It’s no secret that the Green Bay Packers have had a lousy run defense recently. The Packers have ranked 21st or worse five of the last seven seasons. Even though the Packers had the 10th-ranked defense last season, the stats can be deceiving. Green Bay was ahead in many of these games, so the opposing offenses were playing from behind.
Tyler Lancaster and Kingsley Keke will be free agents after 2021. That leaves Kenny Clark, T.J. Slaton, and Dean Lowry in the starting spots. Lowry is going into the last year of his contract, and Slaton was a rookie last season.
The Packers built their run defense around Clark as the primary run-stopper. The Baltimore Ravens rushed for 143 yards when Clark was in COVID protocols last year. The run defense showed their weakness in Green Bay’s 31-30 victory. If Clark went down with injury next season, the Packers’ defense, at least as it’s constructed now, would crumble.
However, the Packers cut Za’Darius Smith and Billy Turner to kick off free agency, creating $18.63 million in cap space. Therefore, they could make a splash in free agency.
The Packers signed Preston Smith to a four-year, $65 million extension through the 2026 season. They also extended Aaron Rodgers through the 2026 season. Preston Smith’s contract saves the Packers over $8 million in 2022. By doing financial gymnastics, these extensions help the cap situation as well.
Green Bay’s dream scenario is to land former Chicago Bears DE Akiem Hicks. At 32, he’s still elite. He has played most of his career in Chicago, and he has yet to make it to the big game. With such an incredible competitive drive, Hicks would be the veteran presence every team needs.
The Packers have also shown interest in former No. 1-overall pick Jadeveon Clowney. Although Clowney is not the best player from the 2014 draft class, he is still a very talented, athletic defensive end who can make plays.
We have seen flashes of brilliance from Clowney, but he has yet to have a double-digit sack season. Clowney sits at 6’5″, 260 lbs. and is only 28 years old. However, he has missed 29 games due to injury and has never played a full season, so his health is a valid concern. Teams have had a hard time determining his value. The Houston Texans didn’t believe in him long-term, and the Tennessee Titans only were willing to sign him to a one-year, $8 million deal. The Packers may want to roll the dice on Clowney, though.
Calais Campbell is also an option for the Packers. The Arizona Cardinals selected Campbell in the second round of the 2008 draft. He spent most of his career in the desert before stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Ravens. At age 35, he’s in the twilight of his career and has yet to go on a playoff run. Therefore, he may be willing to sign an affordable contract with a contending team. Campbell said he was “definitely not retiring,” but he also hasn’t re-signed in Baltimore. He may choose to play with the Packers over the Ravens because of Aaron Rodgers.
If none of these veterans sign with the Packers, the team may re-sign Lancaster. He is a cheap option who already understands the defense and has proven that he’s good enough to start on Green Bay’s defensive line. Last season, his 31 tackles and three tackles for loss were less than desirable, but it was a noticeable improvement over his 23 tackles in 2020. It might be worth giving him another prove-it deal to add depth at the position.
This offseason, the Green Bay Packers will need to add to the defensive line. Last season, the Packers signed Whitney Mercilis, who was chasing a ring. We could see this type of signing again this season. Although the Packers are known for drafting and developing players, it wouldn’t surprise me if a veteran looks at the Packers and opts for a cheaper contract to chase a Super Bowl with the Green and Gold.
