There’s a lot of noise about free agent running back Matt Forte joining the Green Bay Packers.
Here’s some more. Another former Chicago Bear, linebacker Julius Peppers, is reportedly recruiting Forte to join the Packers.
Word is that another ex-Bear-turned-Packer Julius Peppers has been trying to recruit Forte to Green Bay. It sounds like Forte wants to go to a contender, so perhaps the Packers could get him at an affordable price.
This move makes sense for a couple reasons.
First, James Starks is a free agent and despite a career year in 2015, we don’t see the Packers re-signing Starks. He’ll be 30 this year and while he’s a good backup, Starks cannot carry an offense. That makes Forte an upgrade.
Second, Forte brings a dimension to the offense the Packers really need — a running back that’s a great receiver.
That element alone would help open up the passing game because opposing offenses would have to cover the running back with someone other than a linebacker. That creates a mismatch somewhere, something the Packers weren’t able to create much of in 2015.
There are also a couple reasons the move doesn’t make sense.
Forte will be 31 this year and there’s no guarantee he’s going anywhere for cheap. If the Packers don’t get Forte at their price, they won’t be interested. Secondly, they could just as easily find this type of player — a running back who’s a great receiver — in the draft or elsewhere in free agency.
In that scenario, they’d be set for years to come, rather than just the season or two Forte would give them.