Green Bay Packers Top 10 offseason storylines

January 18, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) comes under pressure from Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Julius Peppers (56) during the first half in the NFC Championship game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

5.  The Julius Peppers decision.

Julius Peppers gave the Packers exactly what they’d hoped for in 2014, and then some.  Through December and the playoffs, he was often their best defensive player on the field despite also being the oldest.  Entering his age-35 season, Green Bay is now faced with a decision.  Is Peppers still worth the money?

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His 3-year, $26M contract has a maximum value of $30M considering escalators.  His base salary of $9.5M in 2015 comes along with a $12M cap hit, while Green Bay would save $7M in cap space if Julius Peppers is released or chooses to retire.

Green Bay is not picking high enough in the draft to find an immediate, day one impact player from the LOLB position.  Free agency is flush with options at nearly every position this offseason, and while most signings would help Green Bay get younger, it would be difficult to replace Peppers at a reasonable value.

His presence on the defense is not only important due to his own physical tools, ones which produced two highlight-reel interceptions returned for touchdowns in 2014.  Instead, it is his ability to spread out blocking schemes and take double-teams away from Clay Matthews that impacts the game the most.  The surge of interior linemen reaching the QB late in the season can be attributed to this, as well.

The price is steep, but I feel that Peppers has earned his place for at least one more season.  If he does choose to return for one final run, no player on the roster will be hungrier for a championship.  His contract may not be priority #1, but if all other chips fall into place and the cap number still allows for Peppers, he’s got to stay.

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