The Chicago Bears released one of their splashy free agent signings on Monday by cutting ties with Pernell McPhee.
McPhee was brought in by the Bears in 2015 after putting up 7.5 sacks with the Baltimore Ravens the previous season. Many touted McPhee as one of the best pass rushers on the market. An emerging player.
The Packers could certainly use help in the pass rush department. So could McPhee potentially be an answer?
We’re going to go with no. We most certainly are not talking about Julius Peppers here.
McPhee was decent for the Bears in 2015, putting up 53 tackles and six sacks. He’s been a bit player since. McPhee started just five games total in 2016 and 2017. Although he missed seven games in 2016, he has just 37 total tackles and eight sacks since that first year in Chicago.
Not exactly what you’re looking for from a guy you give $38.75 million to over five years, which is what the Bears did. We laughed at them then. We’re laughing at them now.
McPhee is the classic example of a contract year player. A guy who has a great final year of his rookie deal, then cashes in during free agency. Then also never lives up to the hype.
Some of these players you may be familiar with are Corey Williams, Randall Cobb and, probably, Nick Perry.
Of course, if the Packers took a flyer on McPhee, who is 29, with a low-cost, short-term deal, we wouldn’t be totally surprised. It wouldn’t be much different than signing Ahmad Brooks, last year.
Brooks, whose career high in sacks is 8.5, looked like a great signing after being released by the 49ers. However, he delivered only 19 tackles and 1.5 sacks for the Packers in 2017, despite starting five games.
The short of it is the Packers need to shore up the position. We all know Clay Matthews and Nick Perry will get injured at some point. Can you imagine the Packers having to start Kyler Fackrell? Pernell McPhee probably isn’t much different of an option.