Packers offense has potential to be one of league’s best in 2018
The Green Bay Packers offense has the potential to be one of the league’s best in 2018.
Aaron Rodgers automatically places Green Bay in the top tier of offenses in the league. But a fine offseason by new general manager Brian Gutekunst should ensure Rodgers has a strong supporting cast.
Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams and Ty Montgomery form a solid trio at running back. Jones and Williams impressed as rookies and offer a ton of potential entering their second season. They combined for 1,004 rushing yards and eight touchdowns last year.
Montgomery, when healthy, is a fine starter at the position. If these three can avoid injury, the Packers are set at running back, and could finally get some consistent production from the position.
Despite losing Jordy Nelson, Rodgers should have no shortage of receiving talent around him.
The addition of Jimmy Graham is a potentially big one. Graham has posted double-digit touchdowns four times in the past seven years, including a 10-touchdown campaign in Seattle last season.
Davante Adams has proven his 2016 season was no fluke. Even when Rodgers went down with a broken collarbone last year, Adams continued to put up consistent performances. He’s posted a league-high 22 touchdowns over the past two seasons. If both Adams and Rodgers stay healthy all season, they will be tough to defend.
Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison are good second and third options at receiver.
The competition for places behind them is where it gets interesting.
With three rookies — J’Mon Moore, Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown (easy names to remember) — joining Trevor Davis, Michael Clark and DeAngelo Yancey, there will be plenty of competition over the summer.
Moore could quickly become a solid No. 3 option in Green Bay’s offense. How the rest of the depth chart falls into place remains to be seen.
Depth is a concern along the offensive line, but the starting five form one of the league’s best pass-protecting groups. Two-time All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari leads the way. Much will depend on the health of right tackle Bryan Bulaga.
Chris Wesseling of NFL.com ranked the league’s top 10 offenses earlier this week. He had the Packers at No. 6, behind the Saints, Patriots, Steelers, Falcons and Chargers.
That’s a fair spot. But if Green Bay’s offense reaches its potential, it could easily take over the No. 1 position. They arguably owned the league’s top offense in 2014, but have failed to reach those heights since.
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The Packers will need to stay healthy along the offensive line. If one or two of the young receivers can become solid contributors, and Graham plays at a high level, this offense has a ton of potential.