7 free agents who would love to play with Jeff Hafley, Packers in 2024

The Green Bay Packers have done away with defensive coordinator Joe Barry, bringing in former Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley to take his place. Hafley’s much more aggressive style of defense will be a refreshing change of pace in Green Bay and could be attractive to prospective free agents.

The Packers aren’t typically the most active NFL team when it comes to free agency, but if you’re making a bold change like this one at defensive coordinator, it typically comes with a decent amount of personnel change.

And Hafley knows a lot of guys around the league, especially some notable free agents. Let’s take a look at a handful of free agents who would probably love to play for Green Bay’s new defensive coordinator.

Immediately, you’ve got to start tapping into some old connections. Pull out the Rolodex, Jeff Hafley, and get to recruiting again. Hafley was known for his ability to recruit at the collegiate level and might find it a little easier at the NFL level with some of the guys he’s already worked with in the past.

Namely, one option that could be a great fit for Hafley and the Packers is free-agent safety Jordan Fuller, who has been an underrated player for the last handful of years for the Los Angeles Rams. Fuller had 94 tackles and three interceptions this past year for the Rams and knows Hafley from their time crossing paths with the Ohio State Buckeyes program back in 2019.

With Jonathan Owens, Rudy Ford, and Darnell Savage slated for free agency, we could see Fuller make the move back into Big Ten country with a familiar face calling plays for him.

The Green Bay Packers needed to make a change at defensive coordinator. Matt LaFleur not only agreed but also shifted the entire defensive philosophy by hiring Jeff Hafley to replace Joe Barry.

Hafley is assembling an impressive coaching staff in Green Bay. According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Packers are hiring former Miami Dolphins linebackers coach Anthony Campanile, who had interviewed for a defensive coordinator opening this offseason.

Green Bay will bolster its defense via free agency and the draft, but Hafley’s arrival is good news for players already on the roster.

These Packers will benefit from the change at defensive coordinator.

Isaiah McDuffie is a big winner of the Packers’ defensive staff changes. McDuffie impressed when filling in for De’Vondre Campbell this season, and new linebackers coach Campanile will help get the best out of him.

McDuffie also has experience playing in Hafley’s system. His final season at Boston College was Hafley’s first as the head coach—McDuffie made a career-best 107 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, and one interception.

“He came in and he definitely changed the culture of our program. And we had a winning season that year. Defensively, a lot of guys got opportunities, me being one of them, to take the next step in my play,” said McDuffie, per Sports Illustrated’s Bill Huber.

McDuffie could become a regular starter next season with the Packers switching to a 4-3 defense, especially if Campbell departs.