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

Green Bay Packers free agency target: Markus Golden, EDGE

A year ago, general manager Brian Gutekunst and the organization broke form from many years and invested heavily into free agency.

The biggest acquisitions were on defense, most notably outside linebackers Preston Smith and Za’Darius Smith via the Washington Redskins and Baltimore Ravens, respectively. The duo responded in a big ways, the former totaling a dozen sacks and the latter leading the team with 13.5 quarterback traps.

One year earlier, the team’s top pass rusher was Kyle Fackrell with 10.5 sacks. But in 2019, he was limited to one sacks despite playing in all 16 games – albeit without making a start. This offseason, he signed with the New York Giants.

And while general manager Brian Gutekunst used the 12th-overall pick in 2019 on University of Michigan pass-rusher Rashan Gary, he was a disappointment as a rookie and finished with only two sacks in 18 total outings – including the playoff split with the Seahawks and 49ers.

One-time Arizona Cardinals’ defender Markus Golden spent ’19 with the New York Giants and finished fifth on the club with 72 tackles and led Big Blue with 10 sacks and 27 quarterback hits. He would add experience and give the Packers the ability to spell the Smith’s on occasion.