Packers: Priority must be on offense this offseason

Last season, Brian Gutekunst spent big on defense. This year he must focus on the offense.

Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith proved to be huge acquisitions for the Green Bay Packers last offseason. Each had career years and Za’Darius looks like he’s ready to become a big star for years to come. The big swing in free agency paid big dividends.

Now he must do the same for the offense.

The team seemed to be stuck in neutral for long stretches and couldn’t find a rhythm despite being led by a two-time MVP at quarterback.

There was bound to be some slow starts and missteps in Matt LaFleur’s first year on the job. He is a rookie head coach and it was only his second year calling plays, making it highly likely there would be some hiccups on offense.

The Packers offense seemed to regress as the season went on and had their worst performances after their bye. The Packers still managed to finish one game short of the Super Bowl on the strength of their run game and their free-agent signings on defense.

If the Packers would like to make a similar run, their offense will need to improve leaps and bounds over last year’s version.

There is bound to be improvement from within with another year in the system. Year two will bring more comfort in the system and Aaron Rodgers should have a better handle on what his coach is looking for. But for the offense to take the next step, Gutekunst must restock the system with more talent at the offensive skill positions.

Allen Lazard looks like he is a keeper at receiver but after him and Davante Adams, there isn’t much to talk about.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling might be the biggest disappointment of the season. After having a solid rookie year, MVS seemed poised to be a breakout star at receiver. He has the height and speed every team is looking for, but couldn’t overcome drops and bad route-running to stay on the field.

Geronimo Allison wasn’t much better. If and when he did catch the ball, Allison developed a penchant for fumbling.

At tight end, Jimmy Graham has to go and Marcedes Lewis is best left being an extra blocker in the run game.

Robert Tonyan injured his hip and couldn’t regain the role he looked to have earned prior to the injury. Jace Sternberger‘s injuries never allowed him to get into a flow with the offense.

Of those six players mentioned, I would expect only half of them to be back. Graham is likely to be cut. Lewis, while he could serve a role, might be best to move on from and allow fresh blood at the position. The team should also let Allison walk. He’s had his chance the past two seasons to take hold of the number two receiver position. But Allison’s speed, or a lack of, isn’t changing.

Valdes-Scantling is too young and talented to give up on this soon and Sternberger is a third-round pick who isn’t going anywhere. Tonyan has shown enough to be given another chance.

That means there are plenty of spots open for new blood.

There will be some familiar names in free agency; Amari Cooper and A.J. Green lead the receiver pool. Neither player is expected to be franchised by their current team. The Cowboys look like they’ll have to use their tag on Das Prescott and the price isn’t worth it for Green.

Sammy Watkins could be cut by the Chiefs. Gutekunst has shown interest in him before so there’s no reason to think he wouldn’t be interested at what will be a discounted price from the last time he was on the market. Either one of those players would give the offense a big upgrade.

Green is on the wrong side of 30 and might have his best days behind him. But he wouldn’t have to be the number one player in Green Bay and would be the perfect fit as Adams’ sidekick.

Cooper would be the priciest of the three but would give the team the most upside. If the Packers went with Cooper, any other signing would have to be minor. Cooper will demand and get top dollar on the market. But he would be a solid second option. Cooper and Adams would be more like WR1 and WR1 if teamed up.

The more intriguing option would be Watkins. Watkins was high on Gutekunst’s radar during the 2018 offseason. Gutekunst was aggressive going after Graham, Watkins and Allen Robinson only to snag Graham. Watkins hasn’t lived up to the massive amount of potential but he’s only 26 and has the speed the Packers lack. He would be much cheaper than the last time the team pursued him.

The draft is also stocked with talent at receiver. Should the Packers fail to re-sign Bryan Bulaga or decide to use their first-round pick to fix the run defense, there is still plenty of talent to be had in the second round or later. In a perfect scenario, Gutekunst would come away with a prized free agent in addition to a high-round draft pick.

The picture at tight end isn’t as clear. Austin Hooper and Hunter Henry are at the top of the position but could still be franchised tagged.

There aren’t as many prospects in the draft as there are with receivers, but talent is out there to be found.

The Packers won’t have the same type of money to go after free agents like they did last year but they still have enough capital between draft picks and cap space to go after someone of note and land a young talent in the draft.

If the Packers can land some top-end offensive talent, there’s good reason to believe they can repeat their success, if not go further, in 2020.