General manager Brian Gutekunst bolstered the roster in the draft. But which veteran performer could the Green Bay Packers add in the next few weeks?
There’s little doubt that Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has had a positive impression on the organization. The team has won the NFC North three consecutive years and won exactly 13 regular-season games each of those seasons.
But it’s also worth noting that the club has also failed to deliver in the playoffs. The Packers own a combined 2-3 postseason record under his command. And on the field, there’s plenty of blame to go around.
From inconsistent play from quarterback Aaron Rodgers to some up-and-down defensive play. And the Green Bay special teams haven’t helped the team’s cause either.
All told, the Pack keeps coming up short of getting back to the Super Bowl – a place the organization hasn’t been since 2010. And there were some significant changes this offseason in many regards.
The team added 11 players in April’s draft. Could general manager Brian Gutekunst sign some free-agent bargains sooner than later?
3 free agents the Green Bay Packers could still pursue
3. DT Brandon Williams (Baltimore Ravens)
Despite their rankings the past two seasons, the Green Bay defense has been fairly mediocre. A big issue remains the team’s inability to consistently defend the run.
And that’s one reason the team used a pair of first-round draft choices on two performers from the defending national champion Georgia Bulldogs.
Inside linebacker Quay Walker and end Devonte Wyatt should bolster defensive coordinator Joe Barry’s unit. The club allowed the ninth-fewest total yards in the league in both 2020 and ’21.
But the Pack was tied for 13th against the run in 2020 and just 11th in rushing defense this past season.
Veteran interior presence Brandon Williams remains unsigned. He’s been an important part of some excellent Baltimore Ravens’ defensive units and would aid Green Bay’s cause when it comes to stopping the run.
2. TE Jesse James (Chicago Bears)
A year ago, the Green Bay offense missed emerging tight end Robert Tonyan. He was injured in the team’s Week 8 Thursday night win over the Cardinals at Arizona.
Tonyan missed the remainder of the season – this after catching 18 passes for 204 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the team’s first eight contests. This offseason, the Packers re-signed the four-year pro to a one-year, $3.75 million contract (via Spotrac).
In 2020, the 6’5”, 237-pound undrafted free agent from Indiana State had a breakthrough year. He played in all 16 games and made eight starts. He finished with 52 receptions for 586 yards and reached the end zone 11 times.
And in the club’s postseason split with the Rams and Buccaneers, he added eight catches for 82 yards and one score.
Veteran Marcedes Lewis is an exceptional blocker and caught 23 passes this past season but none for touchdowns. Two-year pro Josiah Degaura did total 25 grabs for 245 yards and two scores in 2021. But the team could certainly use another proven pass-catcher at the position.
Seven-year pro Jesse James, who spent ’21 with the Bears, has managed only 37 receptions the past three years with the Lions and Bears, respectively. But he totaled a combined 120 catches in four years with the Steelers from 2015-18.
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?