Green Bay Packers: 3 Free Agent Tackles to Target
By Paul Bretl
Jack Conklin
Drafted out of Michigan State in 2016, Jack Conklin put together a fantastic rookie season that ended with him being selected to the All-Pro Team and he is now one of, if not the best tackle available in free agency this offseason.
Most recently in 2019, Conklin gave up only five sacks and allowed just four quarterback hits in his 617 pass-blocking snaps. However, as effective as he was as a pass-blocker, he is at his best in the run game. According to Pro Football Focus, Conklin’s final grade of 80.5 as a run-blocker was the fifth highest among tackles last season and his versatility in the run game will fit well in Green Bay under Matt LaFleur.
So given his early success and that fact that he is only 25-years-old, why wouldn’t the Tennessee Titans pick up his fifth year option? Well, a big factor could be two knee injuries. Although he’s started in all 16 games three of his four years, during the 2017 playoffs, Conklin would tear his ACL and miss the beginning of 2018. And then unfortunately, that same 2018 season ended with another knee injury, but a much less serious one.
This will certainly be something that the Green Bay Packers will have to take into consideration and with Conklin projected to earn an average of $15 million per year according to Spotrac, it’s a move they can’t afford to get wrong.