Packers: Top five position groups on roster entering 2022 season
The Green Bay Packers enter the 2022 season with a championship-level roster, but where are they the strongest?
As long as Aaron Rodgers is the quarterback, Green Bay’s offense will be up there with the best in the NFL.
He could be helped out by a top-five defense this year, too.
What are the Packers’ five strongest position groups, in terms of talent and depth, entering 2022?
1. Quarterback
Back-to-back MVP winner Aaron Rodgers returns to the Packers this season on a new deal.
Still playing some of the best football of his career, Rodgers makes the Packers Super Bowl contenders. He will be aiming for a third straight MVP award in 2022.
Rodgers is backed up by 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love.
With Rodgers and Love, the Packers have arguably the best QB room in the NFL.
2. Running back
Another area Green Bay is particularly strong is running back.
In Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon, the Packers have two running backs capable of playing a featured role. What makes this pair even better is how they complement each other.
Both Jones and Dillon had over 1,000 yards from scrimmage last season.
Jones is explosive and can turn a short gain into a huge touchdown run at any moment. He is also an excellent receiver. Dillon is powerful and a nightmare for defenders to tackle. Together, they form a thunder-and-lightning combination.
With backups Kylin Hill and rookie Tyler Goodson, the Packers have a couple of talented, young running backs with potential.
3. Offensive line
Another year, another deep offensive line in Green Bay.
When fully healthy, the Packers’ starting five includes five-time All-Pro David Bakhtiari, Pro Bowler Elgton Jenkins, and 2021 second-round pick Josh Myers.
Green Bay has invested a ton of draft picks into building the offensive line in recent years. Jon Runyan, Royce Newman, Yosh Nijman, Sean Rhyan, Zach Tom, Cole Van Lanen, and Rasheed Walker will all be in the mix for starting jobs this season.
The Packers have incredible versatility and depth across the line.
4. Defensive line
Defensive line, a strength? You bet.
Led by Pro Bowler Kenny Clark, the Packers’ defensive line could be one of the best in the NFL this season.
Clark has needed some help up front for many years. He now finally has it.
Green Bay retained Dean Lowry, who is coming off his best season in the NFL. The team also signed Jarran Reed in free agency and drafted Devonte Wyatt in the first round. Both will compete for starting jobs.
TJ Slaton enters year two after impressing as a rookie.
This could be a very strong group in 2022.
5. Cornerback
Name a better cornerback trio in the NFL than Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, and Rasul Douglas. I’ll wait.
Why cornerback isn’t higher on this list is due to the Packers’ depth behind these three. But when focusing just on the starters, this is as talented a trio as any.
Douglas was signed off the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad in October. By January, he was a Pro Bowl alternate.
According to Pro Football Reference, Douglas allowed the fourth-lowest passer rating in the NFL last year (44.5). He tied for fourth in interceptions (five) and tied for the league lead in pick-sixes (two).
Both Douglas and Stokes ranked inside the top 10 for the lowest completion percentage allowed.
Stokes also had 14 pass defenses and allowed a passer rating of just 71.3.
Douglas and Stokes dominated with Alexander out most of the season. When Alexander was last fully healthy in 2020, he made the Pro Bowl and was a second-team All-Pro.
He recently became the highest-paid cornerback in football, and for good reason.