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<\/p>\nDerek Barnett, Defensive End<\/h2>\n
The Packers have a ton of first-round picks on their defensive line. Like, a lot. Rashan Gary, Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, and Lukas Van Ness\u2014again, all first-rounders\u2014line the D-front, but they\u2019ve been more fizzle than sizzle.<\/p>\n
Green Bay desperately needs to add some production, and Derek Barnett could be a low-key addition to help move the needle.<\/p>\n
Barnett can be a 6-foot-3, 259-pound wrecker. At 28, this ex-Eagle turned Texan notched five sacks and 19 total QB pressures in 2014.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s no Khalil Mack, but he does have a non-stop motor that allows him to put relentless pressure on opposing offensive lines.<\/p>\n
Green Bay\u2019s D-line boasts talent, yet it\u2019s coughed up one-sack clunkers against the Lions and Vikings too often. Barnett\u2019s a rotational rusher who could jolt that crew, pairing with Gary to crank the heat.<\/p>\n
He has some pep in his pass-rushing step, and his run-stopping chops add beef where Van Ness still lags. At a projected $4-5 million a year, he\u2019s a steal in free agency, as playoff teams like Houston loved his late surge.<\/p>\n
The Packers need edge depth to spell Gary and push Van Ness; Barnett\u2019s a lunch-pail guy who won\u2019t sulk on the bench. He\u2019s not rewriting the stat book, but he\u2019s a cheap spark to stretch the pass rush, letting Clark feast inside.<\/p>\n
Gutekunst could snag him to bridge the youth-to-impact gap, turning a pricey front into a fearsome one without busting the cap.<\/p>\n
D.J. Jones, Defensive Tackle<\/h2>\n
Clark anchors the Packers’ interior defensive line, flanked by Wyatt and others. However, depth is somewhat of a concern.<\/p>\n
Sure, Clark, Wyatt, Colby Wooden, and Karl Brooks all return next season, with TJ Slaton the only player not currently under contract. But, again, this was an underwhelming unit in 2024.<\/p>\n
That’s where D.J. Jones can help.<\/p>\n
Jones rumbles in at a stout six-foot and 305 pounds, with a bulldozer style. At 30 years old, this ex-Bronco logged 39 total tackles and two sacks last season, playing 510 snaps on a stingy Denver defense.<\/p>\n
He won’t command nearly the amount of money he did on his previous contract, as he was unable to live up to the hype. However, he should still be available for a one-year deal at a low cost for the Packers.<\/p>\n
Jones is a run-stuffer who clogs running lanes and has the occasional ability to get after a quarterback. Green Bay\u2019s interior needs a bruiser to spell Clark and Wyatt; Jones fits, eating double teams so others can hunt.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s not a sack machine, but he\u2019s a bargain after Denver\u2019s overpay. The Packers\u2019 D-line has the names\u2014Jones adds the grunt, stretching the front\u2019s stamina and keeping runners bottled.<\/p>\n
Hafley\u2019s scheme loves chaos up front; Jones delivers that without the flash, letting Clark and Gary shine. He\u2019s a rotational rock, not a star, but Green Bay\u2019s had too many games where the middle sagged\u2014Jones stiffens it up.<\/p>\n
Gutekunst could grab him to round out a unit that\u2019s tantalizingly close to dominant, all while keeping cash for a splash elsewhere. He\u2019s the quiet muscle this D needs to grind out wins.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Green Bay Packers could target any of these five under-the-radar free agents for a cheap contract.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":16469,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16468","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-green-bay-packers"],"yoast_head":"\n