The Green Bay Packers were active at the trade deadline for a change. They were sellers rather than buyers, but that isn’t to say they didn’t try to bring someone in. The Packers were reportedly interested in Jacksonville edge rusher Dante Fowler, who ended up going to the Rams.
The #Jets and #Packers were among the teams interested in Dante Fowler. Some off-the-field questions. But talent. https://t.co/dcYAUbTT7L
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 30, 2018
The Rams gave up a third-round pick for Fowler, which was most likely too steep of a price for Packers general manger Brian Gutekunst to pay.
There are off-the-field concerns with Fowler. He was arrested for battery in the summer of 2017. It was a singular incident, but has obviously put a black mark on Fowler since.
On the field, the guy can rush the passer. Fowler was the third overall pick in the 2015 draft. He’s never been a starter — he has only one start in two-plus seasons (he missed all of 2015). However, Fowler has 14 career sacks, eight of which came last season. He has two sacks this year in limited playing time. Fowler hasn’t played more than 29 snaps in any game this season.
The Packers pass rush has been fairly anemic this season. The exception was the Buffalo game and last week against the Rams. Perhaps the Rams game is a sign of what’s to come. If it isn’t, the Packers could have used someone like Fowler.
The Rams, meanwhile, are clearly all in on a Super Bowl run. Fowler joins a defense with Aaron Donald (10 sacks), Ndamukong Suh (3 sacks) and Cory Littleton (3 sacks).
What are the Packers in on? Treading water for the time being.