3 more free agents Packers should target before it's too late

The Green Bay Packers have already made two big-time free-agent additions on either side of the ball, signing safety Xavier McKinney and running back Josh Jacobs.

General manager Brian Gutekunst addressed two positions that lacked top-end talent in the draft. There's a chance no safeties or running backs will be taken in the first round. Finding a game-changer at safety and a featured running back in the draft may have been challenging, so Gutekunst prioritized both positions in free agency.

But the work is just beginning, particularly on defense. Green Bay can upgrade its offensive line depth and find a complementary running back in the draft, but there are other areas they can address before then.

The Packers should target three free agents before it's too late.

Free agents targets for Packers after signing Xavier McKinney and Josh Jacobs

S Jordan Fuller

It would be smart to take advantage of a strong safety market by adding another starter. Jordan Fuller has been an important player for the Los Angeles Rams over the past four seasons. He can play deep or in the box and would complement McKinney in the back end of the defense.

Darnell Savage and Jonathan Owens have already found new teams in free agency. The Packers have added one starter but need another. Fuller, who made three interceptions and eight pass defenses last season and has experience playing under Jeff Hafley, would be an excellent signing.

LB Jerome Baker

According to Adam Caplan of Pro Football Network, the Packers were among the teams interested in signing free-agent linebacker Josey Jewell. While Green Bay missed out on the deal, with Jewell signing with the Carolina Panthers, it shows they are in the market for a linebacker.

Green Bay will release De'Vondre Campbell at the start of the new league year and must add linebacker depth, especially as they move to a 4-3 defense.

Jerome Baker would be a good fit. The 27-year-old has made 82 career starts for the Miami Dolphins. Over the past four seasons, he has 249 tackles, 18 sacks, 14 pass defenses, and three interceptions, including a pick-six. He could step into the starting lineup alongside Quay Walker and Isaiah McDuffie (or a draft pick).

S Julian Blackmon

Another safety the Packers could consider is Julian Blackmon. He would form an outstanding duo with McKinney.

Like McKinney, Blackmon offers versatility. He split time between free safety and playing in the box last season—he could do both for the Packers. In 2023, Blackmon made a career-best eight pass defenses and four interceptions while allowing a passer rating of just 46.6, per Pro Football Reference. He could rotate between playing as a single-high safety or in the box.

"The upside is sneakily sky-high here," writes Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com.

A combination of McKinney and Blackmon would give the Packers a huge upgrade on what they had at safety last season.

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