Free-Agent Contracts Packers Must Pursue After Preseason
For veteran free agents who are looking to chase a ring, the Green Bay Packers should be an enticing option.
They just put the finishing touches on their preseason. The active roster has been cut down to 53 and while the Packers went 1-2 in their three exhibitions, they still have a team whose goal should be a Super Bowl.
Of course, there are still things they could do to enhance their chances of reaching that potential.
The job of an NFL general manager is never complete. While the Packers have a strong roster there are definitely areas where they could use additional depth.
Let's take a look at three free agents who should be considered as a solution to those depth issues.
S Jaquiski Tartt
1 of 3
If you were to prioritize the areas of need, the safety room would have to be the most desperate. Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage combined to give up 14 touchdowns through the air last season.
To be fair, it was a bit of an aberration for both safeties. In 2020, they combined to allow just four touchdowns.
The problem is if either one of them happens to go down or doesn't play up to his standard again in 2022, the Packers don't have a clear-cut fallback option.
Rudy Ford has primarily been a special teamer for much of his career. The same can be said for Dallin Leavitt.
Fortunately, there's a proven name on the market who would fit perfectly as a third safety: Jaquiski Tartt.
The 30-year-old started 14 games for the San Francisco 49ers last season and only surrendered two touchdowns while holding quarterbacks to a 57.6 completion percentage.
Tartt would provide a veteran option and make the Packers a little less dependent on the health of Amos and Savage.
WR Will Fuller V
2 of 3
This signing has made sense for a long time, and there's still time for it to materialize.
Aaron Rodgers throws one of the best deep balls in the game. When healthy, Will Fuller V is one of the best in the league at simply running past defenders and tracking down long throws. It's a marriage that just makes sense.
The key term there, though, is "when healthy." Teams are likely staying away from the 28-year-old at this point because of his lengthy injury history. He's played fewer than 12 games in every season since 2017 and can't seem to stay off the injury report.
Last year, he only played in two games before a broken thumb ended his season.
At this point, Fuller should come at a bargain price. It's looking like he won't be on a roster by Week 1.
In 2020, the Notre Dame product had 879 yards and eight touchdowns in 11 games and was one of Deshaun Watson's favorite targets in Houston.
With the uncertainty surrounding the Packers receiving corps, Fuller is a low-cost option who could wind up being a huge addition if he stays healthy.
Edge Jason Pierre-Paul
3 of 3
Having a third pass-rusher who can get your starters off the field is important for any defense. So much of the pass rush is based on burst and quick movements that it's important to keep edge defenders fresh.
When all three were healthy, the Packers enjoyed a strong trio of rushers with Preston Smith, Za'Darius Smith and Rashan Gary.
Now Za'Darius Smith is with the Vikings, leaving the other Smith and Gary with a potentially massive share of the defensive snaps.
The market for outside linebackers who can get after the quarterback has been well picked over but Jason Pierre-Paul is an interesting target remaining. He only had 2.5 sacks last season but was a full-time starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The 33-year-old played 74 percent of the snaps and started all 12 games he played.
Given his age, he might not be able to do that anymore. But if he was just expected to come in and rush the passer on 25-35 percent of the snaps, it could end up extending his efficiency as a rusher for at least one more season.
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