Where do the Packers go from here?

Green Bay finished just short of its second trip to the Super Bowl since 2010.

For the majority of this year's NFC Championship Game, it appeared that the Green Bay Packers, not the Seattle Seahawks, would represent the conference in Super Bowl XLIX. However, poor decision making at the goal line and a handful of gaffes late in the game cost the Packers their first trip to the Super Bowl since taking home the Lombardi Trophy four seasons earlier.

Despite the loss, Green Bay has a lot to build on. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers earned his second league MVP award, throwing 38 touchdowns against only five interceptions. Tailback Eddie Lacy became more of a duel threat, catching a career high 42 passes for 427 yards to go with his 1,139 rushing yards and 13 total touchdowns. At receiver, both Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb eclipsed 1,200 yards.

While the majority of the Packers' roster is set to return in 2015, there are some players who could depart this offseason and significantly affect the team moving forward.

Free agents

Randall Cobb

Cobb finally broke out in 2014 after three years of steady improvement. Cobb's toughness and versatility were on display throughout the season. He was consistently asked to run suicide routes over the middle and work out of the backfield despite the additional risk of injury and without a long-term commitment from the team. Still, Cobb shined, playing in every game and catching 91 passes for 1,287 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Cobb's price will be decided by how the market views slot receivers. Though highly productive, Cobb lined up out of the slot 87.6 percent of the time since the start of 2012. Teams tend to value slot receivers significantly less than those that regularly work along the boundaries.

As far as the Packers are concerned, Cobb is likely to return if his price stays within the range of most slot receivers, the highest being Victor Cruz's deal, which pays an average of $8.6 million annually. If, however, a team with excess cap space such as the Oakland Raiders decides to blow everyone else out of the water, Green Bay will let Cobb walk.

Bryan Bulaga

After missing most of the previous two seasons, Bryan Bulaga returned for a mostly healthy 2014 campaign. He started all but one game, and saw his play improve down the stretch. According to Pro Football Focus, Bulaga allowed just one sack after the Packers' Week 9 bye. At the right price, he's a player the team does not want to lose.

However, Bulaga is by far the best offensive tackle in a weak free agent class. Any team in search of a quality starter is going to look to him. Consequently, his price could skyrocket once free agency begins. The Packers want him back, but not at any price. While he could return, it looks like a coin flip at this juncture.

Letroy Guion and B.J. Raji

When Letroy Guion signed with the Packers last offseason, little was expected of him. The team hoped he could provide quality snaps as a reserve to starter B.J. Raji and perhaps play some defensive end in certain sub packages. However, when Raji tore his biceps during the preseason, Guion stepped in to a much larger role. After a poor start, Guion became a reliable nose tackle and part of a vastly improved Green Bay defense. He's a player the Packers were reportedly interested in returning to reprise his 2014 performance.

However, Guion was arrested on February 3 for drugs and firearms possession. Now facing felony charges, the odds of the Packers re-signing him seem very slim.

Consequently, agreeing to terms with Raji has become a priority for the Packers. Though the quality of his play has dwindled since 2010, he had one of his best training camps and preseasons before the biceps injury. Given the lack of outside interest last offseason, the two sides can probably come together for another one-year "prove it" deal for 2015.

Coaching

When a team goes to the playoffs six years in a row, they expect to lose far more assistants than the Packers have. So far, the only major departures have been Joe Philbin to Miami and Ben McAdoo to the Giants. While teams tried to pick off some Green Bay coaches this offseason, those requests were denied.

However, the Packers have voluntarily made some changes to the staff. Special teams coordinator Shawn Slocum was fired after six years. The frontrunner to replace him is current assistant Ron Zook, though that has yet to be determined. Regardless of who replaces him, that's surprisingly little turnover for a team as successful as Green Bay.

***

The Packers are likely to lose one of their top free agents this offseason, but few teams have proved better at replacing talent. Green Bay can focus on the draft, replenish its loses and compete for another title in 2015.

from SBNation.com - All Posts http://ift.tt/1unnMZc