5 former Packers who still need a team for the 2021 season

Casey Hayward, CB

Casey Hayward showed a ton of potential in Green Bay, being named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2012. He made 34 pass defenses and nine interceptions in 51 games with the Packers. But he missed some time due to injury and after drafting Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins the year prior, the team felt they were set at cornerback and decided to move on.

To say that was the wrong decision would be an understatement. Of course, we now have the benefit of hindsight, but Hayward would go onto become a two-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Hayward has been outstanding since signing with the Chargers, but he did struggle in 2020. Was this just a one-off bad year and he’ll get back to his best next season, or was it a sign of what’s to come? After all, Hayward will turn 32 in September. The Chargers decided to move on, but was the move purely a financial one or a sign they think his best football is behind him?

Despite that, I made a case for bringing him back to Green Bay. If the Packers could sign him to an affordable one-year deal, it would make all the sense in the world. Not only would be it low-risk, but if Hayward gets anywhere close to his Pro Bowl best, he’d address a major need at cornerback.