The Green Bay Packers have had one of the most interesting offseasons of any team in the NFL. There was no shortage of news with this team, whether it was the Aaron Rodgers drama or one of the best wide receivers in the league being traded. Through all of that, the Packers needed to focus on making moves to improve their roster for the upcoming season, and they did just that with seven Packers 2022 free agent signings so far. The offseason isn’t over yet so it’s possible that they could make another move before the regular season begins, but as of now, the Packers seem to be set for the 2022-23 campaign, being one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl according to various sites and crypto bookmakers.
Green Bay Packers 2022 Free Agent Signings
De’Vondre Campbell (Linebacker)
The Packers signed De’Vondre Campbell to a one-year, $2M contract in 2021 with a $1M signing bonus. After that, he went straight to work and put together one of the best seasons in a long time by a Packers linebacker. Campbell flashed off the screen with his quickness to the ball whether on the ground or in coverage. That resulted in him tallying 146 total tackles with 102 of them being solo, while also finishing with two sacks, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles. For his efforts, Campbell earned himself a spot on the 2021 First-Team All-Pro, the first middle linebacker on the Packers to earn the honor since Ray Nitschke in 1965.
Campbell earned himself a long-term deal as a result, with the Packers re-signing the 29-year-old to a five-year, $50M deal before he officially hit free agency. He’s a reliable player on the field, playing in 16 games in all but one season. Campbell was a do-it-all player for the Packers and now gets to prove he’s worth the contract in his second year under defensive coordinator Joe Barry.
Rasul Douglas (Cornerback)
Like Campbell, Rasul Douglas was one of the best stories in the NFL last season. Before signing with the Packers in 2021, Douglas went from a Super Bowl champion with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017 to spending time with a couple of different teams, including the Arizona Cardinals practice squad for the first half of last season. He then inked a deal with the Packers on October 6 and never looked back. Douglas was one of the best playmakers for Green Bay last season, bringing in five interceptions with two of them being pick-sixes. For his performance, he signed a new 3-year, $21M deal with the Packers this offseason, which could be worth up to $25.5M. With Douglas coming back alongside Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes, this team could have one of the best if not the best cornerback trios in the league.
Robert Tonyan (Tight End)
Before Robert Tonyan tore his ACL last season in a Week 8 game against the Cardinals, there were many wondering if Green Bay would be able to afford to bring back the tight end for 2022. In 2020, Tonyan caught 52 passes for 586 yards and 11 touchdowns, tying Paul Coffman for the single-season franchise record for touchdowns at the position. He also had 204 yards and two touchdowns before his injury last season. Tonyan has become one of Aaron Rodger’s most reliable targets, especially in the red zone. ACL injuries are tricky but it was a clean tear with no other damage so the Packers are hoping he can come back without any trouble. If Tonyan can return to his 2020 form or close to it, he’s due for a big payday as one of the best at the position.
Sammy Watkins (Wide Receiver)
On March 18, Davante Adams was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders. It sent shockwaves around the NFL and it left a hole among the Packers’ receiving core. Although no one can replace arguably the best wide receiver in the league, this team feels confident in what they have. After about a month of wondering what’s next for the Packers at the position, they went out and signed veteran wide receiver Sammy Watkins to a one-year deal worth up to $4M. This is one of the most low-risk, high-reward signings in the NFL. Watkins has been a number one receiver before and has shown great ability in his game. There’s always been one huge question and that’s his availability. The 29-year-old has never played more than 14 games in a single season due to injury. Watkins is banking on himself this year to get back to what he once was while playing with the back-to-back MVP.
Jarran Reed (Defensive Tackle)
Signing defensive tackle Jarran Reed was the most surprising free-agent signing of the offseason, inking the six-year veteran to a one-year, $4.5M deal. He played five seasons with the Seattle Seahawks before signing with the Kansas City Chiefs last season, totaling 237 total tackles with 24.5 sacks across 89 career games. Reed is a reliable and durable player, playing in 15 or more games in all but one season. His workhorse mentality alongside Kenny Clark and Dean Lowry will prove wonders for the Packers’ run defense and interior pressure heading into the 2022-23 season.
Pat O’Donnell (Punter)
Special teams for Green Bay have haunted them for years both in the regular season and the playoffs. Last year was the latest example and this includes at the punter position. Pat O’Donnell will be the Packers’ third punter in three years after not bringing back Corey Bojorquez this offseason. They continue to try and find stability throughout special teams as Rich Bisaccia was hired to lead the unit. O’Donnell has played in 109 consecutive games, third among active punters. He’s played eight seasons with the Bears, averaging 45.1 yards on 564 punts with 220 dropping inside the 20-yard line. The kicking game should also improve with Mason Crosby as O’Donnell has been the Bears holder throughout his career and his has experience playing in cold climate weather.
Keisean Nixon (Cornerback/Special Teams)
The one-year, $965K signing of Keisean Nixon will prove more impactful than most think. He comes over from the Raiders and reunites with special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia. He’s played 40 career games at cornerback, totaling 20 tackles and a pass deflection, but he was brought in as part of the overhaul on special teams. On 692 snaps over three seasons on special teams, Nixon had 18 coverage tackles. He’s not a big name and might not explode off the screen but he will be an important part of this team moving forward.
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