The Packers came into the 2019 season with a bunch of question marks. The team finally moved on from Mike McCarthy and was now led by Matt LaFleur. While the offense endured many growing pains during the season, the new and improved defense shouldered the load behind their three key free-agent additions in Preston Smith, Za’Darius Smith, and Adrian Amos. The Packers went 13-3 led by a record of 8-1 in one-score games and made the playoffs as the second seed. While in the playoffs, they secured another close victory over Seattle before getting demolished by San Francisco in the NFC Championship Game.
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Offseason Recap
In an offseason that should’ve been spent on making the team better for another Super Bowl run, the Packers didn’t do that. Green Bay was able to bring back Allen Lazard after a great season where he cemented himself as the second wide receiver on the team and brought back Marcedes Lewis as well. The Packers reportedly made a run at Austin Hooper in free agency but the cost was too much. Ultimately, three starters were signed elsewhere as Bryan Bulaga went out west to Los Angeles for the Chargers. Meanwhile, Blake Martinez went to the Giants and Jimmy Graham decided that Chicago needed yet another tight end.
To replace Martinez, the Packers brought in former Browns linebacker, Christian Kirksey. Kirksey was brought in despite having a plethora of injuries the last few years but will provide similar run defending to Martinez, but better pass coverage for a fraction of the cost that Martinez got from the Giants. Similar to that, with Bulaga going to the Chargers, Green Bay stole from the division-rival Lions to get Ricky Wagner. Wagner isn’t as good in pass protection as Bulaga but is far better as a run-blocker, which the Packers seem to be more focused on.
Heading into the draft, Green Bay had pressing needs at the receiver, defensive line, and linebacker spots. What did they do with their first-round pick? They drafted their future starting quarterback while receivers and even Patrick Queen were still on the board. Well, certainly the draft had to be better after that right? Well if you think selecting a fourth-round prospect in the second-round at a position you’re set at and drafting an H-Back in the third round is getting better, then you’re right. Furthermore, the Packers didn’t select a defensive lineman or receiver in the draft.
Offense
Even with the sour taste of the draft in many Packer fan’s mouths, the offense should be better than last year heading into year two of the LaFleur system. Any team that has Aaron Rodgers as their quarterback will always be in contention to make the Super Bowl. Jordan Love will likely not get many snaps this year unless in cleanup duty or via injuries. Green Bay now has a three-headed backfield with Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams, and A.J. Dillon which will keep defenses on their toes all season.
Davante Adams is one of the best receivers in the league, but Green Bay has done little to give him any help. Lazard put together a solid season last year after being a longshot to make the roster, but he needs to be more consistent this year. Other than those two, the receiving core is severely lacking. The Packers are relying on a bunch of late-round picks and shots in the dark beyond those two, and are hoping that Jace Sternberger can take another step forward this year after showing some promise late in the season and into the playoffs. The offensive line doesn’t have the star power besides David Bakhtiari but will have more depth this year with six potential starters vying for five spots.
Defense
It still sounds weird to say this but the defense was the unit that led the Packers to the NFC title game. Behind the additions of the two Smith’s and Amos on defense, along with Kenny Clark, Jaire Alexander, and Kevin King all playing up to par, the defense provided more excitement than the offense last year.
Unfortunately, there are some holes in the defense, particularly on the defensive line and linebacker spots. Green Bay was awful against the run last year and it looks like that will be the case again this year. The Packers are hoping players such as Dean Lowry, Kingsley KeKe, Tyler Lancaster, and Oren Burks can take the next step against the run to make the defense even better.
Young players such as Rashan Gary, Chandon Sullivan, Raven Greene, and Josh Jackson are all going to be big factors as well in making the defense one of the best in the league. Gary needs to prove why the team used a first-round selection on him and Jackson is in a similar predicament being a former second-round selection. Greene and Sullivan are on the opposite side of the spectrum as they have shown promise after being longshots to make the roster.
Predicting the 53 Man Roster
QB (3) – Aaron Rodgers, Tim Boyle, Jordan Love
Even with the selection of Love in the first round, Rodgers is the starter for this year and next year as well. With no preseason, we won’t get to see Love in action other than in cleanup duty or if an injury occurs to Rodgers and or Boyle. Boyle will likely start the year as the backup to Rodgers as Love will have no game-time experience and Boyle already has a year in LaFleur’s system.
RB (4) – Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams, A.J. Dillon, Tyler Ervin
Even with Jones and Williams already on the roster and a bevy of other needs on the roster, the second-round selection was spent on Dillon. Jones is a great all-around back but the Packers might not have enough cap space to keep him with other expiring contracts on the roster. Williams also has his contract expiring, which may lead to Dillon taking over the lead-back role next year. Ervin has a roster spot locked up as the return-man. Dexter Williams and Patrick Taylor will likely be on the practice squad.
WR (6) – Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, Equanimeous St. Brown, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Jake Kumerow, Travis Fulgham
Adams and Lazard are the only two locks at the position. After being a longshot last year, Lazard enters this year as the number two receiver and will need to be more consistent. St. Brown looks to return from a torn ACL, while Valdes-Scantling and Kumerow are likely on their last shots for Green Bay. Fulgham was added late in the offseason and has the potential to make the roster over Reggie Begelton, Darrius Shepherd, Darrell Stewart, and Malik Turner, who are all candidates for the 16-man practice squad.
TE (4) – Jace Sternberger, Marcedes Lewis, Josiah Deguara, Robert Tonyan
This is one of the positions on the roster that is set in stone. Sternberger looks to breakout after he showed flashes in the playoffs. Lewis was brought back on another one-year deal to help the rushing attack and tutor Deguara as an H-Back/Tight End hybrid. Tonyan only has 14 catches for 177 yards and two touchdowns but will likely start as the TE2 in obvious passing situations. James Looney will likely find his way on the practice squad this year as he reverts to a new position.
OL (10) – David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Corey Linsley, Lane Taylor, Ricky Wagner, Billy Turner, Alex Light, Lucas Patrick, Jake Hansen, Jon Runyan
The left side of the offensive line is set with Bakhtiari, Jenkins, and Linsley. Taylor and Turner will likely battle for the right guard spot with whoever losing being the primary backup. Wagner will take over for Bulaga at the right tackle spot and Light will be the primary backup tackle. Patrick returns this year as a solid backup on the interior until Hansen and Runyan get up to speed. Yosh Nijman and Simon Stepaniak will find their way onto the practice squad.
DL (5) – Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, Kingsley KeKe, Treyvon Hester, Tyler Lancaster
Clark is quietly one of the best nose tackles in the league and just got a massive payday. Unfortunately, there aren’t many pieces behind him. Lowry didn’t play up to his new contract extension last year, while Lancaster did less last year with more playing time than in 2018. Pettine hopes that both KeKe and Hester can provide a spark on a defensive line that desperately needs it. Montravius Adams will be limited to the practice squad this year as he hasn’t lived up to his third-round selection.
EDGE (4) – ZaDarius Smith, Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, Tipa Galeai
The Smith’s combined for 25.5 sacks last year by themselves alone and form one of the best edge-rushing duos in the league. With another year in the system, they could be even more lethal this year. Gary will now be more involved in the rotation than last year as Kyler Fackrell has headed to the Giants. In this scenario, Galeai beats out Randy Ramsey, Tim Williams, and Jonathan Garvin for the final edge spot on the roster.
LB (4) – Christian Kirksey, Oren Burks, Curtis Bolton, Ty Summers
With Martinez going to the Giants during the offseason, the Packers brought in Kirksey to be the three-down linebacker. With Green Bay running mostly dime packages, the linebacker position isn’t as needed as on other teams. Burks is in a prove-it year and needs to show he can be a valuable part of the defense. Bolton was inline for a starting job last year before an injury in the preseason cost him while Summers is excellent on special teams. Kamal Martin and Krys Barnes will likely be practice squad candidates.
CB (6) – Jaire Alexander, Kevin King, Chandon Sullivan, Josh Jackson, Ka’Dar Hollman, Stanford Samuels
Alexander is one of the best young cornerbacks in the league but the room needs help outside of him. King managed to stay healthy last year and led the team in interceptions while Sullivan will start in the slot after he quietly executed a great season. Jackson needs to improve his play but could potentially be traded if he doesn’t. Hollman provided solid depth last year while Samuels will be the second undrafted free agent to make the team. Kabion Ento and Marc Antoine-Dequoy will be on the practice squad.
SAF (4) – Adrian Amos, Darnell Savage, Will Redmond, Raven Greene
Amos and Savage were both welcomed additions to a defense that desperately needed it last year. The two combined for four interceptions and while they didn’t get as many turnovers as they expected, provided many key plays in big games. Greene will likely be the third safety and will play the dime linebacker role as well but needs to stay healthy. Redmond is great on special teams. Vernon Scott will likely land on the practice squad as the seventh-round pick.
ST (3) – Mason Crosby, J.K. Scott, Hunter Bradley
This unit remains the same as last year. Crosby is coming off of a season where he made over 91 percent of his attempts, the best in his career. Both Scott and Bradley are third-year pros who have been better than expected after using draft selections on both. Currently, both Bradley and Crosby are on the COVID-list and hopefully can recover before the season starts.
COVID (1) – Devin Funchess
2020 Outlook
Unfortunately, this could be the last chance for the Packers to make a Super Bowl run with Rodgers as the starter. Green Bay is going to need to make some decisions after this year with contract situations regarding Jones, Williams, Bakhtiari, Linsley, Clark, Sullivan, and King’s contracts all expiring after this year. The schedule isn’t as easy as last year as they play games against New Orleans, Tampa Bay, San Francisco, Indianapolis, and Philadelphia this year who all match up well against the defensive scheme. The back half of the year is much easier with games against Jacksonville, Detroit, Carolina, Tennessee, and Chicago twice. If things get off to a rocky start though and LaFleur and Rodgers butt heads, the season could unwind in a heartbeat.
Season Prediction: 11-5 and Make a Run at the Super Bowl
Follow Mason Thompson on Twitter @Thompson22Mason
Main Image Credit: Embed from Getty Images
