Green Bay Packers: 3 Biggest needs after free agency
By Lucas Schuh
The Green Bay Packers have remained relatively quiet in free agency but, after doing so, there are pressing needs the team must address to try and win the NFC.
After a highly successful 2019 offseason that saw the Green Bay Packers sign several impact free agents and earn an above average grade from PFF for their draft class, it was a different story in 2020. Their free agency period was lackluster and they had one of the most heavily panned drafts in the entire league.
Even still, the Packers enjoyed a quality season behind the NFL MVP, quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Green Bay boasted one of the best offenses in the NFL and made it to the NFC Champiosnhip Game for the second-straight year. Unfortunately, they also came up short of the Super Bowl yet again.
As the 2021 offseason has gotten underway, though, the Packers have not been all that noisy. They re-signed stalwart left tackle David Bakhtiari to an extension during the year. Meanwhile, they re-upped with running back Aaron Jones and will bring back cornerback Kevin King. Outside of that, though, Green Bay has been quiet in free agency.
Green Bay has a little more than $3 million to play around with in free agency but the draft is also still looming. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the biggest needs the Packers still need to address.
Green Bay Packers biggest remaining need No. 3: Cornerback
Jaire Alexander is among the best cornerbacks in the NFL, if not the outright best. He has some of the best eyes, instincts and agility of any player at the position and it was all on display in 2020. Unfortunately, the rest of the Packers cornerbacks don’t come close to the quality of Alexander.
Kevin King and Chandon Sullivan are the presumed other starters as of now. Last year was Sullivan’s first full season as a corner and he struggled. King, in a similar manner, has had a difficult time finding his footing in the NFL since being a second-round pick out of Washington. Outside of those two, Josh Jackson and Ka’Dar Hollman offer little (if any) optimism.
Cornerbacks and coverage players have never been more valuable than they are in the modern NFL with the passing game being relied upon so heavily. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that the Packers can afford a player like Richard Sherman or another veteran player in free agency. However, draft prospects like Asante Samuel Jr., Ifeatu Melifonwu and Greg Newsome II would all make sense for Green Bay.
After having revamped the pass rush and safety rooms in recent years, the secondary needs to be shored up. Without a reliable No. 2 corner opposite of Alexander, though, that’s not going to be possible for them to accomplish.