Green Bay Packers Reportedly Looking into Free Agent LB Joe Schobert

The Green Bay Packers have a huge hole to fill at inside linebacker and reportedly, they are looking into free agent, Joe Schobert.

It’s no secret that the Green Bay Packers are going to let Blake Martinez test free agency and that he will very likely be with another team in 2020. And although Martinez came with his limitations at inside linebacker, his absence leaves a huge hole that the team must address.

Now, the Packers could try to fill this need in the draft and hope that players like Patrick Queen or Kenneth Murray happen to be available. But of course, there is some risk involved with that. However, if they choose to address the need in free agency, then they can be much more proactive instead of reactive to this situation.

While Corey Littleton is garnering much of the attention at the inside linebacker position, former Wisconsin Badger and Cleveland Brown, Joe Schobert is also on the market and according to Tom Silverstein of Packers News, Green Bay is looking into the pending free agent.

"“According to multiple agents who have been tracking the free-agent market, the Packers are exploring what it would take to sign former Wisconsin inside linebacker Joe Schobert of the Cleveland Browns.”"

Schobert was drafted in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL draft – just like Martinez – and although he hasn’t racked up the same amount of tackles during that span as Martinez has, he is better in coverage and overall, he has just simply made more big plays.

Take it for what it’s worth but in 2018 Schobert was Pro Football Focus’ (PFF) second-best coverage linebacker and although his grade dropped in 2019, he was still overall better than Martinez. And on top of that, Schobert had a higher ‘run-stop percentage’ which is a metric from PFF (subscription required) that measures tackles that resulted in a loss for the offense.

Schobert has also made more impactful plays during his career. So far he has totaled six interceptions, 20 pass breakups, seven forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and 19 quarterback hits.

Meanwhile, Martinez in those same categories has just three interceptions, 17 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and only 10 quarterback hits. The one area – other than tackles – that Martinez has the advantage is in sacks, but only by 1.5.

While Schobert won’t command the same $12 to $14 million per year that Littleton will, he could still very well be around the $10 million per year mark. A hefty price for the inside linebacker position and one that historically, the Green Bay Packers haven’t paid.

Yet with that said, they currently have a huge hole at the position and the addition of Joe Schobert who has shown that he can be reliable in coverage and make plays may certainly be worth it. This will be something to keep our eyes on moving forward.