The Green Bay Packers were scouring the market for a defensive tackle who could provide an upgrade in the way their incredibly thin room needs at this point, and it appears as though this front office has found their man after signing Javon Hargrave to be one of their biggest playmakers in Jonathan Gannon's scheme.
Hargrave is going to sign with Green Bay on a two-year, $23 million contract. Not only are the Packers adding someone who was one of the more disruptive players at his position in the NFC last season, but they did so after poaching him from the rival Minnesota Vikings.
The Packers managed to sign Hargrave after a Vikings team that was selling everything not nailed down in an attempt to clear cap space got rid of him. Their loss is Green Bay's gain, especially if he replicates the season he had under Brian Flores at his new destination.
Packers sign Javon Hargrave away from Vikings with two-year contract
Hargrave graded as the 35th-best defensive tackle out of 134 in the eyes of Pro Football Focus last season. While he originally made his name in this league as a run-stuffer, Hargrave's 70.0 pass rush grade shows that his disruption is getting better with age.
Even before this free agency blitz started, a defensive tackle was needed. With Devonte Wyatt working his way back from injury and Colby Wooden now on the Indianapolis Colts after trading for Zaire Franklin, Green Bay's need inside went from noticeable to critical.
Even though Hargrave is an older player who likely isn't going to challenge for Pro Bowls, the well-traveled linemen will instantly become the best interior linemen on the team. To make matters even juicier for Green Bay, the Packers are stealing someone the cash-strapped Vikings couldn't afford to keep. With no first-round pick, Hargrave's signing gives them peace of mind.
Hargrave may not change the projections as far as wins and losses go, but in an offseason that has largely been about subtraction and losing some of the better players on the roster, getting Hargrave is a nice victory for Brian Gutekunst. Taking him from Minnesota doesn't hurt either.