Packers: Devonta Freeman could be great addition in offseason
If the Atlanta Falcons release Devonta Freeman, the Green Bay Packers should have interest.
Strengthening the depth at running back could be an offseason priority for the Green Bay Packers, and one player they should consider is Devonta Freeman if he becomes available.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that the Atlanta Falcons may move on from Freeman in order to create cap room this offseason. Should this happen, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst should consider bringing Freeman to Green Bay. In Matt LaFleur’s offense, Freeman would be a great complement to Aaron Jones.
Freeman has battled injuries in recent years and isn’t coming off a great season, but he’s still only 27 years old and wouldn’t need to be the featured back in LaFleur’s offense.
Freeman has had a ton of success in Atlanta. He helped the Falcons reach the Super Bowl in 2016, is a two-time Pro Bowler and was a second-team All-Pro in 2015. That season, he led the NFL in rushing touchdowns with 11.
LaFleur knows just how good Freeman is from his time with the Falcons in 2015 and 2016.
In LaFleur’s offense, running backs are heavily involved in the passing game as we saw with Jones and Jamaal Williams in 2019. That’s one of Freeman’s strengths. In six seasons, he has 2,015 receiving yards with 11 touchdowns. He caught four touchdowns in 2019, a career-best.
Perhaps there will be concerns with Freeman’s recent injury history or the fact he averaged a career-low 3.6 yards per carry and scored just two rushing touchdowns this season. However, that could drive his price down. And at the right price, he could be an excellent addition to the Packers offense.
Freeman would be a good fit in LaFleur’s offense as he can play on all three downs and is a talented receiver. He’d also strengthen the depth at running back, which would mean the Packers wouldn’t need to lean on Jones too often and keep him fresh.
How much money Freeman makes, should he become a free agent, will be important. But if it’s an affordable deal, the veteran running back would be a good fit in the Packers offense alongside Jones and Williams.