The Green Bay Packers watched several starters depart in free agency, including Eric Stokes and Josh Myers. Even key special teams player Eric Wilson surprisingly departed to rejoin the Minnesota Vikings.
It's hard to argue with many of the Packers' offseason decisions, but not bringing back former draft pick T.J. Slaton could come back to haunt them.
Slaton, who started all 34 games for the Packers over the past two seasons, signed a two-year, $15.1 million deal with the Cincinnati Bengals in the first week of free agency.
The Packers waited until the sixth round of the draft to add an interior defensive lineman, with Georgia's Warren Brinson. They later signed his teammate, Nazir Stackhouse, in undrafted free agency. Both players defended the run well in college, but it's a big ask to fill the void left by Slaton.
Packers may regret not bringing back T.J. Slaton this offseason, especially in run defense
There were several concerns with the defensive line last season, but defending the run was not among them. Especially for Slaton. According to ESPN, no defensive tackle in the league had a higher run stop win rate than Slaton's 46 percent.
Slaton played a vital role in Green Bay ranking sixth in run block win rate and seventh in rushing yards allowed.
The former fifth-round pick has already made a strong impression in Cincinnati, with quarterback Joe Burrow praising Slaton's vocal leadership. The Packers don't lack leaders in the front seven, especially with Pro Bowler Kenny Clark, but they will miss Slaton.
He may never become a top-tier pass-rusher, but his ability to shut down opposing rushing attacks on first and second down provided a ton of value to Green Bay's defense.
The Packers may regret letting him go, and they could learn the hard way when they meet the Bengals at Lambeau Field in Week 6.