain contracts signed over the next few weeks, but the free agent market for veteran running backs is pretty unimpressive. I don't completely agree with Desmond Bishop, the Packers have to add a running back at some point this offseason to compete with the current bunch. But while Jackson would have been a good fit, he's probably only going to be a good player for two more seasons before he becomes a salary cap liability.

Greg Jennings Visits The Vikings and Steven Jackson Rumors

Since the Green Bay Packers aren't into free agency, I hadn't been looking at the free agent class all that closely, but there have been some good signings mixed in with the awful LB Erik Walden type ones.

The Colts are still going a little crazy for injury prone players like S LaRon Landry and RT Gosder Cherlius, but the Seahawks signing of DE Cliff Avril, the Lions signing of RB Reggie Bush, the Bears signing of LT Jermod Bushrod, and the Broncos signing of DT Terrance Knighton were all good, if not earth shattering moves. Even WR Wes Welker to the Broncos for $6 million per season looks like a slight discount.

While most of the remaining high profile free agents are either getting older or injury prone, there are still a couple of really good ones available, like Buccaneers DE Michael Bennett. I don't know what Bennett's asking for but I'm sure it's too rich for GM Ted Thompson and he's probably not a good fit for the Packers' 3-4 scheme. WR Greg Jennings, who is coming off two injury shortened seasons himself, is looking like one of the top remaining free agents available.

And it's on: Packers free-agent WR Greg Jennings is visiting today with...the Minnesota Vikings.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2013

It would suck to see Jennings wearing purple, but the Vikings have a major need at wide receiver and might be willing to overpay, though that seems a little less likely after they decided not to pay up for WR Percy Harvin.

If there is a silver lining here, it's that buried at the end of this article by the Journal-Sentinel. The Packers appear to be actively working in free agency, but they "are waiting on free agents" and don't want to overpay. It was reported, before being deleted, that the Packers had agreed to terms with RB Steven Jackson. I don't expect them to find a free agent who will be a long-term solution at any position, but they might surprise with a player or two that could play a valuable role (like Jackson) for a couple seasons.

Would The Packers Sign Free Agent Steven Jackson?

When I read the headline "Steven Jackson Visits Green Bay" I immediately thought that the Packers could have some interest in him. However, the actual story is not as interesting (he's in Green Bay for a speaking engagement) and it would technically be against NFL rules for the Packers to speak to him before March 12th. But as long as I've brought him up, here are some highlights:
In a lot of ways, he's a Mike McCarthy type of back with size (6-2, 240) and some speed. He can still run through defenders (and outrun them), so he could be like a better version of DJ World Peace without any of the danger to local livestock.

He was scheduled to make $7 million in 2013, but he opted out of his contract. While that could have been a sign he wants more money (who doesn't), the Rams let him opt out even though he didn't hit the triggers which gave him that right, so I'm wondering if the Rams would have released the soon to be 30 year old if he hadn't opted out. They do want him back, but they probably want him to take a pay cut.

Football Outsiders ranked him among the top 15 backs as a runner and a receiver, so he can still play. He would immediately step in as the Packers' starting running back and provide the strong runner inside the tackles that their coaches seem to prefer.

However, the Packers haven't shown much interest in paying for a veteran (RB Cedric Benson signed for the minimum last season). They have drafted Brandon Jackson (2nd round, 2007) and Alex Green (3rd round, 2011) in recent years, but overall, running back position hasn't been a big target area for GM Ted Thompson. I don't know what contract Jackson should expect to sign, but I would expect he'll sign for more somewhere else than the Packers would be willing to offer.