Packers: Power ranking each position group based on depth
Entering the draft, it’s a good idea to look at where the Green Bay Packers are strongest and where they need the most help.
One way is to rank the team’s biggest needs. Another way to look at it is to rank the position groups based on depth. This doesn’t necessarily correlate to positions they need to address the most, but it’s a good way of highlighting where depth is an issue.
Starting with the positions they are deepest at, here are rankings of each position group for Green Bay.
1. Quarterback
The Packers lost Tim Boyle in free agency but have their top two sorted. Three-time MVP Aaron Rodgers is still one of the top two passers in the game and has a first-round pick backing him up.
The question of whether Jordan Love is the future answer at QB is fair, but for 2021, the Packers have better depth at the position than most teams.
2. Guard
The Packers could decide to draft an interior offensive lineman, especially if Elgton Jenkins moves to tackle, but in terms of talented players who can line up at guard, Green Bay has an embarrassment of riches.
Pro Bowler Jenkins and Lucas Patrick are as good as any starting pair. Billy Turner and Jon Runyan are also great options at either guard spot.
3. Edge rusher
Za’Darius Smith is one of the best pass rushers in football coming off consecutive double-digit-sack seasons. The decision to keep Preston Smith ensures the Packers maintain good depth at the position, especially with the emergence of 2019 first-round pick Rashan Gary late last season.
4. Running back
While Green Bay did lose Jamaal Williams, the decision to draft AJ Dillon now looks like a good one. A 1-2 punch of Aaron Jones and Dillon is up there with the best in the NFL. The Packers may decide to draft a running back late on, but they have an excellent top-two pairing.
5. Tight end
Robert Tonyan emerged with 11 receiving touchdowns in 2020 and is one of Aaron Rodgers’ favorite targets. Bringing back Marcedes Lewis is great news for the offense, while Green Bay also has high hopes for Jace Sternberger. Josiah Deguara will also have an important role to play returning from injury.
6. Safety
There aren’t many better starting pairings at safety than Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage. The Packers do have some depth with Vernon Scott and Will Redmond but they haven’t re-signed Raven Greene. Adding another safety in the draft should be considered.
7. Tackle
David Bakhtiari, Billy Turner, and Yosh Nijman are the only tackles currently on the roster, but Elgton Jenkins proved he can line up there and it could even be his future starting position. That said, with Rick Wagner gone, an injury or two could be problematic, especially considering Bakhtiari is currently recovering from a torn ACL. The Packers should draft a tackle.
8. Center
Given the fact Jake Hanson is officially the only center on the roster, this position drops down the list. That said, it’s not a major problem as Elgton Jenkins, Lucas Patrick, and Jon Runyan could all be candidates to play at center in 2021.
9. Defensive tackle
Once again, defensive line depth is a cause for concern entering the offseason. Kenny Clark needs some help up front and the Packers should look to find that either in the draft or free agency.
10. Wide receiver
In the past two seasons, the Packers have done a good job of winning games without Davante Adams. Despite that, the drop-off at the position if you take Adams out the lineup is significant. Receiver should be on the shopping list this offseason.
11. Inside linebacker
It would be a risk to enter the season with Krys Barnes and Kamal Martin as the top two options at inside linebacker. Saving it from being last in these rankings is the importance of the positions. It’s less important to have strong depth at linebacker compared to cornerback.
12. Cornerback
In today’s NFL, you need good cornerback depth. The Packers simply don’t have that. Outside of All-Pro Jaire Alexander, there’s some concern at the position. Kevin King has experience and has played well in the past but he struggled in 2020. Take Alexander and King out the lineup and the Packers would have all sorts of problems in the secondary.