Packers free agency 2017: Five remaining free agents Green Bay could target

DeAndre Levy, LB

Not so long ago, DeAndre Levy was considered one of the best linebackers in the league. A former second-team All-Pro and twice the Lions’ Defensive MVP, Levy’s importance at the heart of Detroit’s defense was obvious.

Then came the injury bug. A hip issue wiped out his entire 2015 season, before a knee injury limited him to just five games in 2016. The 29-year-old is now at a crossroads. The Lions decided to move on, perhaps indicating he’s no longer the player he once was.

Well guess what? If healthy, Levy’s upside makes him worth a gamble. The past two years drives his price down, as does the increasing length of time he sits without a contract.

The Lions weren’t willing to take an $8.4 million cap hit given his injury history, but that doesn’t mean the Packers shouldn’t sign him on a cheap, one-year deal. Cap room is no issue; it would essentially be a risk-free purchase.

And as he was cut by the Lions, signing Levy wouldn’t hurt the Packers’ 2018 compensatory picks.

It all adds up to a one-year, “prove it” contract. You can bet a number of teams are monitoring the situation. It’s a low-risk move the Packers would be smart to take.