HOUSTON, TEXAS – JANUARY 03: J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans reacts to a defensive stop during the second half of a game against the Tennessee Titans at NRG Stadium on January 03, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
J.J. Watt wasn’t the only free agent capable of helping the Packers’ pass rush. Look for Green Bay to chase these three stars after missing out on Watt.
The Packers made a hard charge to sign J.J. Watt to fortify their pass rush, but he jilted Green Bay in favor of the Cardinals on Monday. That doesn’t alleviate the team’s need to find an edge rusher in free agency. Now it’s time for the team’s front office to shift their attention to secondary targets.
Fortunately, this year’s free agent class is chocked full of intriguing edge-rushing targets. The Packers likely can’t clear enough cap space to land Shaq Barrett who represents the top option on the open market, but they could be in play for everyone else.
Exactly which players the Packers chase will largely come down to how they want to line up on defense in 2021. It’s possible they’ll look to shift to a conventional 4-3 lineup after operating primarily out of a 3-4 base defense last season.
The most likely outcome in Green Bay is that their defensive coaching staff will use multiple looks designed to take advantage of the talent on their roster. As such, Packers fans should keep a close eye on these three guys as potential free agent targets for their favorite team.
3. Bud Dupree
Dupree is coming off an ACL injury that ended his 2020 campaign prematurely. The Packers could look to take advantage of that reality by landing Dupree on a one-year, make-good deal in free agency.
He isn’t the elite pass-rusher that some of his sack totals suggest, but he does have an above-average burst on the outside. He’d give Green Bay a significant upgrade over what they got from Preston Smith last season. As long as the price is right, Dupree makes a lot of sense for the Packers.