Packers: Evaluating each position on offense ahead of free agency
By Jesse Fry
Evaluating each position group on offense for the Green Bay Packers ahead of free agency.
With the offseason now in full swing, the 2018 Green Bay Packers will start to take shape.
For the first time since 2008 the Packers did not make the playoffs. The earlier-than-usual offseason started with a bang with the firing of Dom Capers and the reassigning of Ted Thompson. The fast start should make for a busy offseason around Packers News.
Free agency and the draft will add new pieces to the team.
The Julius Peppers signing in 2014 proved to be a huge boost to the defense. Jared Cook gave the offense something it was lacking since 2013 in his lone season in the green and gold. But, it’s not always the new additions that make the team better.
As we saw this year, the improvement of Blake Martinez and Kenny Clark has provided hope the cupboard isn’t bare when looking at the defense. After spending most of the season on the practice squad, Reggie Gilbert showed he can be a contributor next season for new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine.
Lane Taylor played well after the unexpected release of Josh Sitton the previous offseason. Davante Adams grew into the number one option this season when two years ago, many inside Packer Nation were calling for him to be cut.
These instances prove that it’s not always the new additions that can push the team over the edge. While the fanbase let a collective sigh of relief when Thompson was replaced, we need to keep an objective view when looking at how this team will improve.
It remains to be seen how aggressive the new general manager will be, although I don’t expect he’ll sit on his hands during free agency as the previous GM did.
The 2018 version of the Packers should be a better team than the 2017 version. There are problems to fix on the roster. But how will they be fixed? Will the answers come in free agency, the draft or from within?
Looking at the team by position we can see if the fix can come from coaching and the continued draft-and-development, or if a free agent can make the difference.
We’ll start with the offense.