Coming off a year that was defined by the growth of Jordan Love and the young offense, the Green Bay Packers enter this off-season with a few key questions to answer about the future. It’s out of character for the organization to be splashy in free agency, but the window that the Packers find themselves in could help inspire a few bold moves in March.
Between the declining play of Royce Newman and the looming cap hit for David Bakhtiari, the Packers will likely replenish the depth of their offensive line in the off-season. But Green Bay is a team that prefers to draft and develop this unit. Add in the potential cap casualties of Preston Smith and De’Vondre Campbell, and there is reason to believe the team will focus their efforts on bolstering the defense in free agency.
Four Free Agent Fits for Green Bay’s Defense
Xavier McKinney
A standout at Alabama, McKinney came into the league with lofty expectations. It wasn’t until his second year in the NFL that McKinney was able to take a step forward. His health, too, has played a role in how effective McKinney has been as a pro. But with a wide range of skills, McKinney is the sort of hybrid safety that teams cherish. According to PFF, he has been sound in coverage and has been effective at forcing interceptions. He is also coming off his best season of his career.
McKinney’s ability to play in the box also makes him a good fit for Green Bay. With Wink Martindale no longer running the defense, it’s uncertain how McKinney fits in the Giants plans going forward. Teams also covet players like McKinney for their ability to patrol the line of scrimmage and act as an extra linebacker, so his asking price could force the Packers out of the market. But inserting a do-it-all safety like McKinney could help elevate this defense in ways that it has been lacking over the years.
Chidobe Awuzie
Awuzie has had a rollercoaster of a career. After being selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2017 draft, it took him a season to get in the swing of things. Injuries have also derailed his career in ways, but Awuzie has been mostly reliable when on the field. Playing under Lou Anarumo in Cincinnati helped unlock Awuzie, though. As a more physical, press corner, Awuzie excelled when being asked to be isolated in man coverage. He’s physical at the point of attack and would give Green Bay another cornerback who can tackle well in the open field. The young group of corners that the Packers relied on last season is in flux, so adding a player with Awuzie’s experience would bode well for Green Bay. Awuzie is not the hottest name on the market, but he is a defender that the Packers should target in free agency.
Patrick Queen
Like McKinney, Patrick Queen could resign with his old team. But the Ravens also just lost their defensive coordinator, which means Queen could be looking for a change of scenery. Seattle stands out as a team that could sign Queen, but the Packers remain a team that should vie for his services. Even though Green Bay invested in Quay Walker and De’Vondre Campbell in consecutive off-seasons, adding a player like Queen feels necessary.
Campbell has lost a step, but that is to be expected for a linebacker at his age. The Packers were fortunate to get high-level play out of Campbell for the few years that they did. But it’s time to move on. With Walker and Queen patrolling the middle of the field, the Packers defense would have the sort of speed that is necessary to keep up with today’s modern offenses. Positionless players are becoming more abundant on offense, which means speed is essential. Queen’s career has not been steady, but he played some of his best football in 2023. Queen should generate interest in free agency, but linebackers do not typically command huge contracts. This means the Packers have a chance to sign Queen in free agency to fit their defense.
Josh Uche
The need for pass rushers never fades in the NFL. Green Bay recently signed Rashan Gary to a massive extension, but the team could use one more proven veteran to add to the rotation. Lukas Van Ness has plenty of promise but was used sparingly as a rookie. Van Ness played only 33% of the Packers defensive snaps (per pro-football-reference). Like Gary early in his career, Van Ness will likely have to wait before becoming an every-down player.
Adding Uche would give Green Bay a proven pass rusher who they can plug and play. Uche is only 25 years old, which means he could be a building block for the team moving forward. On the flip side, Uche only started three games in his career in New England. The Patriots are also breaking in a new defensive coaching staff, but Jerod Mayo could see Uche as indispensable. Uche would upgrade most defenses around the league. With a need for depth at pass rusher, Green Bay should make a push to sign him.
Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
