Green Bay Packers should consider signing ILB Mason Foster

Given the Green Bay Packers lack of depth at inside linebacker, adding the recently released Mason Foster to the 90-man roster prior to Camp is worth considering.

It was reported that just before Training Camp was about to begin that the Washington Redskins would be releasing veteran inside linebacker, Mason Foster.

The inside linebacker position has been one of focus this offseason for many following the Green Bay Packers since after Blake Martinez there are a number of question marks on the depth chart.

Oren Burks had a rough rookie season where he didn’t see much of the field and while we hope he takes a big step forward in year two, that still remains to be seen. Behind him is James Crawford who was primarily a special teams player in 2018. And then we have rookies Ty Summers and Curtis Bolton.

Last summer we saw the Green Bay Packers bring in veteran linebacker Antonio Morrison who would contribute on special teams and play nearly 300 defensive snaps. So given the youth and the bit of uncertainty at the position once again in 2019, adding Foster to the 90-man as a veteran presence and to create more competition in Camp isn’t a bad idea at all.

Foster will be entering his ninth season in the NFL after being drafted back in the third round of the 2011 draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After spending his first four years in Tampa, Foster has spent the last four in Washington.

Over his career, Foster has been fairly healthy. In 2014 he would play in only 10 games after aggravating an Achilles tendon injury. Then in 2017, after only five games he was placed on IR with a right should injury. But other than those two seasons Foster has played in at least 15 games five different times and 13 in another.

Most recently in 2018, Foster was the captain of the Redskins’ defense and played a full 16 game season. Last year he would record two interceptions, four pass deflections, 131 total tackles and four tackles for loss. Foster has led the Washington defense in total tackles in two of the last three seasons.

Foster is known for being a very solid tackler and can be an asset in the running game. However, he is not as skilled in coverage and can struggle if left on a running back or a tight end in the open field.

With nearly $9 million still available in cap room for the upcoming season, the Green Bay Packers do have space to sign Foster. My guess is the deal would be around the veteran minimum – or maybe a little more – which for Foster is $930,000 this season.

So if Green Bay can bring him in on a relatively inexpensive deal that they are able to get out of if he doesn’t make the final roster, why not?

Now ideally we want to see the duo of Martinez and Burks playing a majority of the time at inside linebacker this season. And if Foster were to make the 53-man and ends up playing significant time, something has likely gone wrong.

With that said, given the inexperience and the questions surrounding the inside linebacker position, bringing in a proven veteran such as Foster to create more competition through Training Camp and into the preseason seems like it could be a worthwhile move.