Chicago Bears defensive end Julius Peppers (90) against the Minnesota Vikings at Mall of America Field at H.H.H. Metrodome. The Vikings defeated the Bears 23-20 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Free agent defensive end Julius Peppers received interest from the Dallas Cowboys, but nobody else had reported interest in the former Chicago Bears starter. He was an obvious cap casualty after the Bears signed Lamarr Houston to a big deal, as he definitely wasn’t worth the kind of money he would have made this upcoming season. Even though the 34-year-old is a declining player, he can still sack the quarterback after notching 7.5 takedowns last season.
Per a source close to ESPN’s Josina Anderson, the Green Bay Packers have signed Julius Peppers to a three-year deal, and hopefully they aren’t paying much for a former player on a division rival. Peppers didn’t seem interested in taking a paycut from anyone, but Ted Thompson doesn’t overpay for free agents; he only overpays when it comes to keeping his own guys.
Peppers’s signing comes a day after the Packers re-signed nose tackle B.J. Raji to a one-year deal worth $4 million, and their front seven looks fine going into the 2014 season. The secondary could still use another safety, and I also wonder just how Peppers fits the Packers. He isn’t a fit as a 3-4 OLB and is clearly best off as a 4-3 DE, so it looks like he’ll be a 3-4 DE for the Packers. It’s going to be interesting to see how he transitions to Dom Capers’s defense, especially as a pass rusher. I mean, they are paying him to get after the quarterback. As long as the financial terms check out, then this should be a quality signing for the Packers. Three years for a player of Peppers’s age is usually too much, but I think there is an option somewhere in the deal.