Free agency: Why the Packers need Rasul Douglas back
The Las Vegas Raiders. The Houston Texans. The Arizona Cardinals. Those were the teams that signed and later dropped Rasul Douglas before the team in Wisconsin signed him in October this past season. The Green Bay Packers signed Douglas because of injuries suffered at the cornerback position. Most notably to Pro Bowl CB Jaire Alexander.
Green Bay hoped Douglas would provide some experience and depth for that spot in the meantime. It’s safe to say now that the former West Virginia Mountaineer did a little more than that.
His first game action came against the Chicago Bears. He would not look back. He would go on to record a career-high five interceptions (fourth-most in the NFL) with back-to-back games where he had a pick-six. Arguably his most notable interception came in Week 8 on the road in Arizona.
With seemingly all the momentum on the side of the Cardinals, Douglas made one of the most remarkable plays of the season by intercepting QB Kyler Murray in the end zone to effectively end the game in favor of a short-handed Packers team.
In just 12 games played, Douglas would set career highs in solo tackles, pass-breakups, opponent QB rating against him, and opponent QB completions against him. Statistics aside, the former Super Bowl champion was a breath of fresh air for this Packers defense.
Quarterbacks were very fearful of challenging him. He was a lockdown CB on whatever side of the field he was covering. He demonstrated the ability to play both the slot and the outside CB positions. He was able to hold some of the premier receivers in the game in check. Douglas was an absolute star for this Packers team.
This franchise needs a player like Rasul Douglas. Yes, it’s obvious that he is a star. But his resilience is so important too. He was cut from three different teams this season. When he was finally given a chance to play, he took full advantage.
His versatility, youth, and size are all huge strengths of his. At 6-foot-2, 210 lbs, he is a big CB that can defend big receivers on the outside while shutting down quick receivers in the slot. If Green Bay could find a way to keep him, they would have arguably the best trio of CBs in the NFL with him and Jaire Alexander on the outside and a speedy, second-year CB in Eric Stokes.
He, much like De’Vondre Campbell, was widely disrespected by the league and was just hoping for an opportunity. They both ended up being arguably the two best defensive players on the Green Bay Packers this season. Just like they can’t let Campbell walk out of the building, they can’t let Douglas go either.