Green Bay Packers will not tender M.D. Jennings
Green Bay Packers free safety M.D. Jennings (43) against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Green Bay Packers starting free safety M.D. Jennings is a restricted free agent this offseason, and he’s always been expected to be let go this offseason following a very disappointing 2013 campaign. Although the 25-year-old Arkansas State product wasn’t too bad in 2012, he was putrid last season and was clearly part of the problem. The Packers defense needs some upgrades, and getting a free safety who can actually play well in deep coverage is a critical upgrade for the Packers defense. Ted Thompson should try to find the best cover guy possible at FS, as it will only help the talented trio of CBs on the roster (assuming Tramon Williams has another above-average campaign).
The Bleacher Report’s Aaron Nagler reports that the Packers will not tender Jennings in restricted free agency this year, meaning that they will simply let him walk and look for a significant upgrade at the position. Thompson doesn’t like signing free agents, but I think the Packers need to go the FA route in order to adequately address one of their biggest positions of need.
As Nagler sarcastically notes, the news that Jennings won’t be tendered shouldn’t come as a surprise, and he’ll be a quality depth safety somewhere once he’s scooped up after the Packers let him leave.