3 moves the Green Bay Packers can make to salvage free agency

1. Bring Back Mike Daniels

Daniels spent the first seven seasons of his career (2012-2018) with the Packers, before being cut in 2019. He spent last year with the Detroit Lions, but he played just nine games as a foot injury that shortened his final season in Green Bay cropped up again before an arm injury ultimately landed him on IR.

The Packers may turn to the draft to bolster the defensive line at this point, but adding another veteran piece has to be on the radar. Their decision to cut Daniels was partially motivated by finances, as they cleared more than $8 million in cap space with the move, and now he’s in line to get a one-year prove it deal coming off a second straight injury-shortened season.

At the peak of his power from 2013-2017, Daniels averaged 5.0 sacks, over 12 quarterback hits and more than eight tackles for loss per season as a mainstay on Green Bay’ defensive line. That peak may never come back, now approaching 31 years old with foot issues that aren’t going to just go away as a concern.

But a limited market for his services, and the lone rumored suitor to this point (the Baltimore Ravens) signing Derek Wolfe, may foster the possibility of a return to the Packers from Daniels’ end rather quickly. And as they try to address a soft middle of their defense, and try to improve last year’s 24th-ranked run defense (120.1 yards per game), a reunion with the 2017 Pro Bowler should be on the table.