Lombardi Ave
FanSided

Packers: Three players who need to step up in 2019

By Freddie Boston

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 02: Jimmy Graham #80 of the Green Bay Packers is tackled by David Amerson #38 of the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of a game at Lambeau Field on December 02, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 02: Jimmy Graham #80 of the Green Bay Packers is tackled by David Amerson #38 of the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of a game at Lambeau Field on December 02, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Three players the Green Bay Packers need to step up in 2019.

The Green Bay Packers will likely be active in free agency as they try to strengthen the roster this offseason, with the aim of returning to the playoffs next season.

But while the additions in free agency and the draft will be key, the Packers also need players on the roster to step up.

Here are three players who can help the Packers make the playoffs if they improve in 2019:

Jimmy Graham

Signed to a three-year, $30 million deal last offseason, the expectation was that Jimmy Graham would become a big part of the passing game, especially in the red zone. But that’s not how it turned out in 2018. While Graham didn’t have a bad season, putting up the team’s second-most receiving yards with 636, he only found the end zone twice.

Considering that Graham’s cap hit is $12.67 million for 2019, fourth-highest on the team, according to Over The Cap, the Packers will need more production from their number one tight end next season.

Nick Perry

Right now, there’s no guarantee Nick Perry will even be on the roster when the new season begins. The Packers could free up over $3 million in cap room if they decide to release Perry this offseason.

But as he’s under contract for 2019, we’ll assume he’s still part of the Packers’ plans. And considering he’s set to have the team’s second-highest cap hit for 2019 at $14.43 million, according to Over The Cap, Green Bay needs Perry to make a bigger contribution on defense.

Perry missed seven games due to injury in 2018, and finished with just 1.5 sacks. The Packers need to strengthen the pass rush this offseason, but if Perry can hit double-digit sacks as he did in 2016, the defense will be much-improved.

J’Mon Moore

The Packers selected three wide receivers in last year’s draft, and the first was J’Mon Moore in the fourth round.

But Moore played on just 6.89 percent of the team’s offensive snaps, according to Pro Football Reference. Moore only had two catches for 15 yards all season. The only wide receiver on the team to finish with fewer receiving yards was Allen Lazard, who only played in one game.

Home/Green Bay Packers News