Packers: Post-draft position-by-position analysis on offense
After having a very solid draft, the Green Bay Packers currently sit among the NFC’s elite and are in a great position once again to contend for the Super Bowl.
The team’s overall roster is strong.
Let’s take a closer at the depth chart at each position as we move towards rookie mini-camp.
Quarterback
Four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers is the best in the galaxy at what he does. He is the greatest thrower of the football in NFL history.
Third-year backup Jordan Love, who could be promising, and fifth-year Kurt Benkert, who is a gunslinger, are ready to back up Rodgers if need be.
Running back
At running back, Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon form arguably the backfield duo in the league.
They both eclipsed over 1,000 all-purpose yards in 2021. They are thunder and lightning. Both very versatile.
Backup Patrick Taylor, who is slated to be the No. 3 RB, and Kylin Hill, who is more of a returner, will provide the depth behind Jones and Dillion.
Wide receiver
Wide receiver is the biggest question mark with Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Equanimeous St. Brown all on new teams.
After last week’s draft, which saw GM Brian Gutekunst select three new receivers, the corps is younger and deeper.
In no particular order, receivers Rodgers will be throwing to are:
- Allen Lazard (blue-collar player that can do everything)
- Randall Cobb (has Rodgers’ longtime trust in the slot)
- Sammy Watkins (true pro that can win one-on-one)
- Amari Rodgers (Cobb’s understudy)
- Christian Watson (second-round pick with perfect combo of size and speed)
- Romeo Doubs (back-to-back seasons of 1,000+ yards at Nevada with a total of 20 touchdowns)
- Samori Toure (averaged 19.5 yards per reception after transferring to Nebraska last season)
Green Bay was low on size prior to the draft at receiver (Lazard the only receiver standing above 6-1). They added three players standing at 6-2 or taller.
The only question about the receiving room is if they will add one more veteran like Julio Jones, who won’t want a lot of money, to make the corps complete.
Watson and Doubs are locks to make the roster. It will be interesting to see if Toure can make the 53-man roster as a seventh-rounder.
He will be competing with practice squad receivers Malik Taylor and Juwann Winfree, and possibly another veteran signee is Green Bay chooses to go that route.
It is safe to say the WR corps in Green Bay is in a strong place considering where it was earlier in the offseason.
Tight end
The Packers didn’t address the tight end position in the draft.
According to GM Brian Gutekunst’s last update in March, Robert Tonyan is ahead of schedule in his ACL injury recovery.
Behind Tonyan, the Packers have a lot of depth.
Although he is 37, Marcedes Lewis is one of the better run-blocking tight ends in the game and can be a capable option in the play-action passing game.
Josiah Deguara rebounded nicely last year after an ACL tear derailed his rookie year in 2020 (25 receptions, 245 yards, two TDs as the No. 3 TE).
Dominique Dafney is a versatile piece in this Matt LaFleur offense. He can play both fullback and tight end.
Tyler Davis is the quietest name in the room. At 6-foot-4, 250 pounds, Davis hasn’t gotten many opportunities but can be a mismatch if given a chance.
The TE room is very well-rounded.
Offensive line
Finally, the offensive line got much deeper during the NFL Draft.
After losing Billy Turner, Lucas Patrick and presumably Dennis Kelly in free agency, the Packers definitely needed more depth.
Keep in mind that Pro Bowler Elgton Jenkins is returning from his own ACL tear too.
Green Bay added versatile offensive linemen in G/T Sean Rhyan, G/T Zach Tom, and OT Rasheed Walker.
The Packers’ starting five in Week 1 looks to be LT David Bakhtiari, LG Jon Runyan, C Josh Myers, RG Royce Newman, and RT Yosh Nijman.
Once Jenkins returns, he could be put at guard or tackle. He is that versatile.
Rhyan, Tom, and Walker will help grow into steady backups and may even become more than that. The Packers are one of the best teams at molding solid, deep offensive lines. These new rookies will help provide important depth in 2022.
Gutekunst and the Packers brass addressed every need for the offense.
They added three electric, play-making receivers. They brought in more offensive line depth.
Packers fans need to remember that Green Bay has had a top-10 offense each of the past two seasons. That is not likely to change, especially when Jenkins and Tonyan are fully back from their major injuries.
They have the greatest thrower of the football ever at QB in Aaron Rodgers. They have arguably the best RB duo in Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon. The offensive line is now much deeper. The WR corps is younger, taller, and more athletic.
Not to mention there are more options for Rodgers to throw to. The TE room is a quality group too.
The only question is if they will add a veteran receiver like Julio Jones. Jones just needs a ring to cement his legacy as one of the greatest receivers ever.
He is 33 and coming off on an injury-plagued season in Tennessee. However, he became a two-time first-team All-Pro in Atlanta when Packers head coach Matt LaFleur was the Falcons’ QB coach.
That connection could be key.
Jones also wouldn’t ask for a ton of money. He would make not only the WR room complete but the entire offense complete as well.
Other than the question of adding a veteran receiver, the Green Bay Packers appear to have an offense that will produce tons of fireworks yet again in 2022.