It's never ideal when a team has concerns at edge-rusher and cornerback, two of the most important positions on defense. Yet here the Green Bay Packers are.
The Packers rolled the dice by showing confidence in their current pass-rush group, waiting until the final day of the draft to address it. It's a similar story at cornerback, with the incoming Nate Hobbs the only notable addition to replace the departing All-Pro Jaire Alexander and depth players like Eric Stokes and Corey Ballentine.
Fortunately, it's not too late to add talent. Matt Holder of Bleacher Report named the best landing spots for some of the top players yet to find new teams in free agency.
Holder connected the Packers to pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney and cornerback Rasul Douglas. Clowney is a three-time Pro Bowler, while Douglas was a Pro Bowl alternate during his time in Green Bay and took his game to even greater heights with the Buffalo Bills.
Packers should consider reinforcements on defense, but Jadeveon Clowney makes more sense than Rasul Douglas
It wouldn't hurt to add a veteran to the mix, especially to the pass rush. Of the two, signing Clowney would make more sense than Douglas.
While he's 32 years old and past his best, Clowney still knows how to rush the passer. He almost matched Rashan Gary's pressure numbers last season despite playing three fewer games. According to Pro Football Focus, Clowney's 44 pressures were comfortably more than any Packers pass-rusher except Gary.
The Packers should've signed Clowney as soon as he became available.
It's a different story for Douglas. We'd love to see him back in Green Bay, but it's not the right move.
Between 2021 and 2023, Douglas broke up 40 passes and intercepted 14, returning three for touchdowns. Last year, he made zero picks and just five pass defenses. According to Pro Football Reference, the passer rating he allowed plummeted from an elite 38.6 in 2023 to a concerning 122.0 last season.
Besides, Douglas has already ruled out a return to Green Bay.
It would be incredible to see him back to his best in the green and gold, but the free-agent option at cornerback to consider is Stephon Gilmore.
Clowney makes a ton of sense. The Packers are placing too much confidence in Lukas Van Ness, who has fewer career pressures than Aidan Hutchinson made in five games last season. Clowney would give them an experienced edge defender who knows how to generate pressure.
However, the fact that we're even talking about the need for edge and cornerback help is among the Packers' biggest concerns ahead of training camp.