The Packers have a number of unrestricted free agents to tend to this offseason, including notable cornerback Sam Shields. The two sides are still in regular contact, a source tells Tyler Dunne of the Journal Sentinel, while quantifying the odds of a return at “50/50.”
Shields, at the age of 26, is widely considered to be one of the best young cornerbacks in the league. In a division featuring the likes of Calvin Johnson, Brandon Marshall, Greg Jennings, and the ever-improving Alshon Jeffery, Shields would leave some massive cleats to be filled. As Dunne notes, position coach Joe Whitt Jr. has deemed Shields to be a “top ten” cornerback in the league. While that could be up for some debate given his tackling woes and health issues, it’s easy to see why Green Bay would want to keep him in-house.
An undrafted rookie out of the University of Miami, Shields made a name for himself in his first season in 2010. Last season, Shields finished out the year with 61 tackles (51 solo), 17 pass break-ups, and four interceptions. Including the postseason, he has had a total of 17 picks over four seasons. Unfortunately, injuries have cost the corner eight games over the last two seasons.
Green Bay’s other unrestricted free agents include B.J. Raji, Evan Dietrich-Smith, Jermichael Finley, Ryan Pickett, Mike Neal, and John Kuhn.