Mike Daniels used to be one of my favorite players. I liked him because he acted like someone always peed in his cheerios when everyone else had this cool guy demeanor. I also liked that he wore 76, my high school football number (It now belongs to Jon Runyan Jr.) But at the tail end of Daniels’s career in Green Bay, things started to get murky. If you read through the tea leaves, Daniels’ tough guy attitude did not play well with the Green Bay locker room at that time. It became a bit of a chemistry issue. The team let him go from there. After a tough season in Detroit, Daniels would welcome an opportunity back in Green Bay. There is a case for and against this idea like most free-agent signings.

Defensive Lineman @Mike_Daniels76 discusses last season in Detroit, how he is handling free agency, and why he would embrace a return to the Packers…

"I'd definitely love to go back to Green Bay."

👇AUDIO👇 | #NFLFreeAgency pic.twitter.com/G9FtqcKiAF

— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) May 13, 2020

The case for the Packers is simple. Packers could use some depth with their defensive line. Damon ‘Snacks’ Harrison, Daniels’ teammate last year, is a name mentioned for the Packers. Daniels could be another one. He seems to be fully healthy and talked passionately about wanting to return to the Packers. During his one year with Mike Pettine’s system, Daniels still rushed the passer at a high-rate. For an interior lineman, he could get to the quarterback better than most. Also, Daniels freed up Kenny Clark to make plays in both the run and the passing game. Clark thrived having Daniels next to him on defense.

The case against Daniels’s return is also simple. Pettine does not seem to like defensive lineman with short arms and shorter. That is not what they’re looking for in Green Bay. Nothing about Daniels screams a Pettine defensive lineman. Right now, the shortest Packers defensive lineman is 6’2. They do not have anyone near Daniels’ height. Pettine did not think there was a need for him last year, and my question would be why is this year any different? Besides the height thing, would Daniels be okay not being the leader of the defense? That belongs to Za’Darius Smith now.

If I had a vote, I would say it’s likely not going to happen. Green Bay doesn’t seem to have players like Daniels on their defensive line anymore.

Charlie.