3 free agents the Green Bay Packers could still pursue

1. OLB Ryan Kerrigan (Philadelphia Eagles)

As previously mentioned, the Green Bay Packers defense has been suspect in recent years despite some strong rankings in terms of yards allowed. Back in 2019, general manager Brian Gutekunst added a pair of pass-rushing standouts in free agency via Preston Smith and Za’Darius Smith.

That same year, he used a first-round draft choice on edge performer Rashan Gary.

This past season, Gary led Green Bay with 9.5 sacks and Preston Smith (9.0) was a close second. As for Za’Darius Smith, he played in the Week 1 opener vs. the Saints and then missed the club’s final 16 regular-season contests.

He returned for the playoffs and did have a sack of 49ers’ quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in the Packers’ 13-10 playoff loss to San Francisco.

But he was released by the club this offseason and wound up latching on with the rival Minnesota Vikings. So it’s not out of the question that the Pack could add one more experienced pass rusher.

Veteran Ryan Kerrigan spent 2021 with the Philadelphia Eagles after 10 seasons and 95.5 sacks with Washington. He was the latter franchise’s first-round pick in 2011 but went unsigned by the club. He wound up playing in 16 regular-season games (2 starts) and finished with a total of three tackles and zero sacks.

What’s interesting is that in Philadelphia’s playoff loss to the Buccaneers, Kerrigan started and finished the contest with three stops and 1.5 sacks. So is there still some gas left in the tank?