The Green Bay Packers still have a great deal of work to do as they retool their roster for a potential Super Bowl run this upcoming season. Going into the offseason, many fans expected the team to be big players in NFL free agency. And they were, just not in the way fans expected.
The two external free agents Green Bay initially signed were offensive guard Aaron Banks and cornerback Nate Hobbs. While cornerback was an expected target, many were surprised by the addition of Banks. The rest of the free agents the Packers signed were their own, until they recently added wide receiver Mecole Hardman.
All told, though, Green bay has spent $148 million in free agency this year, the fourth-most of any team in the NFL. Despite this, there is still a narrative floating around social media that the Packers, specifically general manager Brian Gutekunst, do not like to spend money.
That simply is not true.
Many Green Bay Packers Fans Expected the Team to Sign a Pass Rusher or Wide Receiver
The fact of the matter is that the Packers do spend money in free agency. Most of the time, though, it is on their own players. The notion that Gutekunst does not spend money comes from the perspective that he does not spend on what fans want him to.
Going into the offseason, many expected Green Bay to add a veteran pass rusher or wide receiver (or both). But they did not.
This is not to say, however, that they did not try. While reports have stated that the Packers, in fact, did not make an attempt to acquire stud pass catchers like DK Metcalf or Davante Adams, there is nearly no reporting on whether or not they tried to add a pass rusher.
One former free agent pass rusher, Dayo Odeyingbo, was coveted by many Packers fans. He, however, ended signing a three-year $48 million contract with the Chicago Bears.
But at least one NFL analyst believes that Odeyingbo made the wrong choice of NFC North teams.
NFL Analyst Blasts Dayo Odeyingbo for Signing with the Chicago Bears and not the Green Bay Packers
While many Packers fans wanted Odeyingbo, the fact of the matter is that he only had 3.0 sacks last year. In four NFL seasons, he has 16.5 sacks, which puts him right on par with the pass rushers Green Bay currently has behind Rashan Gary.
This is not to say he would not have been a good fit, but rather that he certainly was not worth the $16 million annual investment Chicago is making for him right now.
Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report, though, believes that Odeyingbo would have been better off with the Packers than he will be with the Bears:
“Dayo Odeyingbo signing with the Chicago Bears makes a ton of sense financially for the player, but the fit doesn’t.
“The 25-year-old veteran doesn’t bring much different than what DeMarcus Walker did to the Bears lineup. Coincidentally, both finished last season with fewer than four sacks.
“Bears defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett did spend a year on Vanderbilt’s staff while Odeyingbo went to school. But he’s only in his second season as a full-time defensive line coach, having previously serving as an assistant at the NFL level.
“Plus, the Bears need someone a little more explosive off the edge as Montez Sweat’s bookend.
“Instead, the Green Bay Packers were reportedly interested.
“The Packers also have a young, talented core, with a history of developing raw pass-rushers, as the organization did with Rashan Gary. Unlike Ben Johnson, Matt LaFleur is proven coach, with five playoff appearances in his six seasons at the helm. If Green Bay really did prioritize Odeyingbo at the start of free agency, the decision should have been more difficult than the free agent made it out to be.”
The Packers will undoubtedly add another pass rusher this offseason, perhaps through the NFL Draft. But one thing is certain: they are not going to overpay for one.
More Green Bay Packers News from Wisconsin Sports Heroics
- Packers Fans Are Going Absolutely Nuclear on Aaron Rodger Over Latest “Culture” Report
- Former Packers Offensive Lineman Signs with Steelers Amid Aaron Rodgers Rumors
- Former Packers QB Aaron Rodgers Reportedly Having Change of Heart Over Bitterness Towards Organization
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19 and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!
