Just thinking about some recent changes in our division, with Chicago adding a pretty good, tough to defend TE in Bennett, and the Lions adding Reggie Bush for 4 years, we are really going to have to make certain our personnel on defense is improved. Even without those additions our need to improve in these areas was readily apparent:

#1 Stopping the run

#2 Stopping plays to TEs/WRs over the middle

I really like our CBs heading into 2013, but see huge holes all up and down our DL, and everywhere in our LB corps, as well as S opposite Burnett. Our division rivals are going to be better offensively next year, at least they should be significantly better given the changes in coaching and personnel. We are going to have to get a lot of better players to counter.

May seem like re-stating the obvious in talking about our defensive needs, but the Bears are beefing up their line, while adding better targets for Cutler and a new offensive minded HC. The Lions needed to add true stars alongside Calvin Johnson, and they've just added a good one. The Vikings are loaded with cap room and picks to add more to go alongside AP. These changes within our division are making our own needs to better our defense more urgent. The margin for error is dwindling.

While our FA focus appears to be Stephen Jackson, I am hoping Ted & Co. adds a defender or two via FA so that we are not counting once again on rookies and 2nd year players, not to mention a bunch of others at important positions coming off season ending injuries (Perry, Bishop, DJ Smith, Worthy). The talent on D must be upgraded, and we should consider keeping more than 6 DL on the final 53, so that we can better insure a solid rotation up front. 11 DBs last season seemed frivolous.

We may need to make a couple more additional tough cuts to afford adding veteran defensive talent, but I think it would be worthwhile.

DE, NT, DT, LB, S

I wish Ted and his crew all the best in making it happen. Ted Thompson has one tall order...

We do need to be able to stop the run. That's true.

However, how many years are we now into the 3-4 and we still don't have another OLB who can play? How long is that going to continue? Sure, I ASSUME Perry and Moses will step up next year. But damn.

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Hes out of the picture now.. Well not that we has in one but rumors were Pack could of been looking at him.

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Dude, I've been thinking that is exactly the problem with holding to a strict draft & develop philosophy. Some of these younger players are working like hell to adjust to the pro level of play, and a veteran, at a key spot like OLB in a 3-4, might know more about what to expect.

I would love it if Ted were to add a vet OLB to bolster the position just in case Perry can't make it back from his injuries. Veteran insurance.

Keep in mind every March the Bears, Lions, and Vikings make big moves and catch up (or surpass) the Packers who seemingly stay the same or get worse.

Yeah, this is really true. Every off-season the other teams in the NFC North are making moves to get "better" than the Packers. When the season actually comes around, the Packers are beating the snot out them. Whats GB's division record the last three years, what three losses or something to the other three teams in the division? So, one loss a year to a division opponent. I think I'll take that while "losing" at free agency every year, lol.

I'll worry about the Bears, Lions and Vikings, when they actually start beating the Packers on the field.

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Not buying all that.

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Yeah, Reggie Bush is no Marshall Faulk. Also Kurt Warner was deadly accurate. Stafford just gets a bunch of yards from having an insane amount of attempts (wobbly sidearm attempts most of the time) he's not really efficient at all.

steve, that is so true.

The Packers have been a very good team for a very long time. Seems we are faced with some extraordinary circumstances in having a top QB talent cycle through his contract for renewal at about the same time that other high value players are cycling through theirs. We can't keep everybody, as evidenced by Jennings' release. Really, after winning SB XLV, I wouldn't have guessed it possible to let Jennings go.

The salary numbers just keep climbing for talented FAs. In just this short time since starting the thread, DET adds FS Glover Quin (HOU), one of the top Safeties in FA on a 5 year deal. Detroit was cap strapped going into FA, and they land Quin after having signed Reggie Bush (MIA) and DT Jason Jones (SEA), all in the same day.

Ted Thompson had kept us in a pretty solid position. I'm just hoping he can add a top defender in FA where we most need the help.

This year seems pretty bad so far for huge contracts going to borderline above average players. I don't remember it being this bad the last few years except with a couple top players here and there. It seems in just a few days teams are overpaying pretty much across the board.