How Can the Green Bay Packers Get Back to Contention in 2019?

The next step for the Packers is to get enough talent around Aaron Rodgers to make a few more runs at a Super Bowl title. While the 2019 free agent class isn’t spectacular, there are names that would make a ton of sense for the Packers.

The good news for Green Bay is that with the contracts of Clay Matthews and Randall Cobb expiring, and the potential benefit of releasing players like Nick Perry, their cap space could be large enough to make a big signing and a couple other significant ones.

Before free agency opens, the Packers could look to make a trade for some help for Rodgers. This idea was brought up on the Stick to Football podcast, but if the Bengals were to blow it up after this season, trading for star wideout A.J. Green could be a possibility. He is over 30, but he has plenty left in the tank and would form a fantastic duo with Davante Adams.

Green would also provide Rodgers with the veteran mindset and the ability to work with Rodgers when plays break down.

Since that’s a long shot, Green Bay may look elsewhere for a wide receiver in free agency. One name to watch is Golden Tate. People may say signing Tate would be like signing another Cobb, but Tate still has the quickness and speed after the catch, and his price tag would be much lower than Green’s via trade.

Two other positions that need help are the edge and safety. At this point, with the safety depth Green Bay has, signing Earl Thomas should be at the top of the list. His price would be steep, but the Packers have enough room to make a move like that. Thomas would instantly help out the back end and be a playmaker on defense. Bringing in an edge presence like Brandon Graham might give the pass rush a little boost. He can shift inside on passing downs as well as coming off the edge.

Now let’s turn to the draft.