The Green Bay Packers stand to lose cornerback Micah Hyde in free agency this week. The two sides seemed mutually interested in putting a deal together before the start of free agency. As it stands right now, however, no deal has been made, making the cornerback an unrestricted free agent.
Impending free agent
Hyde has been with the Packers since 2013, when he was drafted in the fifth round out of Iowa. He has been a steady producer since his rookie season, putting up similar stat lines nearly every year. This past season, he recorded 58 combined tackles and three interceptions for a team that made a run all the way to the NFC Championship Game, only to fall to the Atlanta Falcons.
Even in the playoffs, he kept up the high caliber of play. This past season, he also showed some versatility by playing strong safety in addition to cornerback. Losing him in free agency would be a tough blow for the Packers, who relied on Hyde almost just as much as they relied on safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. It seems likely to happen, though, as an NFL Network report suggests that the cornerback is actively pursuing deals with other teams.
Looking to the future
Hyde should have no shortage of suitors in free agency. There are a number of teams in the market for then former Green Bay Packers cornerback. The Dallas Cowboys and Oakland Raiders are commonly cited as his most likely landing spots. Two other teams in need at the position who should pursue Hyde are the Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
While Hyde will surely be missed in Green Bay - one Packers fan has even set up a GoFundMe account to raise money for his return - the team should be able to withstand his absence. They don't have many options on the roster to replace him, but management likes to build depth through inexpensive free agent signings and low-cost options in the later rounds of the NFL Draft. It may be ugly at the start of the 2017 season, but the team will ultimately be able to cope if he chooses to leave town.
