Green Bay Packers: 5 free agents to sign in order to win in 2020

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CINCINNATI, OH – AUGUST 22: Kerry Wynn #72 of the Cincinnati Bengals is seen during the preseason game against the New York Giants at Paul Brown Stadium on August 22, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

The defending NFC North champions have had a very interesting offseason. What five performers could the Green Bay Packers sign to bolster this roster?

In his first season as an NFL head coach, Matt LaFleur led the Green Bay Packers to a 13-3 record – tied for the best record in the NFC. The team won a division title and also advanced to the conference title game – both for the first time since 2016. But when it was all said and done, you get the sense that this is a team that didn’t feel good about itself despite bouncing back from a 6-9-1 showing the previous year.

That was evident with the team’s offseason moves this year. The club was pushed around twice a season ago by the San Francisco 49ers, allowing 37 points in each setback while quarterback Aaron Rodgers was bounced around by the Niners’ defense and the Packers were overwhelmed by San Francisco’s ground attack.

General manager Brian Gutekunst geared the majority of the team’s draft around building a team that could match up with the powerful defending conference champions. The Packers didn’t spend the kind of money in free agency that they did the previous year but the team could go back and add a few more veterans in the comings months. So which five players may be to the club’s liking?

Green Bay Packers free agency target: Kerry Wynn, DE

Green Bay’s defensive front could certainly use a little more help. The Packers’ three-man line is led by nose tackles Kenny Clark and flanked by ends Dean Lowry (a 16-game starter in 2019) and Tyler Lancaster (10 starts in ‘19. As was evident on numerous occasions this past season, Mike Pettine’s defensive unit simply didn’t match up against the better offensive lines in the league.

Adding veteran Kerry Wynn to the rotation may help a bit. He spent the first five seasons of his career with the New York Giants and made his share of starts. This past season, he signed with the Cincinnati Bengals. But he suffered a concussion in Week 2 and did not play again. The 6-foot-5, 261-pound pro could be a nice fit in Pettine’s rotation.

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 01: Blake Bortles #5 of the Los Angeles Rams rolls out while looking to throw the ball against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on December 01, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

Green Bay Packers free agency target: Blake Bortles, DE

One of the biggest stories coming out of April’s NFL draft was the fact that the Green Bay Packers moved up a few spots in the first round and instead of acquiring more help for veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, they looked toward the future and grabbed Utah State signal-collar Jordan Love with the 26th-overall pick.

No doubt it was a move that shocked many people and Rodgers himself admitting to being surprised and not thrilled (via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky). But if you know the history of the franchise, it’s an organization that’s always looking ahead and the veteran quarterback acknowledged that as well.

In any case, it appears that Matt LaFleur’s club may still be in the market for a veteran backup. The current depth chart behind Rodgers and Love includes Tim Boyle and 2020 undrafted free agent Jalen Morton. Veteran Joe Flacco may have been a nice addition but he was recently signed by the New York Jets (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter).

So could a six-year pro like Blake Bortles – late of the Los Angeles Rams – be a sensible addition?He threw only two passes in three games for Sean McVay’s club this past season and has had his ups and downs. But could he be an asset to a club that doesn’t have anyone experienced behind their longtime field general.

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