Luckily for Chris Canty, being released before the start of free agency meant that he could take visits with teams, unlike those waiting for their contracts to run out. The Green Bay Packers don’t usually entertain veteran free agents, so their interest in the defensive lineman is probably greater than usual.
Canty was released by the New York Giants after four seasons with the team, which included winning the Super Bowl after the 2011 season.A recent injury (played only 9 games in 2012) and the price of the final year on this contract seemed too much for a team looking to make certain tweaks on their roster in order to ensure their playoff chances for the coming years, leaving Canty out of their plans.
There’s a lot of interest in the big man who is known to be especially effective against the run, something that really hurt the Packers last season, most notably in the loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the playoffs. The Kansas City Chiefs and the Tennessee Titans are also interested in the player, but if all offers are pretty much equal, it’s assumed the Packers have the edge in the bidding, being a much better team with ambitions to win a Super Bowl.
The Packers did look to strengthen their defensive line last season, but every signing they made blew up in their face – Anthony Hargrove was suspended by the NFL for 8 games and was later released; Jerel Worthy, who was drafted by the team in the second round of the 2012 NFL draft did play in 13 games for the team, but he suffered a serious knee injury on the final week of the season, and might not be ready for the start of 2013.
Canty isn’t the only defensive tackle the Packers are looking at, obviously considering the draft, but also, possibly, thinking about returning Cullen Jenkins, another NFC East player cut from his team.