Pack-A-Day Podcast - Episode 2060 - Top Remaining Free Agents the Packers Should Consider
On today's show, Andy reviews which free agents are still on the market that the Packers could consider bringing in, likely at a bargain price. Don't miss it!
By AndyHerman
On today's show, Andy reviews which free agents are still on the market that the Packers could consider bringing in, likely at a bargain price. Don't miss it!
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Andy is a graduate of UW-Oshkosh and owns & operates the Pack-A-Day Podcast. Andy has taken multiple courses in NFL scouting and is an Editor for Packer Report. Andy grew up in Green Bay and is a lifelong season ticket holder - follow him on Twitter @AndyHermanNFL!
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Comments (42)
PeteK
March 16, 2024 at 12:30 pm
Great job researching these quality fits. However, I think these players might be post draft picks. thanks
golfpacker1
March 16, 2024 at 12:31 pm
At this point since we have missed all the FA linebackers, and some turned out to be real bargains, we are stuck with either scraping the bottom of the barrel, or hoping someone else gets cut and we get one that way. That sounds like a hope & a prayer to me.
Devin White was definitely worth $7 million a year to unlock his still huge potential @ 25 years old. All people talk about is that he was a loose cannon @ Tampa Bay, And that his play really slipped. His "bad season" last year was over 80 tackles. He has over 500 tackles in 5 years for the Bucs. We really missed the boat on this guy as he is exactly what we have been missing for 20 years. Everyone loves Patrick Queen, but Queen & White are clones size and stat wise. White is faster and was 1/2 the price. Gay and Jewell would have worked too.
I have been thinking about Isaiah Simmons a lot. This guy was the #8 pick in the 2020 draft by a terrible Arizona organization. They stupidly gave him away after 3 ok seasons stat wise, to the Giants for a 7th round pick. Neither the Giants or the Cardinals figured out how to use Simmons. He is 6'4 235lbs and ran 4.39 @ the combine. At Clemson he played both LB spots, both Safety spots, and both CB spots. He was the top-rated college LB in 2020 because he could tackle and was good in coverage. What are we waiting for?
Simmons would be cheap, and for people that like Edgerrin Cooper for GB in the draft, Simmons is bigger, faster, and better than Cooper and can play other positions. He would be cheap and well worth a flyer. He is only 26, so he fits our young team too.
LLCHESTY
March 16, 2024 at 12:40 pm
The Buccaneers started KJ Britt ahead of White in the playoffs. I wouldn't be lamenting the Packers not getting to sign him at any cost.
golfpacker1
March 16, 2024 at 04:12 pm
Yeah LL, he wasn't seeing eye to eye with the DC. But White didn't make 520 tackles in 5 years by being a pile of $hit athlete. He needed a change of scenery.
I will laugh when he is a Pro Bowler with the Eagles. Oh, and what's the name of that FA LB we signed? That's right, we didn't sign anyone and they are all gone now. Maybe Oren Burkes will come back. Nope he is gone too. How about Baker from Miami, nope he's gone too. This is serious.
LLCHESTY
March 16, 2024 at 11:03 pm
Blake Martinez had a lot of tackles too. Didn't make him a great LB.
golfpacker1
March 16, 2024 at 04:45 pm
This is for you LL:
Jerome Baker and Devin White, the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers star who signed with the Philadelphia Eagles this week, were the only players in the NFL with at least 250 tackles and 15 sacks from 2020 through 2022. Campanile several times during their time together lauded Baker for his intelligence.
holmesmd
March 16, 2024 at 03:36 pm
I totally agree with you. We are screwed by needing to find a MIKE and all the deck chairs are taken. The LB’s in the draft suck imo. The play here was to get a very reasonably priced FA. Perryman & Baker are all who remain right now. Baker is a Will anyway.🤷🏽♂️Perryman is a violent MIKE and has had some aggressive penalty issues but he certainly is good against the run. I guess the packers plan will be to just cross their fingers and take someone of the scrap heap this summer?🙄🤦🏽♂️Same old same old. Guess they won’t be playing much base, which means they will get run all over again as they usually do every year. Oh well. SMH
LLCHESTY
March 16, 2024 at 03:49 pm
Kwon Alexander, Zach Cunningham and Shaq Leonard are still available. Alexander hasn't allowed a TD on 108 targets over three years so he might be able to stay on the field over McDuffie.
Just be cause there's not a 1st round LB doesn't mean there aren't some good ones available.
golfpacker1
March 17, 2024 at 10:06 am
I guess I never saw those 3 guys on any Top 20 FA linebacker lists and there is probably a reason for that. Maybe they didn't even make it to the bottom of the barrel.
Coldworld
March 17, 2024 at 12:19 pm
Yes, trust those lists … it’s that easy.
Kwon signed another one year depth deal with the Steelers I think, after similar deals with the saints and Jets A player seen as on the downside from his peak with the 49ers.
Bitternotsour
March 17, 2024 at 12:31 pm
Trust the lists. Either that or wander down to the Linebacker Store like I did, and take your pick of a new crop. I love that new linebacker smell.
holmesmd
March 16, 2024 at 03:40 pm
They should have also signed Wagner or Luvu. We could have afforded them and they are true MIKE’s. Certainly don’t feel like anyone in the draft has the ability to be a year one starter that’s impactful. I have no idea what the hell they are doing.
golfpacker1
March 16, 2024 at 04:18 pm
I was beating the drum for Wagner for the last month Holmesmd. And I got shot down for it because he was too old and not as strong in coverage anymore. He had 183 freaking tackles last year and in the highlights I saw, he still looked pretty quick. And did I say he led the NFL with 183 tackles?
We didn't need him for 4 years, just 2 to bridge the gap for the guy we draft. And he would have made Walker and the whole defense play like champions because that's what he is. I would feel way better having Wagner mentor Walker and the new LB, as having Walker doing the mentoring.
Isaiah Simmons, 2020 8th pick of the draft and best college LB is still available and would be cheap. He is a bigger faster version of Cooper and we don't have to waste a high pick or a lot of $$$.
Coldworld
March 17, 2024 at 12:17 pm
2 is a stretch for Wagner. He’s back with his old coach so he may not have been interested. Simmons would not be a bad gamble pick as a hybrid type, but he could not get much playing time with the Giants struggling last year. He’s a guy who a change of scenery may help, but he’s never been physical against the run and is a cover type not a 3 down type.
Beware names. Draft reaches that slip can be steals but very much more often are not. Former greats are very often the worst investments. In the case of Wagner, I don’t think he would be this year, but we need players for 3 years not one.
golfpacker1
March 17, 2024 at 12:41 pm
I really liked Fred Warner the year he was drafted. Warner that year, like Simmons in 2020, was the best coverage LB in his draft class. The experts said his "Weakness was tackling and not physical enough." How does he look now Coldworld? The NFL is wrong as much as it is right about players.
The 49ers are traditionally draft studs, but they identify and overdraft players earlier because they are always good enough to have that luxury. And they usually pick late in rounds so to get who they want, they overdraft. The kicker they drafted in the 3rd round last year is proof of that.
Wagner would have upgraded our run D 100%. That ship has sailed. The White ship has also sailed. The Simmons ship is still there. The Giants and the Cardinals tried to make Simmons a Safety for 4 years and failed. He is still good enough to have made 300 tackles in 4 years in the NFL playing the wrong position. And he has missed 1 game in that time.
I can see Simmons playing a Micah Parsons role and being really good at it, if GB gave him a chance. Someone will for a small price.
Coldworld
March 17, 2024 at 12:05 pm
Devin White is not worth that on anything other than hitherto invisible athletic potential. He wasn’t bad, he was awful last year.
golfpacker1
March 17, 2024 at 12:23 pm
Awful would be 50 tackles, not 80 tackles. There are always talented players that need a change of scenery. Maybe White didn't like sharing the spotlight with Lavonte David. Maybe he thought he needed to make more "Splash Plays" so he could get that next big contract. Who knows? His first 4 years he made 450 tackles. That's more than Queen made his first 4 years, and Queen didn't even get the 5th year of his first contract like White did. So neither the Ravens or the Bucs wanted to give them new contracts. The Bucs liked White enough to give him the 5th year in 2022.
Looking at how this years FA LB market has played out Coldworld, taking our time to sign one didn't work out at all. And the fact that a player of Whites talent was still there 2 days ago for $7 million, really shows we had a great opportunity to fill the hole with an upgrade and we blew it. Maybe he would have jumped at a 4-year contract @ $6 million per year plus incentives if we had at least talked to White. Now we have a huge hole and no one to fill it.
NFL teams usually end up overpaying in free agency, but they get who they want so the player need is filled. Then they don't miss the guy they want, especially if the FA pool is weak. The Packers started fast like they did in 2019, but then they went to sleep and most everyone was gone fast. Simmons would be a cheap upgrade and he is available.
Coldworld
March 17, 2024 at 12:27 pm
You are pretty much alone with his mum if you think he was anything other than awful last year. Luxury rehabilitation flyer? Maybe, but that’s not where we are as a team.
golfpacker1
March 17, 2024 at 12:51 pm
And you are one of 3 posters I have argued with about White. We don't agree. He would have been an upgrade, but he is gone and the Packers still have a big hole to fill. Let's just move on.
LLCHESTY
March 17, 2024 at 12:39 pm
The 3rd LB will play about 30% of the snaps. Huge hole indeed. If they can't find a rookie to play 20 snaps a game there's something very wrong.
holmesmd
March 16, 2024 at 03:59 pm
Now Kinchens or Williams would solve the safety problem for good but not sure they will be there? MILE LB, not so much.
golfpacker1
March 16, 2024 at 04:38 pm
Isaiah Simmons, New York Giants, 26: At this stage of a player’s career, draft grades still matter. Simmons was the eighth overall pick of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals. He had 105 tackles and four forced fumbles in 2021 and 99 tackles along with career highs of four sacks and seven passes defensed in 2022. So, his career was on its way, right? Nah. Toward the end of training camp last summer, he was traded to the Giants for a seventh-round pick.
In 17 games with four starts in 2023, he had 54 tackles, one sack and three passes defensed. He played 40-plus percent of the snaps in only two games. According to PFF, he played 166 snaps in the box, 137 on the defensive line and 65 in the slot. In 2022, almost half his snaps came in the slot. In 2021, he played more traditional linebacker.
Simmons is an interesting and talented player. At 6-foot-4 and 238 pounds, he’s got the size to play linebacker. Is there any fit in Green Bay?
He is a bigger, faster, better, Edggerin Cooper and we don't have to use a 2nd round pick on him.
Another way that Simmons hasn't been used, would be to use him the way Dallas uses Micah Parsons. Those two are identical size, weight and speed. That might be another way to unlock his potential.
TKWorldWide
March 17, 2024 at 07:45 am
Certainly cannot say for sure, but at this point, my concern with Simmons is he’s more athlete than football player.
golfpacker1
March 17, 2024 at 10:22 am
What are GBs other options at this point TK? Outside of looking desperate and trying to trade for a backup LB that's on another teams roster? Maybe we can steal a reject from the USFL.
Not only do we need a starting caliber LB, we also are looking for depth. Simmons has been a starter and he surely can be signed for depth because he is probably better than anyone, including Walker, that's on the roster now.
Yeah he is a great athlete. So is Micah Parsons, and he is the same size and speed as Simmons. Obviously, Simmons is not a Safety like the Cardinals and Giants miscast him as, but he sure could be used like Parsons in the Packers defense.
TKWorldWide
March 17, 2024 at 10:44 am
Well, still have the draft, as well as guys getting released from other teams after that. But yes, Simmons is definitely intriguing at the right price.
golfpacker1
March 16, 2024 at 04:49 pm
Lost out on Jerome Baker too, Seahawks signed him $7 million 1 year.
dark41
March 16, 2024 at 05:28 pm
I appreciate the analysis.
I think you undervalue McDuffie, especially without giving him a chance with Hafley teaching/coaching.
Also think more emphasis needs to be placed on depth for LB. Rather than only evaluating "with Walker" because he won't likely play all snaps all season long, backing up Walker for spells in games, or (heaven forbid) in case of injury. For this reason I think it makes perfect sense to sign the best available LB, regardless of whether they fit with any starters. The draft is very thin for 4-3 linebackers, which also needs to be considered.
I would absolutely love to have the best safety tandem in the league. If affordable, Gutey should go for it.
Give me another safety and linebacker in free agency, and I think the draft comes to us extremely favorably. I'd be even happier (if that's possible) than I already am with Gutey's free agency moves. Go Pack go!
JJB
March 17, 2024 at 11:36 am
Well no Linebackers left. They have 2 linebackers for this def. Horrible job by Gute. He better nail the Linebackers in this draft and there are very few.
ImaPayne
March 17, 2024 at 12:46 pm
If there are any good ones you can bet the bears and vikes will take them if they think they can help the packs d. Its called screw your buddy. The Pack wasted a lot of time in free agency picking all of two guys but cutting a bunch of guys that you need to replace now and you only get good picks in the 1,2 3 rounds and we need more then three guys.
LLCHESTY
March 17, 2024 at 01:17 pm
Holy crap, why even bother trolling if your that uninformed? Go away.
golfpacker1
March 17, 2024 at 01:18 pm
You are right Fubared, other teams that lost LBs now have that as a bigger need. I am fine with letting Campbell go though. Unavailable too much and lower production. What sucks is having to pay him for 2 more years.
It was great that the Packers moved fast to fill 2 big holes @ S & RB. It takes all the pressure off of the draft. But it has really frustrated me and most posters that we let every FA LB slip away without even talking to them. That makes no sense. We went to sleep.
Everyone likes their own players in the draft. Most draft evaluators have Cooper as the top rated LB, but he isn't head and shoulders better than the next 4, Wilson, Colson, Gray, and Wallace. And Cooper and Wilson have also been talked about as not the best fits for GB. Colson and my favorite, Trevin Wallace are named as better fits.
Honestly, I am not sure how that works, but I look more at if they are fast enough because speed kills, size, level of competition, injury history, and where we can pick them in the draft also factor in. Cooper will be overdrafted if he is picked before our pick @ #41. #41 is also where Nubin, Kinchens, and Bullard, the best Safeties, will probably start off the board. I would pass on Cooper altogether and grab Nubin.
Wilson has a huge injury history and Gray misses too many tackles so they are out too.
Colson & Wallace are the safest picks and should be still there when we pick @ #88. That's where I would grab one. Either one should be able to start right away.
A later round LB to watch is Nat Watson-Miss State.
13TimeChamps
March 17, 2024 at 01:35 pm
"But it has really frustrated me and most posters that we let every FA LB slip away without even talking to them. That makes no sense. We went to sleep."
How the hell do you know who they did or didn't talk to? I'm sure the FO knows what they're doing more so than armchair wannabe GM fans do. Saying the FO "went to sleep" just because they don't sign everyone you want is just an asinine comment.
golfpacker1
March 17, 2024 at 04:07 pm
Hey, you are acting asinine internet tough guy. I do listen to NFL shows and read most Packers forums and sites. Guys like Ian Rappoport have a pretty good handle on the NFL rumors, and they said nothing about Packers targets. The only LB I heard the Pack was interested in was Josey Jewell and it didn't say they talked to him either.
Maybe you need a nap. How do you like those apples?
13TimeChamps
March 17, 2024 at 04:55 pm
I love apples. Especially apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
I'm sure all those internet rumors you're referring to are extremely accurate. You keep tuning in by all means, as well as all of your tireless "research". That, and a couple dollars, will get you a cup of coffee.
I'm not a tough guy, internet or otherwise. It just gets a bit tiresome listening to posters like yourself who seem to believe they know more than the professionals who have been paid to do this most of their adult lives.
This is a public forum where we can post our "OPINIONS". You have every right to post yours while I have the right to disagree if I choose to. In the meantime, I'll trust Gutekunst and his staff to make the decisions that best benefit the Green Bay Packers, as opposed to some fan posting in a chatroom.
golfpacker1
March 17, 2024 at 05:46 pm
Well 13, maybe I overreacted when you called me "asinine." I guess I am kind of funny that way. It's great to see what everyone's opinion is, and everyone is entitled to their opinion. What they are not entitled to is to start calling people names or insulting them.
I am retired so I have a lot of time on my hands, and I am a Packer fan for a long time that almost likes the draft as much as the actual games. So, I actually do a lot of internet research and I watch game replays too. I enjoy doing it too.
I will keep doing my "tireless research" and you just go ahead and keep insulting people. But be careful because it might catch up to you someday.
13TimeChamps
March 17, 2024 at 05:58 pm
First off, I never called you any names. I said claiming that Green Bay's FO is sleeping on the job, when it's obviously their livelihood, was an asinine comment, which it was.
I find it interesting that pretty much immediately after you post there is a thumbs up that shows up. You wouldn't be giving yourself that thumbs up, now would you? Nah...that would just be silly.
Enjoy your evening. Here's hoping it's going to be a great season!
golfpacker1
March 17, 2024 at 07:26 pm
Keep on trolling, you are fair at it
13TimeChamps
March 17, 2024 at 07:45 pm
I wasn't aware that disagreeing with someone is considered trolling. It's interesting you've accused me of calling you names, which I never did, yet you've now called me an "internet tough guy" and a "troll".
Hopefully Gute and his staff will wake up and sign someone that meets your approval. I mean the season hangs in the balance after all.
This conversation has run it's course. As I said, enjoy your evening.
NitschkeFan
March 17, 2024 at 12:18 pm
Jadeveon Clowney? I know it is not necessarily a big position of "need", but with Enagbare out and the team playing a 4-3 he could be useful.
He appears to be taking a series of 1 year deals and estimates are that he could get a 1 year $9 million deal. If the Packers have money to spend it seems to be a low risk pickup and could really bolster the DL (rotating Gary, Smith, LVN and Clowney at DE). Add a later round draft pick and give him a year to develop when Clowney deal is done.
ImaPayne
March 17, 2024 at 12:43 pm
Pack better light a fire, the Vikes and bears now own two first round picks and a lot of other picks and can improve a great deal this year. Both are beefing up pass rush to give Mr Love some problems. We got two picks in free agency and one a running back had a down year last year and we got rid of a guy who didnt have a down year.
There is a lot of shit to be done and the packers better get serious with a free agent safety and pony up some money. We lost a good one to the rams the other day because of cheap ball that gutt plays.
This team needs oline, running backs, line backers corners and safeties and your not getting all that in the draft.
LLCHESTY
March 17, 2024 at 01:19 pm
If there was an award for worst troller you might not win but you'd definitely be on the pedestal.
gsd3
March 17, 2024 at 01:47 pm
Don't know about Simmons. Why have teams moved on from him?
Would definitely look at Fuller if he is still unsigned. Would be a nice interchangeable piece with McKinney.