Kyler Fackrell has agreed to a one-year contract with the New York Giants. The deal is reported to be worth $4.6 million. Blake Martinez, another former Packer, previously signed a deal with the Giants as well.
Fackrell was drafted by the Packers in third round (88th overall) of the 2016 draft. While he was never a regular starter, he was a key backup and provided Packers’ fans with many exciting plays during his time in Green Bay, including a sack of Jimmy Garoppolo in the NFC Championship.
While he struggled to earn a starting position, Fackrell did have moments, and a season, of brilliance. His best overall season came in 2018. During that campaign, Fackrell started seven games while playing in all 16. He had 10.5 sacks to go along with 42 tackles.
Earlier in the off-season, the Packers made it known that inside linebacker would be an area of focus. While Fackrell has shown success in the pass rush, he has struggled in run defense. The Packers, as a whole, struggled to contain running backs all season long, and Fackrell was no exception. The Packers’ decision to not bring him back indicates a renewed focus on run defense, especially given the pass rushing prowess of the “Smith Brothers.” Christian Kirksey was signed on Monday to hopefully help plug the running lanes. That being said, the Packers still have more work to do.
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