No one, it seems, wants Connor Barwin. Well, that’s not true. The free agent outside linebacker says he has interest from several teams. Apparently that interest is not from the right team, however.
Barwin posted 34 tackles and five sacks during what will be his lone season with the Los Angeles Rams in 2017. Even though he’s 31, it appears Barwin can still supply some pass rush.
Who could use some pass rush depth? The Green Bay Packers.
Linebacker Clay Matthews was less than thrilled when asked about the guys behind him, calling the Packers’ depth at outside linebacker “not that great.”
Behind Matthews and Nick Perry — both injury-prone — is a group that includes Kyler Fackrell, Vince Biegel and Reggie Gilbert. Two of those guys we actually like — Biegel and Gilbert — but they’re both green.
So should the Packers get in on Barwin?
It certainly couldn’t hurt.
Barwin cost the Rams only $3.5 million in 2017. The Packers probably won’t pay that much, but it’s doubtful Barwin would demand or command that much.
"We've had interest from a number of teams all off-season. The offers I have, I think I'll make my decision before camp starts. I'm not going to go somewhere that I don't think can win a Super Bowl"
Free Agent @ConnorBarwin98 pic.twitter.com/25TYVKkMRy
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) July 10, 2018
There you go. He wants to go somewhere he has a shot at the Super Bowl.
The Packers a legitimate shot at making a run so long as Aaron Rodgers stays healthy. The team’s defense appears to be much-improved. However, the one area that wasn’t addressed is edge rusher.
Instead, the Packers beefed up their defensive line with Muhammad Wilkerson. It’s thought that the plan is to generate the pass rush up front. And that may have to be what happens when Matthews and Perry inevitably get injured.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst is said to be looking at adding players continually. Unless he’s turned off by the failed move of adding Ahmad Brooks (just 1.5 sacks) last year, Gutekunst would be wise to take a look at Barwin.
It’s a low-risk move.
Do the Packers really want to rely on Kyler Fackrell as a potential starter?