In another month or so the Green Bay Packers will be cutting players. Most of those players will be youngsters who just weren’t quite good enough to make the final roster.
When it comes to veterans, the Packers typically make a decision on those players during the offseason. Either they release them or choose not to re-sign them. Going back to 2013, here is a look at how a great number of the players the Packers decided to move on from have fared.
Those who have had a measure of production:
- Charles Woodson (DB) – 283 tackles, 3 sacks and 10 interceptions in three years with Raiders, now retired
- Erik Walden (LB) – 124 tackles and 12 sacks in three years with the Colts
- Ryan Pickett (DT) – 13 starts, 20 tackles with the Texans in 2014
- Marshall Newhouse (T) – stints with Bengals and Giants, starting right tackle on current Giants’ depth chart
- Greg Jennings (WR) – total of 1,754 yards and 11 TDs in three seasons (two with Vikings, one with Miami), released twice
- Jeremy Ross (WR) – released midseason by the Packers, has 33 grabs, 402 yds in 2.5 years with the Lions, Ravens, Raiders and Jets
- DuJuan Harris (RB) – signed and released by Vikings, Saints, Seahawks, Ravens and is now with the 49ers; 189 yds on 49 carries in 2015
- Tramon Williams (DB) – 69 tackles, 1 interception for Browns in 2015 after signing a three-year, $21 million deal
- Davon House (DB) – 60 tackles, 4 interceptions with Jaguars in 2015 after signing a four-year, $24.5 million deal
Those who’ve done little or nothing elsewhere:
- A.J. Hawk (LB) – free agent after being released by Bengals in April (24 tackles, 1 sack in 2015)
- Desmond Bishop (LB) – unable to stick with Vikings, Cardinals and 49ers and was released by Redskins in May
- Johnny Jolly (DE) – never played again in the NFL after Packers chose not to re-sign him in 2014
- Jerron McMillian (DB) – signed, then released by Chiefs in 2014.
- M.D. Jennings (DB) – released by the Bears in 2014 and by Bucs in 2015
- Jarrett Bush (DB) – wasn’t re-signed after the 2014 season, suspended for 10 games in 2015 and remains unsigned
- Brad Jones (LB) – signed with Eagles after being released in early 2015, cut in November
- Jarrett Boykin (WR) – cut by Panthers; now with Bills, had one kickoff return of 3 yards in 2015
- Seneca Wallace (QB) – never played again in the NFL
- Evan Dietrich-Smith (C)– currently listed as backup center on Bucs’ depth chart
- Jamari Lattimore (LB) – 13 tackles with Jets in 2015 (signed by Bills in May)
- Kevin Dorsey (WR) – signed by Patriots last year and was released two months later
- Khyri Thornton (DE) – released by Patriots, 5 tackles with Lions 2015
- Brandon Bostick (TE) – Released by Vikings and twice by the Cardinals; put on Jets’ practice squad in December
- Myles White (WR) – signed by Giants and had 7 catches for 88 yards and 1 TD in 2015
- Matt Flynn (QB) – has been with Patriots, Jets and Saints since the Packers, but seen little or no action
- Derek Sherrod (T) – signed and cut by the Chiefs last year
The whereabouts of 2016 departures:
- Casey Hayward (DB) – signed a 3-yr contract in March with Chargers for $15.3M
- Andy Mulumba (LB) – signed with Chiefs in April (recovering from ACL tear)
- Scott Tolzien (QB) – signed with Colts for $3.5M over two years in March
- Nate Palmer (LB) – claimed by Titans off waivers in May
- Josh Boyd (DT), John Kuhn (FB), James Jones (WR), Mike Neal (LB), Andrew Quarless (TE) remain free agents
Though Woodson continued to play strong even at age 39, you could argue his Packers salary would have exceeded his value. The team cleared around $10 million in salary cap space when they released the veteran in 2013.
Some people around here will never forgive them for that, of course.
Williams, House and Hayward were all expected to be starters elsewhere and the Packers’ plan to upgrade their cornerbacks at much a lower cost is working. Veteran Sam Shields is the only Packers cornerback currently making significant money.
Walden has been solid, not great, with the Colts and most everyone else has failed to gain traction elsewhere.
All in all, it’s hard to find any major missteps by the Packers when it comes to parting ways with veterans.