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

Jamaal Charles, RB

With Eddie Lacy heading to Seattle, the Packers need to find Ty Montgomery a dance partner in the backfield.

Maybe that man will come from April’s draft. If Ted Thompson decides to grab a veteran off the open market, Jamaal Charles could come into play. Like Levy, Charles was cut by his former team due to injuries, meaning he wouldn’t count against the compensatory pick formula.

There’s certainly cause for concern. Charles is a 30-year-old running back, has only played eight times over the past two years and hasn’t finished a 16-game season since 2012.

A torn ACL ended his 2015 campaign prematurely. He had been averaging an impressive 5.1 yards per carry until that point. Complications from the injury kept him on the sidelines for much of 2016.

If Charles can prove he’s healthy, he might intrigue the Packers on a short-team, cap-friendly contract. While he hasn’t played much the past two years, he also hasn’t been taking the hits which go hand-in-hand with the position.

Drafting a running back is necessary with or without Charles, but signing the four-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro and NFL record holder for rushing average, to a short-term deal wouldn’t be the worst idea.