One indisputable conclusion drawn from the Green Bay Packers' disappointing season is their best player — by far — was cornerback Charles Woodson.

That would be former unrestricted free agent Charles Woodson.

Are you listening, Ted?

Ted, of course, is Green Bay general manager Ted Thompson, whose philosophy of building through the draft and all but ignoring free agency came back to haunt the Packers in their fall from 13-3 to 6-10 this season.

Green Bay had the NFL's youngest team for the third straight year and an alarming shortage of leaders and playmakers, all a product of Thompson's slavish devotion to the youth and philosophy of trading down in the draft for more players as opposed to trading up for potentially great ones.

Woodson is the exception to Thompson's rule. As the only big-ticket free agent signed during Thompson's four-year tenure, Woodson has been worth every penny the Packers have paid him.

Although he arrived with a reputation as a bit of a malcontent, Woodson became a respected team leader once he and coach Mike McCarthy grew to trust one another. His 19 interceptions in three seasons with Green Bay are third to Ed Reed (21) and Asante Samuel (20) in the NFL. His five defensive touchdowns have provided a big-play element that is lacking almost everywhere else on the roster.

Even though Woodson has delivered, however, Thompson continues to ignore free agency. Just last week he said on McCarthy's television show he will continue to build the Packers almost entirely through the draft.

Actually, there is additional evidence in Thompson's own locker room to support the belief he needs to spend some of his salary-cap money on free agents instead of keeping the franchise's thick wallet tucked safely in his back pocket.

When Thompson has signed bargain-basement free agents — guards Adrian Klemm and Matt O'Dwyer in 2005, wide receiver Marc Boerigter and linebacker Ben Taylor in 2006 and cornerback Frank Walker in 2007 — he has struck out every time. But when he has thrown a little cash around in free agency, the results generally have been good.

In addition to Woodson, Thompson gave mid-level free-agent contracts to defensive tackle Ryan Pickett and safety Marquand Manuel in 2006 and linebacker Brandon Chillar in 2008. Of that group, only Manuel was a bust. Pickett has been the team's second-best defensive lineman for three seasons and Chillar filled a valuable role covering tight ends this season.

Of the 11 NFL teams that had losing records in 2008, Green Bay was the only one that scored more points than it allowed. That shows the Packers weren't as far away as their record indicated. One or two high-quality veterans might have turned some of their close losses into thrilling victories.

The same holds true for next season. The team's future at quarterback is secure with Aaron Rodgers, which means there's no reason the Packers can't be right back in contention in 2009.

However, that won't happen unless Thompson sheds his timid approach to free agency and does something to put the Packers over the top.