Green Bay Packers: 5 Free agent targets following 2020 NFL Draft
By Joe Kipp
3. Mike Daniels, DT
A familiar face to Packers fans, defensive tackle Mike Daniels would be a welcomed addition at the right price. Daniels, who was drafted by the Packers in the fourth round back in 2012, was released before training camp in 2019 as a cap casualty. He signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Lions but only appeared in nine games (two starts) due to a lingering foot injury.
The Packers may be open to a reunion with Daniels at the right cost, especially due to his experience and leadership. Daniels would be familiar with defensive coordinator Mike Pettine’s scheme, which could be an underrated factor with offseason programs being virtual-only due to COVID-19.
At 31 years old, Daniels isn’t going to be the force he once was during his prime. His best season came in 2017 — when he was named to his only Pro Bowl — where he posted five sacks, 49 tackles (10 for loss) and 14 quarterback hits. Daniels would still be a nice depth piece in Green Bay’s defensive line rotation.
General manager Brian Gutekunst has shown this offseason he’s only willing to sign players at bargain prices. If Daniels wants to come back to Green Bay, he’d probably need to do so at a low-cost, incentive-laden two-year deal.