Packers Get Help At Tackle and Inside Linebacker

We’re hours into the “legal Tampering” window for the new NFL year and the Packers are one of the most active teams in the mark, having agreed in principle to 2 new free-agent additions to replace players departing via free agency.

Per Adam Schefter of ESPN- The Green Bay Packers will be signing former Cleveland Brown’s Linebacker Christian Kirksey to a 2-year deal worth 16 million- a sure sign that they will be willing to let Blake Martinez walk.

Within the next hour a second announcement was broken by NFL Insider Ian Rappaport:

Rick Wagner struggled to live up to a massive agreement signed with the Detroit Lions back in 2017 which made him the highest-paid right tackle in the game. However, Rick failed to live up to expectations that come with the new price tag, as he was ranked 61st in the NFL for his position according to PFF. His supposed new agreement with the Packers is much friendlier to the team- a two-year deal worth $11 million with incentives.

These signings (as has been suggested above) prove a clear indication that the Packers have no interest in retaining the services of either their previous starting inside linebacker or starting right tackle.

While it is too early to view any returns for these decisions, what is clear is that the Packers were willing to get players in the market that aren’t necessarily going to be upgrades, but can shore up important position groups while not making a serious dent in the open cap space. And if worst comes to worst, they are short term deals that will allow the team to consider re-working it’s options again in a year’s time.

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