Green Bay Packers: 5 Big-name free agents team could still sign

NaVorro Bowman, ILB, Oakland Raiders

In 2017, the Packers got a breakout performance from young inside linebacker Blake Martinez. He sewed up his spot as a long-term answer at the position. Unfortunately, I don’t think we can say the same for Jake Ryan, the other starter a season ago.

Green Bay needs a more talented option alongside Martinez if they’re going to see any significant progress from their defense moving forward. More importantly, they need someone who can excel against the pass, which isn’t exactly Ryan’s forte.

It is NaVorro Bowman’s, though. Well, it used to be, at least.

That’s not to say that Bowman is bad against the pass, but he’s certainly lost a step with age and injury. Still, as we saw last season, he’s more than capable of carrying his weight in coverage. Coming off a strong few months with the Oakland Raiders, I’m confident he’d be a short-term upgrade on Ryan until the Packers can find a younger replacement.

Bowman inked a $2.6 million deal with the Raiders a season ago. While the Packers don’t have a ton of cap space to work with, they could figure something out for the soon-to-be 30-year-old linebacker.