As the 2023 NFL free agency market continues forward, the Green Bay Packers have been very quiet. All that has come out about the Packers, outside of the re-signing of Keisean Nixon and Tyler Davis, has been the fact that Aaron Rodgers wants to be traded to the New York Jets. Well, that and other teams signing some in-house free agents away from the team.
Brian Gutekunst and the Packers’ front office simply doesn’t have a lot of wiggle room from a cap space perspective to work with. But, they still have plenty of holes to fill on the roster and need to put in some work.
One potential need for the Packers is at the edge rusher position. Rashan Gary tore his ACL during the 2022 NFL season and his recovery could take some time. Hopefully, he will be able to play to begin the 2023 season or soon after it begins, but adding another pass-rusher would make a ton of sense.
Right now, there is one intriguing name that has been thrown out as a possible option for Green Bay.
Packers Suggested As Free Agency Fit For Veteran Pass-Rusher
ClutchPoints recently published an article taking a look at three free agents the Packers should pursue amid the Rodgers situation. One name that was put onto that list is veteran pass-rusher Justin Houston, who put together another solid season in 2022 with the Baltimore Ravens.
Even at 34, Houston still showed he can play at a high level last season. Despite only playing on 44% of Baltimore’s defensive snaps, Houston still had a team-leading 9.5 sacks in 2022. He has over 100 career sacks, and even though he’s not an every-down player anymore, he can still thrive in the right situation.
Another benefit of signing Houston is that he should come at a very affordable price. Spotrac projects his market value at just $5.3 million, which would be easy for any team to work with. For what he can still provide, that is a steal. He is well worth pursuing as a veteran presence for a transitioning Packers team.
Houston is coming off of a season that saw him rack up 21 total tackles to go along with the previously mentioned 9.5 sacks, a forced fumble, an interception, and a defended pass.
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At 34 years of age, it seems likely that Houston’s price tag would be in the Packers’ range. However, they can no longer boast the fact that they are a Super Bowl favorite. Those days are gone, for now, but they can offer him a chance to play for a storied franchise and have a decently sized role.
Expect to see the Packers make some moves in the coming days. Losing Rodgers has slowed things down a bit, but there are needs that need to be addressed. Houston could be a nice piece if Green Bay opts to take a look at him.
