Packers: Corey Bojorquez trade is paying dividends

At the end of the preseason, Green Bay Packers GM Brian Gutekunst traded a sixth-round draft pick in 2023 to the LA Rams in exchange for punter Corey Bojorquez and the Lions’ 2023 seventh-round pick.

This was in effort to improve the Packers’ special teams due to former draft pick JK Scott having been so inconsistent when the weather changed.

The Packers have been able to count on Mason Crosby throughout the years, and I won’t even bother going into the problems the Packers have had in return coverage, but an improvement at punter was long overdue. A better punting game has the potential to mask the return unit deficiencies.

Through the first three games, the “Bojo Blast” as some are calling him, has been quite impressive. Thus far, Bojorquez ranks 10th in the NFL in yards per punt averaging (48 yards) – four of which have come inside the 20, fifth in the NFL in net yards per punt (43.4), a long punt on the season of 63 yards, and is tied for first in the NFL with zero touchbacks.

Yes, it’s still early in the season and the real test will come when the weather changes. But right now, he’s helped the Packers become a really good directional punting unit. His placement has been able to help the special teams unit take opposing punt returners out of the game, which should allow him to be a “weapon” of sorts should the blocking up front hold up.

It is, however, disheartening that Brian Gutekunst has allocated draft capital on more than one occasion in attempt to fix the woes at punter in search of more consistency. Even though this has been a small sample size, it already looks as though the Packers have found a better option in the punting game – hopefully one they can rely on for several seasons beyond 2021.