The Green Bay Packers are searching for an upgrade at inside linebacker, and Cory Littleton could be the answer.

Free agency begins in a couple of weeks, and the Packers appear to be willing to spend big to fix their biggest issue on defense.

Former Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro inside linebacker Cory Littleton is set to hit free agency, and the Packers are reportedly interested. According to Bill Huber of Sports Illustrated, Littleton is the Packers’ “No. 1 priority among this year’s free-agent linebackers”.

That’s potentially significant news, even if unsurprising. It shows the Packers are willing to pay a top free agent at a position of need, which wouldn’t be a cheap deal to make. Littleton will have a lot of interest and will be the best available inside linebacker assuming he doesn’t re-sign with the Los Angeles Rams prior to March 16, the date teams can begin to negotiate with agents of soon-to-be free agents.

As ever, interest is one thing. Making a strong offer and signing a player is different.

Littleton might be their top priority, but if the asking price is too high they’ll likely look elsewhere. Aaron Nagler of Cheesehead TV reported that the Packers have interest in Nick Kwiatkoski, who spent the past four seasons with the Chicago Bears after they selected him in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

That’s not all. According to Tom Silverstein and Jim Owczarski of Packers News, the team is “exploring what it would take to sign” Joe Schobert. If you follow Wisconsin football, you’ll know a lot about Schobert.

So, what to make of all of this?

Consider it very likely that the Packers will be in the mix for an inside linebacker in free agency. They will be fully aware of the market value, and their interest in these players suggests they’re willing to make a big signing.

This doesn’t guarantee they’ll make a deal, of course, but their reported interest in Littleton, Kwiatkoski and Schobert shows they value signing a veteran at the position. Doing so would give them more flexibility to target offense in the draft.