Packers: Top three positions to target in free agency

Three positions the Green Bay Packers should look to strengthen in free agency.

Free agency gets underway in two weeks, and the Green Bay Packers have a lot of work to do to strengthen the roster.

While the Packers will enter the 2019 NFL Draft with 10 selections, they will also need to be active in free agency.

General manager Brian Gutekunst could consider signing players at these positions:

1. Edge rusher

Edge rusher is the Packers’ biggest need, so Brian Gutekunst should be looking to improve the position both in free agency and in the draft.

We’ll have a better idea following March 5 about which edge rushers will be available when free agency begins. That’s when teams must decide whether to use the franchise tag. There’s a good chance many of the top pass rushers won’t be available.

But if Frank Clark, Jadeveon Clowney or DeMarcus Lawrence is available when free agency begins, the Packers should be willing to offer a big contract.

If Green Bay can add a difference-maker at the position in free agency, it’ll take the pressure off in the draft. If not, expect Gutekunst to look to add more depth.

2. Safety

The same goes for safety. There are a number of big names at the position set to hit free agency, including Earl Thomas and Landon Collins. We’ll know in the next week which players will be franchise tagged.

After not re-signing Morgan Burnett last year then trading away Ha Ha Clinton-Dix midway through the 2018 season, the Packers made it clear they were starting over at the safety position.

The good news is that there will be options both in free agency and the draft.

I’d like to see Gutekunst bring in a free agent at the position. Not only is it important to add a player with NFL experience to a young secondary, but it would also give the Packers one less position to worry about in the draft.

If the Packers miss out on Thomas or Collins, a couple of names to watch are Adrian Amos and Tre Boston.

3. Quarterback

While the Packers won’t be looking for Aaron Rodgers‘ successor for many years, they could look to upgrade the backup QB position this offseason.

In recent years under Mike McCarthy, Green Bay has gone with inexperienced players at the backup position.

Matt Flynn was a seventh-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. Scott Tolzien went undrafted in 2011 and made his first NFL start in 2013 when Aaron Rodgers broke his collarbone. Brett Hundley was selected in the fifth round in 2015, but also made his first NFL start when Rodgers broke his collarbone again in 2017.

The Packers traded for DeShone Kizer last offseason, and while he had started 15 games for the Cleveland Browns the season prior, he still only had one year of NFL experience when he arrived in Green Bay.

With a new head coach, it’s possible the Packers will turn to an experienced backup. Kizer only played in three games for Green Bay this past season (and didn’t start any of them), but he finished with zero touchdowns and two interceptions. He played the majority of the Week 17 game against the Detroit Lions, but the Packers lost 31-0 at home.

Ryan Fitzpatrick would be a good addition. In the past two seasons, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers went 4-6 in games Fitzpatrick started. And the Buccaneers offense was exciting to watch with Fitzpatrick this past season.

If Rodgers missed a few games due to injury, Fitzpatrick could help the Packers win a few games. Don’t forget, he threw 31 touchdowns with 15 interceptions in 2015, helping the New York Jets finish 10-6 and almost make the playoffs.

Other potential options include Tyrod Taylor, Teddy Bridgewater and Josh McCown.