The Green Bay Packers appear to be highly interested in the group of soon-to-be free-agent pass-rushers.
In addition to being one of the teams interested in veteran Von Miller, per Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network, the Packers are also expected to have interest in free agent Uchenna Nwosu, a 25-year-old edge rusher from the Los Angeles Chargers, per Wilson.
Nwosu was a second-round pick of the Chargers out of USC in 2018. He’s produced 15 sacks and 45 quarterback hits over his first four NFL seasons, including a career-high five sacks and 17 quarterback hits in 2021.
According to Pro Football Focus, Nwosu had 40 pressures over 408 pass-rushing snaps last season, his first as a full-time player.
The Packers may see Nwosu as a young, ascending pass-rusher much like Za’Darius Smith coming out of Baltimore in 2019. Green Bay is expected to move on from Smith, who produced 26 sacks and 60 quarterback hits during his first two seasons with the Packers, at some point this offseason to save money on the salary cap. He turns 30 in September, is coming off a lost season due to back surgery and will have a cap number of $27.7 million in 2022.
It’s possible Nwosu could be a cheaper version of Smith, although Wilson reports he wants to go back to Los Angeles and is otherwise expected to have a strong market in free agency.
The financial side works against the Packers, who are still over $25 million over the salary cap with only nine days left before the start of the new league year.
It’s possible that new deals for Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, Jaire Alexander and Preston Smith could help free up enough cap space for the Packers to be active in free agency, but it’s just as possible that general manager Brian Gutekunst will prioritize keeping as many players from the 2021 team over spending in free agency.
If signed, Nwosu could team with Rashan Gary to give the Packers one of the best and most promising edge-rushing duos in football.