BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Bet you always wanted to know how Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson approaches free agency.

Thompson seemingly disdains the whole idea of spending big money -- or, in many cases, any money at all -- on players from other teams. It’s a philosophy that has been on display once again. Since the free-agent market opened March 8, Thompson’s work has all been done in one area: re-signing his own free agents, save for one visit by former Los Angeles Rams tight end Jared Cook.

The long-time keeper of the Packers’ personnel department, however, wants you to know something about his philosophy on free agency.

“Just because we don’t sign somebody doesn’t mean we don’t consider people,” Thompson said Monday at the NFL annual meetings. “We did a lot of considering, and we do all the time [and] wherever we felt like we could make our team better in the grand scheme things, we’ve tried to do that. So far, it’s been kind of quiet from a fan’s standpoint, and I’m sorry to say that.”

According to ESPN Stats & Information, the Packers, Bengals and 49ers are the only teams that haven’t signed a player who appeared on the field for another team last season. However, that will change when the 49ers make it official with guard Zane Beadles, who has reportedly agreed to terms.

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Last year, the Packers were the only team that didn’t sign a free agent from another team. Yes, they signed defensive end Ray Drew earlier this month, but his biggest accomplishment in the NFL to date was a stint on the Browns’ practice squad last season.

It would appear that coach Mike McCarthy’s statement at the combine last month that “we might shock you this year” in free agency may end up unfulfilled.

“It’s interesting that people keep score,” Thompson said. “It’s still on-going. There are still surprises down the road I’m sure. I hope they’re good surprises as opposed to bad. But yeah, you have to kind of wait this thing out and see how it goes. We feel pretty good where we are in terms of getting some of our guys back.”

Thompson admitted that B.J. Raji’s decision to walk away from football this season caught him by surprise as it did just about everyone else in the organization, but he said otherwise the free-agent process has been "good."

“I don’t think anybody saw it coming; I don’t think he saw it coming,” Thompson said. “We will respect him and have respected him a long time based on his character and his ability to be a good teammate, but as Mike as pointed out time and time again over the years, family is more important than a football game. Family is life, and your relationships with your people, so we respect the fact that he’s doing something. We’re disappointed that we’re not going to have him with us on the football field.”

Packers president Mark Murphy backed Thompson’s approach when asked about it here Sunday when he said, “We’re not going to overspend for players.”

As for the Packers’ lone free-agent visit, Cook remains unsigned more than a week after he came to Green Bay.

“I wouldn’t care to comment on it other than,” Thompson said and then paused. “I wouldn’t care to comment on it.”

Maybe he’s still “considering” it.