Packers: Potential free agency targets to watch in the playoffs

Help in the secondary

Nobody will argue that Jaire Alexander will develop into a top CB in the NFL, and that Bashaud Breeland has been showing great promise as a free agency pickup. However, it can be argued that the Packers didn’t have a great contingency plan for if they, Kevin King, or Tramon Williams had ailments that would keep them off the field.

While Williams does plan to play for Green Bay next year, King has not played a full season yet since being drafted two years ago, and injuries seem to plague the Packers every year regardless of who plays. On top of that, the safety position is now critically lacking with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix gone and Josh Jones still developing.

With that in mind, there are a handful of talents still in the postseason that are worth watching from an evaluation point of view.

CB Trevor Williams (Los Angeles Chargers)

Undrafted in 2016, Trevor Williams bounced on and off the roster before finding a solid spot in the Chargers’ defensive backfield. In 37 games played, Williams has tallied 99 tackles, three interceptions and 22 passes defensed.

Given that the Chargers have to worry about re-signing three high-tier young talents, one of them will likely have to go. With Williams’ IR designation since December, we won’t be able to determine if he has a playoff impact, but his name should be mentioned once or twice on the broadcasts.

Williams can play in place of any one of the CBs not named Jaire Alexander if given the shot, and if he remains healthy.

FS Clayton Geathers (Indianapolis Colts)

Since being signed by the Colts in 2015, Clayton Geathers hasn’t made many waves in Indianapolis, but he has a lot of good physical tools, and could be the safety the Packers need. This year is the most action he’s ever seen, with 12 games in 2018, Geathers has 89 tackles, three passes defensed and a forced fumble.

Geathers is healthy and ready to keep playing in a playoff game against Kansas City’s dangerous offense this weekend. This means Packers fans will be able to see what he’s made of before he potentially hits the market if Indianapolis doesn’t re-up on his contract.

FS Lamarcus Joyner (Los Angeles Rams)

While the primary knock on Lamarcus Joyner is for his size (he’s 5-foot-8), it’s really not an issue when he’s used properly due to his speed and aggressive football instincts. He doesn’t let his size limit his play, as he’s totaled 305 tackles and 25 passes defensed in 67 games, ordinarily playing in nickel and dime packages.

The Rams know they have a quality player in Joyner, which is why they used a franchise tag designation on him to keep the young playmaker around another year. With Ndamukong Suh and Dante Fowler Jr. also having expiring contracts, the Rams will have a decision to make with Joyner, and decide if he’ll continue to play a role in that big-name secondary.

CB Jonathan Jones (New England Patriots)

Speed kills, and Jonathan Jones has it in spades. Sporting a 4.33-time in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine in 2016, the Auburn product was taken by New England in 2016 as an undrafted free agent.

Since being picked up, Jones has appeared in every game for the Patriots for the past three years but has never started. In that 48-game stretch, he has accumulated 98 tackles, 16 passes defensed, four interceptions (including three in 2018), and a pair of both forced fumbles and fumble recoveries.

Jones isn’t a particularly well known name, with his most publicized play featuring him as a gunner on the Patriots special teams unit. Even if the Packers wouldn’t find a spot for Jones in the defensive rotation, he has proven he has the instincts and speed to be an impact player on special teams, which is also something the Packers need.

In one of the more recent times the Patriots were in the playoffs and had an undrafted cornerback helping the defense out, it was Malcolm Butler. If Jonathan Jones goes unsigned and steers clear of the drama surrounding Butler near the end of his tenure in New England, Jones could be a quality pickup in the offseason.