5 Free Agents that still fit the Green Bay Packers
The NFL Draft, OTA’s, and minicamp have concluded. While the Green Bay Packers’ young offense mixed with the high-energy defense has promise, these are five free agents who are available and could realistically make a difference.
No. 1 – WR, Jarvis Landry
The first free agent remaining unsigned that could help Green Bay if brought in could very well be wide receiver, Jarvis Landry. With a wide receiver and tight end room that has an average age of only 23.4 currently, Landry, who has nine years under his belt, could not only be a cap-friendly option for Green Bay, who has $16.586 million in cap according to Over the Cap but would also bring in a veteran presence for Green Bay’s young and upcoming wide receivers Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs to learn from as well.
No. 2 – DT, Matthew Ioannidis
Even with the drafting of Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks, the more fresh, effective lineman you can rotate on defense, the better. Matthew Ioannidis brings that to the table, as he was a starter for the Carolina Panthers last season for thirteen games. In those thirteen games Ioannidis recorded 37 combined tackles in which 13 of them were solo, and one sack. As someone who is still on the market, this could be another cap-friendly option to add to a defensive room that is set to make noise this season.
No. 3 – LB, Kwon Alexander
Even with fellow starting linebackers Quay Walker and De’Vondre Campbell, the Packers would benefit from having a sure rotational veteran in their linebacker room. Kwon Alexander has played in both a 3-4 and 4-3 scheme and meshed with both options. Alexander, who is coming off a season in which he started 12 games, but appeared in all 17 for the New York Jets, is still sitting out in free agency waiting for someone to take a chance. Green Bay could add the veteran who showed he still has it last year with 69 combined tackles (36 solo), and was a spark in the Jets’ defense.
No. 4 – G, Trai Turner
Trai Turner brings in a sure veteran insurance option for Green Bay, playing 766 snaps last season, allowing two sacks, and having four penalties. For quarterback Jordan Love, it will be essential to always have a clean pocket, especially in his first year as a starter, and a team is lucky to make it through a whole season with the same exact starting five linemen across the board. An experienced vet, who also won’t be too expensive, could be a nice fit for Green Bay.
No 5. – QB, Carson Wentz
Even with the addition of quarterback Sean Clifford for the Packers through the NFL Draft, Jordan Love can still benefit from a veteran QB who has been more than battle tested at this point. Wentz’s value has seemed to start fading in the NFL for a starting quarterback so as someone who is looking for an opportunity, a backup option to help mentor Love in this first season starting might just be that opportunity for Wentz. For Green Bay, a mentor with experience would be ideal to help Love and Wentz, who is looking to get an opportunity to show he can still be a starter in this league, could show leadership in this type of role. This could very well be a win-win situation for Green Bay and Wentz.