Green Bay Packers: 5 Realistic free agents still available to target
By Joe Kipp
2. Damon Harrison, DT
The Packers defense struggled defending the run in 2019. Green Bay allowed 4.7 yards per carry during the regular season and 4.9 yards per carry with the playoffs included. The San Francisco 49ers demolished Green Bay’s run defense in the NFC Championship, as Raheem Mostert rushed 29 times for 220 yards and four touchdowns.
A big reason the Packers struggled stopping the run was due to a lack of depth along the defensive line. Green Bay has a budding star in defensive tackle Kenny Clark but, after him, the depth wanes fast. Dean Lowry signed a contract extension last offseason but was a disappointment in his first season after garnering a big payday.
Free-agent defensive tackle Damon “Snacks” Harrison would be a tremendous addition for a Packers defensive line that lacks big bodies up front. Harrison has long been known for being arguably the best run-stuffers in the NFL. He was released by the Detroit Lions last month after being traded from the New York Giants in 2018.
Still just 31 years old, Harrison could have one or two more years of decent production left as a two-down run stopper. Harrison has received a grade of over 90.0 in run defense from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) in five of his eight seasons. A grade of 90.0 or higher places him in the “Elite” category.