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Green Bay Packers: Potential roster cuts for Packers to target in free agency

By Kenn Korb

Sep 13, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears tight end Martellus Bennett (83) runs past Green Bay Packers free safety Micah Hyde (33) during his touchdown reception in the second half at Soldier Field. Green Bay won 31-23. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 13, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears tight end Martellus Bennett (83) runs past Green Bay Packers free safety Micah Hyde (33) during his touchdown reception in the second half at Soldier Field. Green Bay won 31-23. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 20, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) is hit by Cleveland Browns defensive end Randy Starks (94) after making a pass during the first quarter at CenturyLink Field. Seattle defeated Cleveland, 30-13. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) is hit by Cleveland Browns defensive end Randy Starks (94) after making a pass during the first quarter at CenturyLink Field. Seattle defeated Cleveland, 30-13. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

Already cut: Randy Starks, DE/DT

2015 statistics: 15 games played, 446 snaps (44.47 percent of team total), 29 tackles, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery

Pro Football Focus rankings: 75.7 (overall); 75.1 (run defense), 74.9 (pass rush), 56.5 (coverage)

Oct 4, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive end Randy Starks (94) defends San Diego Chargers running back Danny Woodhead (39) during the fourth quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 4, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Cleveland Browns defensive end Randy Starks (94) defends San Diego Chargers running back Danny Woodhead (39) during the fourth quarter at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /

Starks looks to be the perfect type of piece to target. He checks off a ton of boxes.

As alluded to above, Starks is a decent contributor against both the pass and run. He’ll be someone that can be counted on to take snaps no matter the formation or play type; he should be as effective on plays in a 3-4 alignment as he would be in a two-DL formation (think nickel packages).

He doesn’t require a ton of snaps to be effective, which makes him a viable option for a team that relies heavily on rotating their defensive lineman (Mike Daniels accumulated the highest snap count of all Packers linemen with only 67.14% of all defensive snaps).

These things get put even more to the forefront due to the four-game suspension handed to Mike Pennel. Even with the return of Letroy Guion on a multi-year deal and the possibility of bringing back B.J. Raji still an option, the depth and effectiveness of the players at this position sit as suspect at best right now.

Bringing in Starks — if the price is right — would help in the short term, giving Green Bay a solid veteran to at least hold the fort while Pennel is out, and allow the team to feel unhurried in pushing Pennel or any young draft picks into a level of responsibility they may not be prepared for as of yet.

Next: Helping the pass rush

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