Green Bay Packers free agency 2020: Top 5 targets

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 19: Head coach Matt LaFleur of the Green Bay Packers looks on from the sidelines in the first half against the San Francisco 49ers during the NFC Championship game at Levi's Stadium on January 19, 2020 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – DECEMBER 22: Javon Hargrave #79 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on December 22, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /

2. NT Javon Hargrave (Pittsburgh Steelers)

It’s the first of what are two suggested players that could bolster a run defense that was substandard this past season.

Those shortcomings reared their ugly helmets in the NFC Championship Game loss to the 49ers in which Green Bay defenders allowed a whopping 285 yards on the ground in a 37-20 setback. It was the eighth-most rushing yards allowed by a team in a game in postseason history.

So why not beef up that defensive front a little more with a young performer who still has a lot of football remaining?

It will be interesting to see if the Pittsburgh Steelers will be able to re-sign the highly-regarded nose tackle, Javon Hargrave. He figures to command a brisk salary on the open market and once again, Mike Tomlin’s team is up against the cap. Of course, depending on what the Pack is willing to spend this offseason, he may be a little too expensive for general manager Brian Gutekunst as well.

The bottom line is that the NFC North champions ranked 23rd in the league in rushing defense during the regular season and were pushed around on more than one occasion, even in games the Packers managed to win. Hargrave was one of the NFL’s top interior defenders and via Pro Football Focus (subscription required), he’s tied for 16th in the league when it comes to handling the run.

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