Brian Gutekunst and the Green Bay Packers need to be quick to replace injured players. Packer’s first-year head coach Matt LaFleur had one of the most successful rookie head coach campaigns of all time. The Packer’s success goes beyond the box score and down to the injury report. Injuries are impossible to predict. The Packers placed eight players on the injured reserve list in 2019. Injuries plagued the Packers during the last decade under Mike McCarthy. Under McCarthy, the Packers only had two seasons with less than ten players on the Injured Reserve list, 2015 and 2011.
In the event of injuries, Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst needs a well-rounded list of NFL free agents. Gutekunst’s inaction at the opening of free agency and the NFL Draft is an indication of a leaner approach to free-agent spending. So what free agents should the team consider when the inevitable injury occurs.
1. Everson Griffen, EDGE
Griffen may not be the prominent free agent EDGE player available, but he will likely cost significantly less when compared to Jadeveon Clowney. Griffen is at the tail end of his career but recorded more sacks, tackles, and QB hits than Jadeveon Clowney, who is only 27. It is considerably less painful to see a Viking player come to Green Bay than it is to watch a Packer play for Minnesota.
2. Jason Peters, Offensive Tackle
If Vegas were to offer a money line bet on which starter was to get hurt first, the line would open up at minus 400 or higher for anyone on the offensive line. When the Packers do lose a lineman in the 2020 NFL season, they should explore signing Jason Peters. Peters has some injury risk, but he is still performing at a high level. Over the years, Peters has primarily gone in at left tackle but has spent some time at right tackle. Peters could easily replace any of the starting tackles in the event of an injury.
3. Tramon Williams, Defensive Back
Without a doubt, Gutekunst and the Packers will need to find a replacement free agent defensive back at some point due to injury. Tramon Williams must be the first choice as he is already familiar with the team and the system. At age 36, Tramon Williams was one of the best defensive backs in the league and played in 73 percent of the Packers available defensive snaps.
4. Josh Gordon, Wide Receiver
A lack of production at the wide receiver position may be enough to bring in another player even without injuries. No other wide receiver on the market can be a top wide receiver if everything goes right. Yes, Gordon is currently under a league suspension, and the chances of him playing again are minimal at best. If the Packers add Gordon, there is so little to lose if he is allowed to play again. Gordon will be a cheap free agent on a one-year deal that Gutekunst can drop like a sack of potatoes for practically no penalty if he messes up.
5. Mychal Kendricks, Linebacker
Are we sure that Christian Kirksey is going to return his 2016 and 2017 production levels? After two years of injury, can we even count on him staying healthy? If Kirksey does not meet expectations or is injured, the Packers should consider Mychal Kendricks. After returning from a 2018 injury, Kendricks started 14 games with the Seahawks and totaled 71 combined tackles. Kirksey has shown in the past that he can be capable of replacing Blake Martinez’s 140 plus tackle production. Kendricks has only had over 100 combined tackles in his career, but what he does offer is a safe floor and a veteran presence until the Packers can find a long term solution.
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