Packers Rumors: Run Stopping DL Ricky Jean-Francois to Visit Green Bay
Defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois is reportedly headed to Green Bay for a free agent visit on Wednesday. The 30-year old defensive lineman posted the news himself on Twitter Tuesday evening.
An interior defender and owner of 25 Dunkin Donuts, Jean-Francois has spent the last two seasons with the Washington Redskins. According to Pro Football Focus, heās been a stout if unspectacular defender over the balance of his career.
Over the last few days, Jean-Francois has been traveling across the country visiting with teams. The defender visited with the Chicago Bears, and also spent time with the Seattle Seahawks.
Why the Packers are interested in Ricky Jean-Francois
At 6-3 and 313 pounds, Jean-Francois (#99) is very similar in size to Letroy Guion (#98), who stands 6-4 and weighs 322.
He could fill any need the Packers would need for a defensive lineman because of Guion's suspension.
The defensive tackle will miss the first four games of the season and could be released outright with minimal impact to the salary cap.
Throughout his career, heās been a solid run stopper. Jean-Francois has the ability to play all three spots in a 3-4 front and did so for the Colts from 2013 to 2014.
In 2013, Bob McGinn wrote Green Bay was interested in Jean-Francois during free agency. McGinn noted at the time he would āprovide better run defense than Mike Neal or Mike Daniels behind starters B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett and C.J. Wilson.ā
Ricky Jean-Francois is exactly the free agent the Packers need
We wrote in late February that the Packers would do well to find more free agents like Guion:
[Guion's] workmanlike contributions are exactly the sort of thing that have been largely lacking among the Packersā defensive front. If other second-tier players did their jobs as well as Guion does his, itās likely the Packers wouldnāt have had such a problem with depth among their pass rushers.
Teams will always need role players, and free agency can be a great opportunity at a relatively affordable price. The Packers would do well to target more players like Guion.
If Jean-Francois and the Packers agree on a contract, it seems to check all of those boxes.
