The Green Bay Packers are hosting free agent defensive lineman Rodney Gunter (6-5, 305) on a visit Wednesday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Gunter, a fourth-round pick of the Arizona Cardinals in 2015, registered career highs in tackles (44), sacks (4.5) and forced fumbles (2) last season. He also tallied 11 tackles for losses and nine quarterback hits, also career highs.
Gunter played in all 64 games during his first four NFL seasons.
Signing Gunter would give the Packers another young, ascending and reliable defensive player to join recent additions Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith and Adrian Amos, who were all signed early in free agency. It would also likely remove the possibility of a return for Muhammad Wilkerson, who played in only three games for the Packers last season after breaking his ankle in Washington.
The Cardinals played Gunter all over the defensive line last season, including at 3-technique and defensive end in their 3-4 front. He has terrific length and above average movement skills at his size.
The Packers are deep along the defensive line but have room for a versatile player like Gunter. He could play valuable snaps as a starter or rotational player with Kenny Clark, Mike Daniels, Dean Lowry, Montravius Adams and the rest of the defensive line.
