Packers: It’s time to go all-in on offense this offseason
This offseason, the Green Bay Packers need to go all-in on offense.
Defense has been the top priority for the Packers on the opening couple of days of the draft in recent years, and understandably so, but the lack of investment on offense began to show in 2019.
In 2016, the offense boasted a wide receiver trio of Davante Adams, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb. Since then, Nelson and Cobb have gone but haven’t been successfully replaced.
Despite some contributions from Allen Lazard, Green Bay’s success on offense was almost exclusively because of Aaron Jones and Davante Adams. This offseason, GM Brian Gutekunst needs to use plenty of resources to add talent on this side of the ball.
Gutekunst did address the offensive line last offseason by signing Billy Turner and drafting Elgton Jenkins. They were the starting guards for most of the year. He’ll face some more difficult decisions along the line this spring, including the future of Bryan Bulaga. Adding more talent to the offensive line is never a bad idea, but it could become a necessity if Bulaga walks.
Former GM Ted Thompson always did a great job of restocking the wide receiver position, and the Packers often had one of the deepest groups in the NFL. But after drafting Adams in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft, the Packers have only used a Day 2 pick on a receiver once.
In fact, this team has barely used high picks on any skill position on offense in recent memory.
In the past four draft classes, the Packers have only selected a receiver, running back or tight end on the opening two days twice: Ty Montgomery in 2015 and Jace Sternberger in 2019.
Here is the list of receivers drafted by Green Bay since Adams:
- Jared Abbrederis (2014, fifth round)
- Jeff Janis (2014, seventh round)
- Ty Montgomery (2015, third round)
- Trevor Davis (2016, sixth round)
- DeAngelo Yancey (2017, fifth round)
- Malachi Dupre (2017, seventh round)
- J’Mon Moore (2018, fourth round)
- Marquez Valdes-Scantling (2018, fifth round)
- Equanimeous St. Brown (2018, sixth round)
That’s an awful lot of swings and misses. Montgomery, the highest pick, had the most success in Green Bay. But the majority of the others are no longer on the team.
Valdes-Scantling failed to make the second-year jump many expected, but it’s unfair to judge St. Brown just yet as he missed the entire season due to injury.
Fortunately, this year’s class looks to be historically strong at the wide receiver position. This should allow Gutekunst to target the position on the opening two days with confidence. Gutekunst has been aggressive when addressing needs in the past, and the same should be true this season at multiple positions on offense.
The Packers desperately need more talent at wide receiver, but tight end could also be a need. They’ll be expecting big things from Jace Sternberger in 2020, but Marcedes Lewis and Robert Tonyan are free agents and there’s a good chance Jimmy Graham won’t be back. Signing a veteran or adding another draft pick would be a good move to pair with Sternberger.
The Packers were fortunate to hit on a running back in the fifth round in 2017 with Aaron Jones. Without him, this offense would’ve been a mess in 2019.
Running back should also be on the list of priorities. With Jones under contract, this isn’t the biggest need. But the Packers should look to strengthen the depth at the position either in free agency or the draft. Bringing in a talented rookie might be the best way to go.
The defense still needs work, as was evident in the NFC Championship Game, but the offense should become the priority this offseason. After failing to add playmakers early in the draft for half a decade, the lack of depth at each skill position became clear in 2019.
Fortunately, Green Bay has nine draft picks and enough cap room (with the option to create more) and has every opportunity to add talent this offseason.