How the Packers can fix the pass rush this offseason

Use free agency

So if Perry and Matthews aren’t back next season, the Packers won’t be able to just rely on the draft to fix the pass rush. Instead, they’ll need to be active in free agency.

Take one look at Allison Cary of FanSided’s rankings of the top 10 free agents this offseason and you’ll quickly notice there a number of top pass rushers on the list. DeMarcus Lawrence, Trey Flowers, Jadeveon Clowney, Dee Ford and Frank Clark are all free agents. At least right now. That might not be the case when the new league year begins over a month from now.

I’d love to see Lawrence, Clowney or Ford in Green Bay. If anyone from this list does hit free agency, just about every team in the league will be interested. Everyone needs pass rushers.

The Packers have enough cap room to make a couple of big signings, but not enough to compete with the likes of the Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets and Cleveland Browns, who all have over $80 million, according to Over the Cap.

To sign a top edge rusher, Gutekunst will need to be willing to spend big, but that might not be enough. He’ll also need to hope the idea of playing with Aaron Rodgers and potentially competing for a Super Bowl will be enough to convince a player to take less money.

Signing one of free agency’s top edge rushers won’t be easy. If the Packers are unable to do so, they’ll need to focus on adding depth before finding a difference maker in the draft or via a trade.