Before the 2023 NFL draft, the Green Bay Packers have many needs to fill for their 2023 campaign. From the absence of Davante Adams causing issues in the pass-catching department to a whopping amount of pending free agents all over the board questioning their future with the team, the Packers have their work cut out for them. Based on minimal cap space, there is not much room for the Packers to make a big splash in free agency this year. However, this does not mean there is no room to bolster the roster ahead of the season. This comes from signing players who will contribute on low contracts, while playing to their worth on the field. Here are five affordable players the Packers should target this offseason to help take them back to the postseason and beyond.
Mecole Hardman, WR
Standing at 5” 8 and running a 4.33 forty-yard dash, the 24-year-old wide receiver out of Georgia can fly. After being drafted in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft, he has been very reliable for the Kansas City Chiefs over the past four seasons. Hardman is utilized on special teams, end-arounds, jet sweeps and in a regular offense, he is a swiss army knife at the line of scrimmage. Outside of rookie standout Christian Watson, the Packers lack any speed in their new style offense. With an offensive-minded coach like Matt LaFleur, the Packers’ offense continues to involve many pre-snap motions to confuse opposing defenses. With only one true speedster in Watson, it limits Lafleur’s ability to be fresh and creative when calling plays and confines the potential of the offense. Not to mention that Watson was in and out of the lineup all of last season, dealing with a plethora of injuries. Adding Mecole Hardman would only add more speed and efficiency to this offense to help complement the Packers’ other strengths. Adding another speedster could unlock the potential of the deep ball once again, along with growing the running game as teams are forced to match Hardman’s speed. A receiver averaging around 500 yards per season will help the Packers tremendously for a cheap price, just by being on the field. Adding another playmaker to this offense has excellent benefits that outweigh the little to no costs.
Von Bell, SS
Packers strong safety Adrian Amos is scheduled to be a free agent. It is unclear whether Green Bay will retain Amos after a relatively disappointing 2022 season. Nevertheless, the Packers are as thin as ever at safety and need to make a move for another potential starter. Von Bell has been a quality starting member of the Cincinnati Bengals’ secondary for the past three seasons, racking up 184 tackles to go along with 21 passes defended, five interceptions and eight forced fumbles. Bell is a player who is not afraid to get physical and is known as a player who is always prepared to make a play on the ball. According to Pro Football Focus, Bell has had the eighth-best run defense grade for all NFL safeties over the past five seasons, proving his worth in both ends of a defensive game plan. His past two playoff runs with the Bengals show that he is capable in big moments, and is prepared to make another run. Bell was overshadowed by superstar safety Jessie Bates in Cincinnati and has not always been looked at as a playmaker, but stepping out of Bates’ shadow may be just what he needs. A fresh start in Green Bay can benefit both sides, and at just 28 years old, Bell has a lot of football left in him.
Riley Reiff, RT
The Chicago Bears right tackle has an opportunity to join his fourth NFC North this offseason. Riley Reiff has struggled to find a home, spending time with the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Cincinnati Bengals, and most recently, the Chicago Bears. Reiff is no superstar player; however, he is consistently average, and consistency is just what the Packers could use at the tackle position this year. The past couple of years have been mayhem for the Packers front, having numerous players fill in at left and right tackle for the injuries that unfortunately, have become second nature. With superstar left tackle David Bakhtiari looking to play an entire season once again, it would be beneficial to solidify the right tackle position and not have it be rotational. Using players such as pending free agent Yosh Nijman, fourth-round draft choice Zach Tom, and even pro bowler Elgton Jenkins changes the starting five on a weekly basis, which is bound to cause trouble for the offense. The Packers had plenty of success in 2020 with starting right tackle Rick Wagner, who was not anything special, but was highly consistent. Riley Reiff has not allowed over five sacks in a season since 2013. He has been protecting quarterbacks all over the league, particularly in the north. His level of consistency is precisely what the Packers need this season; whether it is Aaron Rodgers or Jordan Love at quarterback, the offense needs to be consistent to get back on track.
Mike Gesicki, TE
After Robert Tonyan’s ACL tear against the Cardinals in 2021, he never returned to his former glory. After an 11-touchdown season in 2020, the starting tight end fell out of the offensive core, and was unable to follow up his success and has since become a pending free agent. Mike Gesicki can be the tight end to rejuvenate the Packers’ passing game and add another pair of quality hands to the passing game. Having 112 targets in 2021, many believed Gesicki would be a staple of the Miami Dolphins offense for years to come. However, the addition of Tyreek Hill and emergence of Jaylen Waddle seem to have changed things. Gesicki received a minuscule 52 targets for just 32 receptions in 2022, both career lows by large margins excluding his rookie season. It is a common belief that this is due to the Dolphins’ failure to utilize the tight end, and even Gesicki himself was disappointed in his involvement in the offense. His displeasure in Miami leads fans to believe he will walk away and seek a new home in 2023. Green Bay, a team grasping for more offensive firepower, will surely be in the market for the free-agent tight end. Coming off a significant drop-off in production could lower Gesicki’s contract enough to be affordable for the Packers, allowing them to capitalize on a very skillful player. The 6” 6, 247-pound target can prove his worth once again when given the right opportunity, and titletown seems to fit the bill.
Melvin Ingram III, OLB
In Rashan Gary’s absence this season (week 9 ACL tear), the Packers struggled to generate much pass rush against opposing offenses. With Preston Smith and Kingsley Enagbare leading the way for the second half of the season, the Packers ranked amid the league’s worst in sacks, pass rush win percentage, and pressure rate. Despite the fact that Smith remains a quality role player and Enagbare is a developing rookie, there is a need for another veteran to lead the way in the front 7. Melvin Ingram is a player the Packers have had interest in for years, targeting him in past free agencies. The veteran edge presence has ultimately decided to play outside of Green Bay in the past, but with the arrival of Bradley Chubb and the development of Jaelan Phillips, Ingram may be forced out of Miami. Despite only starting in 3 games last season, Ingram played in all 17, recording seven sacks in his rotational role. He was also used primarily on the outside, using his profound skill at setting the edge against the run to disrupt plays. The Packers can use this veteran presence on their thin defensive line, putting his pass-rushing and run-supporting talents to good use. The 33-year-old still has a lot to offer defensively and as a potential leader in the locker room, and while Rashan Gary’s timeline for a return is still unclear, having a defensive leader on the field is very beneficial. 11 years of pro football experience is not something to be overlooked, and Green Bay would be lucky to claim the rights to his services in 2023.
It is an unfortunate reality that the Packers have so many question marks at numerous positions, however these five players are cheap options to help the immediate and future success of the organization. Given their situation, players taking low-risk but high-reward contracts for the Packers will be contributing assets to the 2023 season and beyond. With minimal cap space, the front office will be hard at work every day thinking about ways to prepare this team for another run at the Super Bowl. The strong, upcoming free agent class will be a determining factor in the direction of the Green Bay Packers franchise going forward, and will shape them back into the competitive team that all cheeseheads know and love.
Love this. Very well done!
another Keaton Gall masterpiece
Skillful analysis from a great man 🙂