Mina Kimes' take about Packers' free agency plans is 100 percent correct
The Green Bay Packers need to address several areas of need this offseason to become Super Bowl contenders, but they have the perfect opportunity ahead of them.
Safety is among their top needs. The Packers are just days away from potentially losing Darnell Savage, Jonathan Owens, and Rudy Ford in free agency. Brian Gutekunst must find the right fit for their new-look defensive scheme under Jeff Hafley.
There's no excuse for Green Bay not to get the help it needs at safety—the team has the cap space and draft picks to add talent to the roster.
The best opportunity begins with free agency.
If ever there was an offseason to need safety help, this is it. The list of talented free agents is increasing by the day. Along with some of the top targets we already knew about, like Xavier McKinney and Kamren Curl, many others have been released in recent weeks.
Mina Kimes is spot on with her take about Packers in free agency
Several All-Pros and Pro Bowlers have become available in the past week, including Justin Simmons, Kevin Byard, Jamal Adams, Quandre Diggs, and Eddie Jackson. Green Bay won't (and shouldn't) have interest in all of those names, but it highlights the incredible depth of this free agency class.
ESPN's Mina Kimes believes it's time for Green Bay to upgrade the position in free agency.
The Packers aren’t usually big players in free agency (and haven’t had cap space until now) but boy…they really ought to grab one of these safeties
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) March 7, 2024
But who should the Packers target? We can already cross some of the names off the list. Gutekunst needs to identify the best fit for Hafley's system, with plenty of single-high coverages on the way.
Kimes named a few candidates for the Packers to consider, and it's hard to disagree with any of them.
Assuming they play more single high (with disguise) with the coordinator change—need a centerfielder with versatility. Simmons, McKinney, Diggs all fit the bill. I also like Stone in Baltimore a lot. https://t.co/d4xtHhwuzy
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) March 7, 2024
McKinney would be a dream addition. He is 24, has the versatility to play deep or in the box, and is improving every season. But adding a four-time All-Pro like Simmons, who is still on top of his game, would also make a lot of sense. Simmons would be perfect for Hafley's defense.
Diggs enters his age-32 season in 2024, but the three-time Pro Bowler could be a short-term solution for the Packers while they draft and develop their long-term starter.
Kimes is correct. There's no excuse for the Packers not to upgrade their safety room in free agency. While there are options in the draft, it's a thin class, and there's no guarantee Green Bay will be in position to select its top targets.
Gutekunst is spoilt for choice in free agency. He should consider signing two starting safeties in the weeks ahead.
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