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Another significant free-agent defender is set to join the Green Bay Packers.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Packers are expected to sign veteran pass rusher Whitney Mercilus to their active roster after the Houston Texans officially cut loose the 31-year-old defensive end and former first-round pick on October 19.
Fowler added that his source told him Mercilus also had interest from the Kansas City Chiefs and had “turned down more money elsewhere to join Green Bay’s defense.”
Mercilus was selected by the Texans at No. 26 overall in the 2012 NFL draft and went on to play in 134 career games for them, building an impressive resume for himself as an NFL edge rusher with a total of 61 sacks, 221 tackles and 358 quarterback pressures. He has also shown that his pass-rushing prowess is still intact in 2021 with a sack in three of his six performances this season for Houston.
Now, the Packers will look to see if Mercilus can provide a boost to their room of pass rushers with both of their top veterans currently battling injuries. The team has already spent the majority of the 2021 season without All-Pro outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith — who underwent back surgery in September — and could also be missing veteran Preston Smith when they face the Washington Football Team in Week 7.
The Packers have not yet officially announced Mercilus’ signing, but they won’t have to make a corresponding move to clear space for him on the 53-man roster. A spot is still open from when the team placed wide receiver Mailk Taylor on the reserve/COVID-19 list on October 15.
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Mercilus Acquisition Similar to Jaylon Smith Move
Mercilus isn’t the first recently released veteran defender to move from Texas to Green Bay this month. The Packers pulled off a similar move on October 9 when they signed inside linebacker Jaylon Smith fresh off of his unexpected release from the Dallas Cowboys. While the two situations are comparable in the sense that each adds a new playmaker to the Packers defense, they also bear some financial similarities as well.
The Packers signed Smith to a one-year contract that will pay him just $770,000 over the rest of the 2021 season, taking advantage of the fact that the Cowboys are still responsible for paying out the remainder of Smith’s $7.2 million base salary this year. It essentially breaks down to a win-win for both sides as Smith still gets to make his millions for the 2021 season and the Packers get away with adding a noteworthy defender to their roster for the veteran minimum.
Now, the same thing appears to be happening with Mercilus. While the precise details of his contract with the Packers won’t be revealed until after his signing is announced, Mercilus will still make all of the $10.5 million he was scheduled to collect from the Texans this season and, as a result, was given the freedom to decide his next destination based on factors outside of the money, such as contending for a Super Bowl.
“For me as far as the direction I want to go, it’s definitely being with a team that has a chance to make it to the playoffs and has a chance to make it to the Super Bowl and to be with a contender, honestly,” Mercilus said following his release, via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. “That’s the direction I want to go, as I’m in the back half of my career, to get a chance to put a cherry on the top. Honestly, it’s a blessing. I’m not sad. I’ve been blessed with the time to play 10 years in the NFL, just a kid from Akron. You watch the NFL change lives, change generationally. Being able to have that in my life has been amazing. I’ve impacted so many people on the field and off the field as well. One of the biggest thing was talking to people and letting them see how approachable I was, just having a conversation with anybody. It’s been a blessing.”
Packers Optimistic About Preston Smith’s Injury
The Packers may have walked out of Chicago with their fifth straight victory, but they also added some new concerns about the viability of their pass rush after Preston Smith was sidelined early in the second half with an oblique injury. The 28-year-old outside linebacker has been a crucial piece in the Packers’ improved run defense this season and would be a significant loss for the team if he was forced to miss more time.
Fortunately, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur seemed optimistic on Wednesday about Smith’s chances of being available again when they host Washington on Sunday.
“I think it’s one of those deals where we’re going to give him the week and see where he ends up, and certainly we’re hopeful to have him,” LaFleur told reporters on October 20. “He’s a big part of our defense, but I know he’s motivated to want to get out there. He’s done such a great job. He’s been physical, he’s been disruptive, both in the run and the pass game. He’s provided great leadership out there, so certainly we’d love to have him back, but we’ll see as the week plays out.”
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