Packers fail to sign UFL player at key position

The Green Bay Packers received some bad news over the weekend when standout UFL kicker Jake Bates signed with the Detroit Lions. It always hurts to lose a potentially game-changing player to a team, but it’s even worse knowing the Packers will now have to face the 24-year-old twice a season.

However, the NFL offseason is far from over, so the Packers couldn’t afford to get upset about a lost player. Instead, they looked to the UFL lockers for more talent, securing a workout with DC Defenders offensive lineman Liam Fornadel earlier this month.

Unfortunately, just like with Bates, the Green Bay Packers’ efforts to improve the depth of their offensive line did not go as planned.

Defensive insider Christian Paolantonio reported Tuesday that Fornadel was signed by the New England Patriots. Paolantonio added that the Patriots worked with the promising blocker just last week, suggesting that the Packers were unable to convince him after the interview that he didn’t need to talk to other teams.

Fornadel was one of the UFL’s best pass blockers in 2024, so it’s no surprise that the Packers were eager to add him to their 90-man roster. There is still one roster spot open due to Kenneth Odumegwu’s international roster exemptions, so there’s still time to tell who Green Bay will target with the former James Madison tackle headed to New England.

But even though they failed at Fornadel, the Packers aren’t expected to sit quietly until training camp. The depth at offensive guard behind starters Sean Rhyan and Elgton Jenkins leaves a lot to be desired, meaning general manager Brian Gutekunst could try to sign another veteran OL player via free agency between now and the start of training camp on July 22.

A reliable offensive line can make the difference between a championship contender and a non-starter. Right now, the Packers appear to fall into the former category, as their odds to win Super Bowl LIX of +1900 are the tenth-best at FanDuel Sportsbooks.

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