The Green Bay Packers are in an awkward stage of development. Most of their transactions in recent years appear as though they’re trying to compete—which makes sense when Aaron Rodgers is still your quarterback—and yet the roster still looks like it’s in a form of rebuilding.
Putting together a list of the Packers’ biggest needs was difficult, because they don’t have any positions that are obviously holding them back. And yet, other than at quarterback, they don’t have any areas of strength either.
If it weren’t for Rodgers, the obvious move for Green Bay would be to tear it down and start over. But with a 35-year-old future Hall of Famer at quarterback, but they’re not going to take that route. They want to make one last push with Rodgers at quarterback.
So, assuming Green Bay wants to attempt a quick rebuild without actually tearing it down, here’s a look at the positions they should addressnz this offseason.
Pass Rusher
Clay Matthews, who turns 33 in May, is an unrestricted free agent. Re-signing him is an option, but he’s no longer the pass-rush threat he used to be. According to Sports Info Solutions, Matthews was the Packers least effective edge-rusher in 2018, generating pressure on just 8.53 percent of his pass-rush snaps.
Nick Perry will likely be joining Matthews on the free agent market soon. He’s due a $4.8M roster bonus on March 15. If the Packers cut him and designate him as a post-June 1 cut, they’ll save $10.7M according to Spotrac.
Losing Matthews and Perry would mean backups Kyler Fackrell and Reggie Gilbert would be the remaining edge-rushers on the roster.
Fackrell led the team with 10.5 sacks, but there may have been a bit of luck to that. He only generated pressure on 9.42 percent of his pass-rush snaps, according to Sports Info Solutions. That pressure rate was even less than Perry (9.52 percent), who generated just 1.5 sacks.
It’s deep draft class for edge-rushers, so the Packers will likely target one with the 12th pick. But if both Matthews and Perry are gone, they’ll need to addressnz that need in free agency as well.
Safety
The Packers cycled through safeties last season, especially after parting with veteran Ha Ha Clinton-Dix at the trade deadline. The season ended with a combination of Kentrell Brice, Tramon Williams and Josh Jones, all of whom are under contract but aren’t guaranteed jobs.
Brice was arguably the weakest link of the group, especially due to his shaky tackling. Among safeties with at least 50 tackle attempts, Brice was far and away the worst in the league:
The Packers play a high percentage of man coverage under Mike Pettine, especially Cover 1, which requires a free safety with elite range. According to Sports Info Solutions, they were in Cover 1 on 41.0 percent of opponents dropbacks in 2018.
Despite relying heavily on Cover 1, the Packers were one of the worst teams in that formation, allowing the seventh most yards per attempt (8.49) according to Sports Info Solutions.
Finding upgrades at both safety positions could help put the Packers defense back on track.
Wide Receiver
Aaron Rodgers has a No. 1 target in Devante Adams but no one has been able to step up as a reliable No. 2.
2018 draft picks Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown both contributed last season but they were primarily used as deep threats. 30.6 percent of Valdes-Scantling’s targets were on throws 20 or more yards downfield, and 25.7 percent for St. Brown. So it remains to be seen how much they can contribute in a more complete role.
Given Rodgers’ age and the presence recent draft picks St. Brown and Valdes-Scantling, it probably makes the most sense for the Packers to add to the wide receiver depth chart through free agency.
Free agent Randall Cobb was the Packers primary slot receiver when healthy. Assuming he isn’t re-signed, that’s probably the type of receiver Green Bay should attempt to find. Golden Tate, Adam Humphries or Cole Beasley could be potential targets on the free agent market.
Offensive Line
The Packers offensive line returns mostly intact, but they should probably add some depth and some young talent to develop for the future.
Right tackle Bryan Bulaga is entering the final year of his deal and, given his injury history, it would make sense for the Packers to add his potential replacement sooner rather than later.
The Packers could also be in the market for an upgrade at right guard. Justin McCray, Byron Bell and Lucas Patrick split time at right guard last season. McCray and Patrick are under contract, but neither did enough to lock down the job.
