Barring some sort of unforeseen miracle, 2019 is shaping out to be Mike Daniels final season as a Packer. The undersized defensive tackle has come a long way since his fourth-round selection propelling to the top echelon of interior linemen in the NFL. Sadly, Daniels will turn 31 prior to the 2020 season and the likelihood of a third contract in Green Bay is pretty barren. Daniels has been the pulse of the Packers defense for some time now but prepare yourself now for the upcoming season to be his farewell tour in Green Bay. With Kenny Clark emerging into the star he is, it will be hard to justify paying Daniels given his age and past injuries.

The Packers have been quietly preparing for this predicament in sight of losing their Pro-Bowl defensive tackle. Over the few couple years, they’ve either been drafting prospects or signing undrafted free agents to see if they pan out into serviceable players. Unless Daniels decides to sign a very team-friendly contract a player already on the roster could be his eventual replacement.

Montravius Adams

Adams was a third-round pick during the 2017 draft by former Packers GM Ted Thompson. Thompson was famous for drafting players ahead of time to step in for guys the team may not resign. Adams flopped his rookie season after missing practically all of training camp due to surgery on his foot. He appeared in seven games in 2017, however, productive reps were few and far between. Last season he showed a little more promise as he saw an influx in snaps down the stretch. Adams went on to finish with four quarterback hurries over the final seven games of 2019.

Kingsley Keke

Keke fell right into the lap of Green Bay during the fifth round of this year’s draft. It was a pick with tremendous value as a lot of draft boards projected him as a third-round pick. At Texas A&M he played somewhat out of position as he frequently lined up on the edge. Keke will likely move inside where he can utilize his agility and gap control as a three-tech defensive tackle. He definitely has the chance to earn a good amount of reps as a rotational player. Keke could wind up being a future starter in the league so don’t be surprised if he ends up stepping in for Daniels alongside Clark on the interior.

Tyler Lancaster

Northwestern’s UDFA was one of the more surprising players for the Packers in 2018. Lancaster played in 12 games as a rookie and eventually started in five once injuries sidelined Clark and Daniels. During that time, he emerged as a promising run defender finishing with 22 tackles over the final five games. Overall, Lancaster is a savvy player that can quickly diagnose plays and use good play strength to stack and shed blockers. He may never be an elite starter, however, he would never have to with a healthy Clark beside him. So far, Lancaster is trending in the right direction and is an under the radar player to make a significant impact next season. Green Bay should continue to feed him a healthy snap count as long he continues to make the most of them.