Based of of profootballweekly's rankings:

33. Antonio Smith
DE / Arizona Cardinals
Age 27 / FA Type: Unrestricted

Smith will appeal to teams looking for a rugged, run-stuffing defensive end. He may have the greatest value in a “30” front. Can also line up inside. Could be one of the sleepers among defenders available in this class.

42. Sean Jones
SS / Cleveland Browns
Age 27 / FA Type: Unrestricted

Teams looking for a strong safety who has been above-average in coverage at points of his career may take a look at Jones, who has two five-interception seasons to his credit. However, he also has endured stretches when he has been a liability vs. the pass. One of the more perplexing players available in free agency.

43. Chris Carr
RS / Tennessee Titans
Age 26 / FA Type: Unrestricted

Enhanced his value in 2008 by ranking among the AFC’s better kickoff and punt returners and proving he could handle an expanded role on defense when pressed into the lineup at cornerback. Carr could start for some teams on defense and could help many others in the return game.

70. Angelo Crowell
LB / Buffalo Bills
Age 28 / FA Type: Unrestricted

The 6-1, 246-pound Crowell missed all of last season after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery and being placed on injured reserve right before the 2008 season. He has notched more than 100 tackles twice (’05, ’07). He is also an effective blitzer and fares well in pass coverage.

78. Mike Brown
SS / Chicago Bears
Age 31 / FA Type: Unrestricted

Brown’s career has been marked by stretches of very good play as well as injuries. A team looking for a veteran presence for its secondary could do much worse than the cerebral Brown.

92. Vincent Fuller
S / Tennessee Titans
Age 27 / FA Type: Unrestricted

Fuller was not a starter with the Titans, but he was an important contributor in nickel situations. It would not be a surprise if he got looks as a starter from other clubs.

Antonio Smith would be a good signing. i don't really think any of those safeties are better than the ones on our roster though.

i don't know much about Angelo Crowell.

i read today that we'll have $4 million more in cap room for us not to use!

I wouldn't mind Mike Brown And Vilma LB

David Patten is one guy that I think could be had fairly cheap. I know signing a WR would be a luxury but I think that he would be a nice #3. I remember reading that he is a great guy to have in a locker room and he looked pretty good last year when he was givin the chance due to injury. I would have a little more faith in Patten if god forbid Driver or Jennings would go down than I would have in Jordy Nelson or James Jones.
A few others I would look into would be JJ Arrington And Dominic Rhodes at RB. Again more of a luxury but I think Arrington would be an upgrade as a #3 back. Rhodes would a push for the #2 back. not significant money, but guys to look at after the draft if you can get them at a good price.
TE Chris Baker. Another guy to look at after the draft if he is still available. I have heard that the Jets might be looking to resign him if they can get him back cheap. He would provide good competition and possibly push for the #1 TE spot IMO.
Finally, I think Anthony Weaver would be a solid pick up. He looked great with the Ravens in their 3-4 D. Signed with the Texans and their 4-3 scheme and kind of fell off the radar. could translate to a very good value signing.

Two Patriot players who played in a 3-4/4-3 scheme and have alot of experience. Probably won't break the bank and can contribute to our team.

James Sanders, S: Could be a solid starter for a 3-4 team, particularly one that needs someone who understands the alignment.

Mike Wright, DT: A young 3-4 lineman who the Patriots liked enough last season to assign a second-round tender to him. Could be a quality starter for another team.

And for a return man

Justin Miller, CB: Failed top pick with Jets has nice return ability if healthy. Returned two touchdowns when the Raiders picked him up after the jets waived him during the season. Has 5 kick return tds in career.

I totally agree.. Vilma IMO has always been a good LB. Maybe down a bit the last 2 seasons but he still could make a great addition to our team without breaking the bank.

and Mike Brown, aside from his constant injury problems has always been productive.

Here is a list of potential free agents the Pack might be interested in. Looks like some may contribute but there won't be dancing in the streets of Green Bay if they sign any of them.

Bargain hunting begins
Team will look at free agents
By Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel

Posted: Feb. 26, 2009


If there's one thing that's abundantly clear about the Green Bay Packers' hunt for players who fit their new 3-4 defensive scheme, it's that they'll find a more bountiful selection in the draft than in free agency.

A rash of last-minute housecleaning measures put a number of talented veterans on the street this week, filling some gaps in an otherwise weak free-agent class. But the odds of the Packers landing a Charles Woodson-type addition, especially one who fits their new defensive scheme, appears unlikely.

Some personnel officials think there will be the usual free-for-all with the beginning of the signing period at 12:01 a.m. Friday. The likes of Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, Baltimore linebackers Ray Lewis and Bart Scott, Cincinnati receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Dallas defensive end Chris Canty are probably going to find their pots of gold.

Teams were notified Wednesday that the salary cap would go up from $123 million to around $127 million because of an escalator included in the collective bargaining agreement with the players. As a result, the average amount of salary cap room per team will be somewhere around $15 million. So there will be plenty of money available for those who want to spend it.

But once the big spenders like Washington, Dallas, Denver and the New York Jets finish handing out monster contracts, there will be some fiscal responsibility employed.

"I think you'll see the normal amount of big deals early on, but I think it will slow down pretty quickly," one NFL personnel official said.

Said another personnel man: "I think it will last a couple days and then you're going to see a long period where nothing goes on. Maybe a week or two."

The dire predictions are more the result of a free-agent class weakened by the removal of 14 marquee players designated with franchise tags. Given the compensation for signing a franchise player is two first-round draft choices, consider Carolina's Julius Peppers, Baltimore's Terrell Suggs, Arizona's Karlos Dansby and San Diego's Darren Sproles - to just name a few - untouchable.

Peppers, Suggs and Dansby would have been good fits for the Packers, but with them out of the picture and Lewis and Scott probably headed elsewhere, there is a limited pool of defensive players left over for the Packers.

It could be a week before they even dip their toe in the pool.

"I think we react in free agency if we think there's value there," general manager Ted Thompson said last week at the scouting combine. "(If) we think it's something (that) will add to our team, then we're going to try to pursue it."

The Packers have more than enough cap space to pursue free agents. After submitting restricted free-agent tender offers worth $1.01 million to cornerback Jarrett Bush, fullback John Kuhn, receiver Ruvell Martin and end Jason Hunter and $1.575 million to safety Atari Bigby, according to agents and NFL sources, the Packers are roughly $30 million beneath the cap.

The tenders allow the Packers to match any offer the restricted free agent receives and in Bigby's case allows them to receive a second-round pick if they let him go. Tight end Tory Humphrey and receiver Shaun Bodiford did not receive tenders and are free agents. The Packers have expressed an interest in re-signing Humphrey to a lesser deal.

The Packers also issued a one-year contract offer to exclusive rights free-agent cornerback Tramon Williams.

More than anything, the Packers need to bolster their ranks in the front seven. They need outside linebackers and defensive ends with experience in the 3-4 system.

Here are a few players they might be interested in:

Linebackers: Clark Haggans, Arizona; Marques Harris, San Diego; Angelo Crowell, Buffalo; Napoleon Harris, Minnesota; Kevin Burnett, Dallas.

Haggans didn't start last year but he's well-schooled in the Pittsburgh scheme and would be an excellent teacher for the other players. He doesn't have that much mileage on him for a 32-year-old. The Chargers' Harris was hampered by a hamstring injury last year but can rush the passer. He's built low to the ground and can bull rush, but doesn't have counter moves. He might be a steal. Crowell is coming off a knee injury but is good at the point of attack. The Vikings' Harris is quick inside and did a decent job last year. Burnett backed up DeMarcus Ware and can both rush the passer and cover.

Defensive linemen: Ron Fields, San Francisco; Antonio Smith, Arizona; Mike Wright, New England; Tank Johnson, Dallas; Igor Olshansky, San Diego.

Fields is a big run stuffer who isn't particularly good with his hands and probably needs to stay at nose tackle. But with training he could play end. Smith has experience in a different 3-4 scheme but the skills translate over. He showed up big in the postseason and would be worth a look. Wright is another run-stuffer who might be able to play at end in the base package and provide good run support. Johnson is a character risk but he seemed to behave in Dallas and would be a good nose tackle prospect. Olshansky is strong as an ox but he can't rush the passer and doesn't have much lateral movement.

In addition to the front seven, Thompson might be looking for a veteran safety to help out Nick Collins. He tried it once before with Marquand Manuel and it turned out to be a mistake, but having someone who has played in a 3-4 scheme - like New England's James Sanders, Baltimore's Jim Leonhard and Cleveland's Sean Jones - wouldn't hurt.

On offense, the Packers still don't know what they'll do with tackle Mark Tauscher, so they might pursue a veteran lineman to protect themselves. Another area of interest might be running back. The Packers considered the Giants' Derrick Ward before trading for Ryan Grant and they might want to reunite them again.

Whatever happens, don't expect it to occur quickly.

is this your first year watching football?

give me Crowell and Smith.

Vilma can't play in the 3-4, that's why the Jets traded him.

i would like to add Mark Setterstrom G - Rams to this list. He's a guard who was great in college (two-time all big ten) and has shown a lot of promise, but his career so far has been derailed by knee injuries.

he could be a very low cost addition that could really pay dividends.

I read that smith has 3 or 4 visits set up already and none of them are to the great state of WI.

It wouldn't surprise me if TT was hesitant to take a chance on another often-hurt player -- the Harrell thing has to bug him at least as much as it bugs us.

me neither, but if Tory Humphrey is gone, then we need a token "always hurt" player on offense, right?

Here is my modest list-

Curtis- TE Dallas- strong blocker which the team needs desparately at TE, at 6-6 a good red zone target

Would love to pick up a right tackle but I don't see any out there.

That's about it for offense

My two top targets would be the two Patriots that Piecemaker mentioned.

Sanders is a solid in the box safety who has started for a 3/4 team.

Weaver has been behind the two best 3/4 De's on one team and has played well when he has had a chance. I'm sure he'd love a chance to start. He'd be my # 1 target

Fields has played DE and Nose tackle for the 9'ers- is strong against the run

Harris - back up for the Chargers- could be a good pass rushing LB

I can't see getting an inside LB like Crowell- They have a ton of money invested in nominal starters Barrett and Hawk and won't invest a lot in a 3rd guy unless, until they prove they can't do the job.

Like I said it is a pretty modest list.

Keep an eye on Jason Babin. He had 3 pretty good seasons under Dom Capers prior to his last two seasons in which he's been hurt and/or playing out of position with his hand in the dirt. He won't be too expensive, and he's a guy that can get to the QB.

I think S Jermaine Phillips from Tampa could still be a nice pickup- he is coming off an injury (broken forearm).

TT IMO needs to obtain two DL in FA. Therefore two of the following players would make me happy.
1)Chris Canty
2) Igor Olshansky
3) Rocky Bernard
4) Shaun Cody
5) Ronald Fields
6) Gabe Watson RFA Arizona. I would not give a second for him I would give a third in 09 and a conditional pick in 10.

Keith Brooking from Atlanta has lots of experience in the 3-4. Also would be a nice presence in the locker room.

Sean Jones would be a nice addition at Safety.

Just my thoughts.

I forgot to add this
Extended Jenkins, Collins, and College. I sometimes have to remind myself that resigning your own people before they hit the open market is a big part of FA.

Hoping you meant Jennings not Jenkins....

Brown, Canty, Tank Johnson and Crowell would be excellent experienced folks to bring in on defense. Safeties call the shots on Defense and Brown is an excellent leader and mind to have on defense. He has injury history, but we do have depth at safety and Peprah is not that good and could become a casualty. I like Johnson as a big mauling DT. Not excatly a nose tackle type, but he is a player. Crowell is an excellent LB, coming off a injury, though.

This reminds me a little of the Old Redskins defense under George Allen that went to the Super Bowl in which they brought in some old, banged up guys. They were smart, knew how to win and were motivated. We lack experience and leadership on defense. These guys coupled with Barnett and Hawk would really add and improve our defense.

Remember Capers coached at NE last year and he knows all of the Patriot defensive players. He can give expert insight of those players to TT and MM. That is a big bonus.

Time to revise the short list:

Igor Olshansky
Tank Johnson
Shaun Cody
Bertrand Berry

If Thompson's willing to part with a draft pick, I think Gabe Watson should receive some hefty (heh) consideration.

I think Crowell would be a nice addition at LB.

Me too. I'd take Johnson with a BIG clause put in about zero tolerance for off the field stuff. With that in place, I'd give him a chance.

The Packers are after Igor. It makes sense. The packers weren't going to give both Canty/Igor huge contracts.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/40518177.html

After passing on Cole and Canty, the Packers' next move is to begin discussions with San Diego free-agent defensive end Igor Olshansky, according to an NFL source. Olshansky played end in the Chargers' 3-4 and would be sufficient as a starter or backup.

Olshansky is not scheduled for a visit and talks have not gotten serious. But discussion will commence this week as the Packers move on to their next option.

Well, at least TT is being consistent...

Plenty of tier 3 and tier 4 guys left in FA... Not to worry look at all the DT availble.

http://www.nfl.com/freeagency#players-tab-...position:pos-dl

Is it my imagine, or is there just not a whole heck of a lot going on right now in NFL free agency? Jason Taylor, a huge name last year, is still sitting there after a week and supposedly a dozen teams interested. I see NE making a little noise, but otherwise it's mostly crickets chirping. The "sign 'em quick before their gone" period of free agency seems to be over. Maybe Ted was wise to wait it out and we can get some good value in the next couple months.

All these still available, we need to get some bodys in for camp..

Taylor wants to be paid well and go to a contender otherwise he will walk away. I don't think Taylor is a elite player anymore and doubt he is fully committed to the game anymore.