Sadly, the 2020 NFL Draft is in the books. General Managers across the league will now be combing the streets for players that could give their team any advantage in the upcoming season. For many NFL teams, a tweak here or there on the roster could make all the difference down the stretch of a long season. As they chase another Super Bowl, the Green Bay Packers would do well to fill the remaining holes on their team with these bargain free agents.
Clay Matthews, Edge
The Packers great could return as insurance on both the edge and in the middle of Mike Pettine’s defense. Matthews III is an icon in Green Bay, and would add another valuable voice in the Packers locker room. Clay showed that he can still be productive last season, putting up 8 sacks in LA with the Rams. Crucially, bringing Clay home would add another versatile piece to Green Bay’s front seven. He can mentor Rashan Gary, get after the quarterback, and even spell Christian Kirksey at times. Signing Clay Matthews would be a smart depth move for the Packers.
Damon Harrison, NT
I wrote about why Harrison makes sense for the Packers in February. One of the NFL’s premier run defenders, “Snacks” still has enough gas in the tank to be a valuable piece in Green Bay. He can spell Kenny Clark, or lineup next to him and form a dominant one-two punch inside. The Packers haven’t had this much strength on their defensive line since the days of Ryan Pickett and B.J. Raji.
Taylor Gabriel, WR
Much has been made about the Packers decision to pass on drafting a receiver in this years’ historic class. Ultimately, once the draft reached a certain point, the Packers did not believe a rookie receiver would be able to carve out much of a role on this year’s team. Taylor Gabriel is a veteran, who understands the nuances of Matt Lafleurs’ offensive system. Crucially, he would come at a bargain bin price, and could help the Packers stretch the field. Kyle Shanahan and Lafleur used the six-year vet on a number of gadget plays while with the Falcons, and he could be used similarly in Green Bay. Signing Gabriel seems almost too good to be true at this point, but he could easily find his way onto the field for this Packers team.
Nick is a lifelong Packers fan. 4th and 26 was on his 13th birthday, unlucky. Follow him @CANDRAFTGEEK647 on Twitter for all your Packers draft needs and questions.