In January, general manager Brian Gutekunst of the Green Bay Packers informed reporters that in 2024, the team will need to “add numbers” at the safety position.
Could they find a budding star in NFL free agency as a result of their search? Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report thinks the Packers may have an opportunity to accomplish that if the Washington Commanders choose not to place starting strong safety Kamren Curl on the franchise tag prior to the March 5 deadline.
Curl, who lined up all over the Commanders’ secondary and showed excellent instincts in both coverage and against the run, emerged as one of the most adaptable players on the defense in 2023.
Although his development might spur the Commanders to reinvest in him, Dan Quinn, the team’s new head coach, might have different plans for the 2024 defense.
In that scenario, Ballentine would consider Curl a “logical target” for the Packers.
Curl would make sense as a target if the Packers can free up some salary cap room. On February 15, Ballentine wrote, “Darnell Savage, [Jonathan] Owens, and Rudy Ford are all scheduled to become free agents, and new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has a strong background working with secondaries.”
“He could add some ball production to Curl’s impressive skill set and help take his game to the next level.
“Pro Football Focus predicts that the Commanders will retain Curl and give him $16.26 million under the franchise tag the following season; however, should he hit NFL free agency, the Packers may be able to sign him for less money per year over a longer period of time.
In the event that he does, Spotrac projects the market for him to sign a $57.7 million, four-year contract.
