Green Bay Packers still have work to do in free agency

Despite making two big signings, the Green Bay Packers still have work to do in free agency.

The Green Bay Packers were more active in the first wave of free agency than fans are used to. New general manager Brian Gutekunst made a splash by signing the best available tight end and defensive end, although it came at the cost of cutting fan favorite Jordy Nelson.

Jimmy Graham and Muhammad Wilkerson are big-time signings. Graham has the ability to open up the field and be a top end red zone target. The addition of Wilkerson will give the defense a solid rotation of linemen to send after the quarterback.

But there is still a lot of work to do.

The Packers are now in need of another boundary receiver to pair with Davante Adams. Geronimo Allison showed signs of being able to be that receiver prior to Aaron Rodgers‘ injury, but without Nelson, the Packers have no proven receivers next to Adams.

The Packers struck out on Sammy Watkins and Allen Robinson, but considering the contracts they signed, no one can blame the Packers for not paying up. There are more questions than answers with Watkins and Robinson and with limited cap space, signing one of them would’ve meant more than just cutting Nelson.

There are a few low-cost options left, and the Packers may also look to the draft for the answer to this question.

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One option could be Cody Latimer. At 6-foot-2, and running a 4.44 40-yard dash at the 2014 combine, Latimer has the size and speed the Packers covet. He never lived up to expectations in Denver but still has the tools to become a legitimate threat. And with little production he should be a cheap option that won’t take up much cap space.

Where the Packers have even more work to do is in the secondary. Safety might be set with Josh Jones and Kentrell Brice coming back, even if Morgan Burnett signs elsewhere. But help at corner is still needed.

After trading Damarious Randall, the Packers’ hole at corner just got a little bigger, and they have more needs than the draft can address.

Green Bay has already missed out on the top corners in free agency and basically negotiated Kyle Fuller’s contract for the Bears. The trade route has also seen the Packers come up empty with Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib heading to the Rams.

The Packers may want to take a look at Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Recently cut by the Giants, “DRC” is looking for a new home and wants to go back to working as an outside corner after working in the slot for the Giants last season. At 31 years old, Rodgers-Cromartie isn’t a long-term option but can provide immediate help in an area of need.

With Kevin King and Rodgers-Cromartie, the Packers could have one of the tallest starting corner duos in the NFL.

E.J. Gaines is also another player the team should consider. He has missed time due to injury in his career but in his 11 games played last season, Gaines showed plenty of promise. At 26, he would be a younger option than Rodgers-Cromartie but with less experience.

Even if the Packers were to sign Rodgers-Cromartie or Gaines, the slot corner position would still need to be filled. Quinten Rollins may be best suited to be a slot corner but he is coming off a significant injury. Free agent Orlando Scandrick might be an option, but he also comes with an injury history.

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It’s more than likely the Packers will add a corner with one of their early picks in the draft. If Mike McCarthy is serious about the defense not being the step child, the draft can’t be the only way the team adds to the cornerback position.

In the NFL you can never have too many good corners, and the Packers are in need of a few more.

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