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Packers 2023 free agency: Top 11 interior defensive linemen available

By Brian Sampson

Oct 2, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (91) and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (97) against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 2, 2022; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (91) and defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (97) against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Green Bay Packers have already begun the process of clearing salary cap space, cutting nearly $30 million from their 2023 salary cap by addressing the contracts of Aaron Jones, Jaire Alexander and Preston Smith.

While talking to the media on Tuesday, general manager Brian Gutekunst mentioned they will re-structure Aaron Rodgers’ contract if he returns and are working on doing that with David Bakhtiari as well. There will likely be more cap-saving moves in the future.

That will create enough space for the Packers to target a top free agent if they so desire. Even if they go after lesser-known free agents, the most likely route, they’ll need some extra cap space to work with.

The Green Bay Packers could upgrade their interior defensive line this offseason and these are the eleven best free agents available at the position.

Interior defensive line is one of their biggest needs this offseason. Kenny Clark holds the top spot and is one of the better linemen in the NFL, but he can’t do it alone. Jarran Reed and Dean Lowry are unrestricted free agents and it’s unclear if they’ll return. Lowry has had an up-and-down tenure in Green Bay and Reed didn’t live up to the hype as last year’s free agent signing.

TJ Slaton and Devonte Wyatt appear primed to take on more snaps. The Packers used a 2022 first-round pick on Wyatt, but gave him limited action in his rookie year. He played extremely well at the end of the season when Lowry went down with an injury. Slaton could become a rotational player as well.

If the Packers decide to make a big splash at the position, there’s no shortage of quality free agent linemen available. Daron Payne, PFF’s second-highest-ranked interior defensive lineman and ninth overall, was taken off the board when the Washington Commanders placed a franchise tag on him. No matter. There are still plenty of high-quality linemen the Packers could target in free agency.

Next. 4 overpaid Packers heading into 2023 offseason. dark

  1. Javon Hargrave
  2. Dalvin Tomlinson
  3. Dre’Mont Jones
  4. Zach Allen
  5. David Onyemata
  6. Sheldon Rankins
  7. Larry Ogunjobi
  8. Matt Ioanidis
  9. Morgan Fox
  10. A’Shawn Robinson
  11. Poona Ford
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