Packers should pursue free safety D.J. Swearinger

As of Monday morning the Washington Redskins cut free safety D.J. Swearinger and the Green Bay Packers should consider bringing him in for the final game of the season.

D.J. Swearinger was making his weekly appearance on local Washington radio station, 106.7 The Fan, when he broke the news that he had been released on Christmas Eve.

In the past, Swearinger had criticized the Redskins organization publicly and the comments he made after Washington’s loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday was the final straw. The move will also save Washington $4.9 million in cap space in 2019.

The Green Bay Packers’ issues at the safety position this season have been well documented. From trading Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, cutting Jermaine Whitehead, sending Raven Greene to IR, the poor play of Josh Jones and Kentrell Brice, as well as having to move cornerback Tramon Williams to safety.

Ultimately it may have been off-the-field issues that led to Swearinger’s release, but on the field he was putting together another nice season, as stated below by Field Yates of ESPN.

Swearinger would bring an energy and play-making ability that the back-end of this Green Bay Packers secondary desperately needs.

He’s a big hitter that works best patrolling the middle of the field and does very well playing down in the box as a run stopper. In coverage, what he lacks in speed he more than makes up for with his physicality, agility and ability to diagnose routes quickly.

Swearinger will compete for every ball thrown in his direction which leads to a number of interceptions and pass breakups, as noted above.

Since Swearinger has been released, he will have to be claimed off of waivers and will be awarded to the team with the worst record that has submitted a claim.

Although it would be for just one game, Swearinger played with current cornerback Bashaud Breeland while in Washington and it would allow GM Brian Gutekunst to see him up close in the Packers secondary.

There is no way to know for certain how it would end up, but it could potentially give Green Bay a leg up on the rest of the league if they want to bring him back for the 2019 season. At this point, why not?