Packers Have Few Options to Fix Edge Rush
Clay Matthews has had a disappointing start to the 2018 season for the Packers as the team’s pass rush has struggled early.
Kyler Fackrell sure seems to have 9 lives, doesn’t he? He’s without a doubt one of the four best edge rushers the Packers had in training camp this year, but that says more about the edge rushing group than it does about Fackrell.
To that point, multiple readers have asked whether general manager Brian Gutekunst may try to work out a deal for an edge rusher now or do something to improve the position.
I don’t want to be glib about this, but what is there to do? What are the options here that Gutekunst could really take? If you were trying to sign someone or trade for someone who can make a significant impact, that ship has sailed at this point in the season.
Anyone who is out there now for signing is not going to be the kind of game-changer that the Packers really need to have a competent edge rushing group.
You see the name John Simon all the time, but he’s not really a pass rusher-type. He’s just not. He’s probably a super-poor man’s Nick Perry who sets the edge and does his job against the run – which is fine and an improvement over Fackrell, but he’s not an answer for the group.
As far as trades, well, we could offer the Bears a couple of first round picks for Khalil Mack now? I don’t think they’d be super interested in that. So that option is out.
We’ve seen the name Shane Ray come up a few times throughout the offseason. He’s not of great interest to me. He’s not going to be a world-changer, and he’s been injured so many times already.
Beyond that, you go farther and farther down the list with more and more issues. There aren’t very many options.
I don’t expect Gutekunst and the Packers to do anything here. You could try Kendall Donnerson and see what happens. He looked fine in the preseason, but is he really going to change anything in your outside linebackers and edge rushers group? I don’t think so.
