The Green Bay Packers are currently inside a Super Bowl window, especially with Aaron Rodgers reaching a new three-year deal to remain in northeast Wisconsin for what would appear to be the rest of his career.
The team was also able to keep key defensive pieces in All-Pro LB De’Vondre Campbell and standout CB Rasul Douglas. However, franchise legend Davante Adams was traded to the Las Vegas Raiders. Green Bay has holes to fill, but the roster is still in great shape.
The Packers really only have two major offensive needs — wide receiver and offensive line.
Starting with the offensive line, the team released veteran RT Billy Turner and let versatile C/G Lucas Patrick sign with the Chicago Bears. Also, the team still has not re-signed 10-year OT Dennis Kelly.
All-Pro LT David Bakhtiari is coming off of an injury-riddled season in which he was trying to return from his 2020 ACL tear. Pro Bowl G Elgton Jenkins is coming off his own ACL tear, which he suffered in November.
Rookie C Josh Myers only played in six games last season due to multiple injuries, including a knee injury. Rookie G Royce Newman started 16 regular season games in 2021. Backup T Yosh Nijman and backup G Jon Runyan Jr. played at a very high level in replacement for both Bakhtiari and Jenkins.
The Packers are currently looking at a starting O-line of Bakhtiari, Runyan (until Jenkins returns), Myers, Newman, and Nijman. The offense has a solid top six protecting Aaron Rodgers but needs more depth. Look for GM Brian Gutekunst to use a couple draft picks on some versatile linemen that can play multiple positions.
Next up, the biggest need maybe in the entire league comes at the WR position for HC Matt Lafleur and Co.
Davante Adams is the best receiver in the game and his connection with Aaron Rodgers was one of the greatest in NFL history. Green Bay needs to replace that. The team still has some capable options.
Fan-favorite Randall Cobb has a long history and strong connection with Rodgers, especially from the slot. Allen Lazard is your typical do-it-all guy. At 6-foot-5, 230 lbs, Lazard is a big-body who can line up anywhere and run every route. He is also one of the best run-blocking receivers out there.
But after that, second-year wideout Amari Rodgers only has four career catches. Malik Taylor, Juwann Winfree, Chris Blair, and Rico Gafford are predominantly practice squad players.
With roughly $15 million in cap space and four top-60 draft picks, Green Bay has plenty of options. Seattle’s D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett and Houston’s Brandin Cooks are intriguing options on the trade market.
Free-agent receivers include Julio Jones, Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham Jr., Will Fuller, A.J. Green, Emmanuel Sanders, and Sammy Watkins.
If Green Bay wants to address the position via this month’s draft, the top-level prospects are Ohio State’s Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson, Arkansas’s Treylon Burks, USC’s Drake London, and Penn State’s Jahan Dotson. The Packers will have plenty of time and options to upgrade their receiver room by Week 1.
The rest of the offense is ready to go. You have arguably the best QB in NFL history in Aaron Rodgers back under center. RBs Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon form arguably the best backfield duo in the game. The TE room is led by vertical threat Robert Tonyan, who was re-signed this offseason and is making his way back from his own ACL tear, 17-year vet and run-blocking extraordinaire Marcedes Lewis, and versatile players in Josiah Deguara and Dominique Dafney.
Defensively, Joe Barry’s defense doesn’t have any diehard needs in terms of starters. They are locked up on the line and on the edges.
Rashan Gary, fresh off of yet another career-high season with 9.5 sacks, and Preston Smith (career-high in sacks is 12), who was given a new three-year contract by Green Bay, are ready to rush the passer together again.
Two-time Pro Bowl DT Kenny Clark and newly-signed veteran Jarran Reed (career-high in sacks is 10.5) will command the interior. First-team All-Pro De’Vondre Campbell is back with the Packers on a five-year deal. He and third-year LB Krys Barnes (set a career-high in tackles and pass break-ups in 2021) will defend the middle together.
However, the strength of this defense could very well be the back end.
All-Pro Jaire Alexander is a shutdown CB. Rasul Douglas, a fantastic story, is back on a brand new three-year deal. After a solid rookie season, speedy CB Eric Stokes will be entering his second season. Those three cornerbacks only played in one game together last season.
Playing centerfield is one of the more underrated safety duos in the game. Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage will be going into their fourth season together back there. After the release of All-Pro OLB Za’Darius Smith, perhaps GM Brian Gutekunst might want to think about either re-signing veteran edge rusher Whitney Mercilus or using a pick on that spot.
Also, drafting another ILB with the loss of Oren Burks to free agency might be in the cards for Green Bay. Finally, with the team not re-signing S Henry Black, the front office might want to look at addressing that position as well.
With the strong addition of an experienced special teams coordinator in Rich Bisaccia, Green Bay might want to also think about getting special teams help in the draft. As great as it is to see players like A.J. Dillon give their all in order to help the team, let’s not forget that Dillon got injured on a kickoff in Green Bay’s home playoff loss to San Francisco.
That was a big injury because the Packers were not able to run the ball on the 49ers after that. The Packers cannot afford to put key contributors in harm’s way any longer.
All in all, Green Bay is in a good spot with its roster. They only have two serious needs. They have lots of ammunition. They were able to get a lot of their key contributors back this offseason. It will be interesting to see what they do between now and early September in order to get themselves over the hump and grab those win-now players who can help them bring the Vince Lombardi Trophy back home.