Packers just received a gift-wrapped gamble that could fix biggest concern

Green Bay Packers v Jacksonville Jaguars
Green Bay Packers v Jacksonville Jaguars | Don Juan Moore/GettyImages

The Green Bay Packers will enter the 2025 season fully confident they can contend for a title. After winning 11 games last year, and adding new talent this offseason, Green Bay is right to think that. However, like most teams, the Packers still have a couple of concerning areas they should address if an opportunity to do so arises. In the NFL, the work is never done, and teams are always trying to improve their roster.

Fortunately for Green Bay, they were just gifted an opportunity to improve in an area of concern. On Thursday, the Cleveland Browns decided to release veteran defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo.

The 2018 fifth-round pick, and Super Bowl 56 champion is now a free agent looking for a new home. The Packers should be interested in becoming that home.

Packers should explore signing veteran defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo

Okoronkwo is entering his eighth year in the league, and has consistently contributed as a depth defensive lineman. In 80 career games, he has only started 13, but managed to record a sack every year he played. He has 17 career sacks, 132 tackles, 31 for a loss, and 38 quarterback hits. Last season, playing in 16 games, he recorded just three sacks.

Obviously, considering his career production, Okoronkwo won’t be a needle-moving signing for Green Bay, but he could be a good pick up for the defensive line rotation. With Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness returning as the starters, Okoronkwo could be added as a veteran presence in the room hoping to improve on its 45 sacks from last season.

The Packers were a top 10 defense a year ago, and everyone is excited about the emergence of second-year linebacker Edgerrin Cooper. However, with Jaire Alexander no longer in the secondary, there are concerns about if the unit can maintain its promising play from a year ago. Ogbo Okoronkwo may not be a huge problem solver for Green Bay, but he could be a productive piece to the puzzle.

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