The Green Bay Packers have had a very interesting offseason thus far and there may be even more questions than answers at this point in time. Aaron Rodgers has turned the offseason upside down and his future with the franchise is very much up in the air right now. While things have been stressful, the offseason is not yet done and the Packers could still look to add a piece to their roster prior to the start of training camp.
When looking at the current roster, there is only one hole that Green Bay could look into filling. That hole would be at the inside linebacker position, where the Packers could opt to sign a veteran to compete for a role in 2021.
Should Brian Gutekunst and the front office be interested in scouring the free agent market for a veteran linebacker, three is one name that they should consider signing. That name would be Kwon Alexander, who has had issues staying healthy and with consistency over the years.
Alexander spent the 2020 season split between the San Francisco 49ers and the New Orleans Saints. He racked up 57 total tackles to go along with a sack, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and four defended passes. While he may not be a star, he is a serviceable player who could add much-needed talent at inside linebacker for the Packers.
Another good thing about signing Alexander would be the fact that he would not break the bank. Green Bay doesn't have a ton of money to spend and they need to spend what they do have very wisely. A one-year deal for Alexander would be well worth the cost.
Earlier in the offseason, the Packers made the decision to release starting linebacker Christian Kirksey to free up cap space. Last season, he ended up with 78 total tackles, two sacks, two interceptions, and four defended passes in just 11 games. Moving on from him was a tough decision, but it has left Green Bay with a major need.
Right now, the Packers only have Krys Barnes, Kamal Martin, and Ty Summers as their top three inside linebackers. Alexander could very well come in and earn a role right off the bat. Green Bay loves the talent that Barnes brings, but both Martin and Summers can be inconsistent at times and the Packers would love to have a veteran presence along with their youth at the position.
If the Packers do end up signing Kwon Alexander and he is able to stay healthy, he could be a key impact player down the stretch of the season. He suffered a season-ending Achilles injury last year, but he would have time to get back to 100 percent health in 2021. Green Bay would not have to rush him back with the three players they currently have at the position.
Green Bay might choose to stand pat and see what their young players can do this season. They already have their hands full trying to keep their current roster intact. Due to the situation with Rodgers, the Packers are also seeing superstar wide receiver Davante Adams begin talking about his future with the team.
All of that being said, this would be a quality move for a low price point that the Packers should consider. They need to improve their defense from last season and Alexander could help them do just that. It would be well worth the risk.
Expect to see the Packers remain active in the NFL news cycle and in the rumor mill. Alexander may not end up being a consideration for them, but he would make a lot of sense.
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