3 Reasonable Free Agent Targets for Packers w/ Open Roster Spot
By Paul Bretl
With the Green Bay Packers choosing to cut kicker JJ Molson recently, they now have 89 players and an open roster spot. Now the question is, how will they address that opening?
Will the Packers bring in more training camp depth? Or will they instead try to find a potential contributor at a position of need? As well put together as this roster is, like every team, there are still needs that can be addressed.
From a salary cap perspective, the Green Bay Packers have $17.02 million in cap space, according to Over the Cap. However, it’s not as if all of that is spendable either.
According to Ken Ingalls, who independently tracks the salary cap, when other expenses such as signing the remaining members of the draft class, putting together an eventual practice squad, the last two roster spots, and reserves for in-season spending are factored in, the Packers have $2.73 million in effective cap space available.
Now, of course, that $2.73 million figure could vary, but either way, you get the idea–the Packers still don’t have a ton of wiggle room, and I wouldn’t be expecting a major addition.
So with that in mind, I have three free-agent additions to consider. They won’t break the bank, would provide depth at positions that need it, and each could contribute when needed.
Green Bay Packers Potential Free Agent Target: Justin Houston – Edge Rusher
With Rashan Gary and Preston Smith, the Green Bay Packers have two of the most productive edge rushers in football from last season. However, behind them on the depth chart are quite a few question marks.
With Gary and Smith on the sidelines last season, which occurred on about one-third of the defensive snaps, the impact from the other edge rushers was often non-existent. There’s a reason that Green Bay felt the need to sign Whitney Mercilus.
So can Green Bay go into the season relying heavily on Jonathan Garvin, Tipa Galeai, or Randy Ramsey? Well, that comes with risks and potentially running into the same issues — a lack of impact plays — that were had a season ago. And when it comes to Kingsley Enagbare, I really like his upside, but keep in mind that he is still a fifth-round pick who is going to experience a learning curve.
A veteran addition at the edge rusher position to be utilized in obvious passing situations and to provide some snaps off for either Smith or Gary would go a long way for this edge rusher unit that is still looking to round out their four-man rotation.
The 33-year-old Justin Houston is still available and someone who is still producing. He has played in all 16 games in three of the last four seasons and spent 2021 with Baltimore. Houston was on the field for 577 total snaps and recorded 40 pressures along with six sacks, according to PFF ($$).
Houston’s impact is going to come more so against the pass than the run, and with Gary and Smith to lean heavily on, he likely won’t need to play as many snaps with the Packers, which will help keep him fresher as the season progresses.
Earlier this month, the Ravens placed the unrestricted free agent tender on Houston–meaning that if he does sign elsewhere, his one-year tender is worth $2.3 million — or 110% of his 2021 contract value — and Baltimore will also receive a compensatory pick in next year’s draft. Even with these unusual stipulations, that is still a very manageable contract for Green Bay to absorb.