The Green Bay Packers controlled their own destiny heading into the last week of the NFL season and ultimately fell short on a great run that nearly resulted in a playoff berth after starting the season 4-8. Now the Packers, a bit unsure at several positions, including quarterback, have several positions of need heading into the NFL offseason. Let’s look at the Packers positions of need.
Safety
The Green Bay Packers have a lot of work to do at safety, Darnell Savage had his fifth year option picked up before the 2022 season and struggled at times but found some footing later in the season when Defensive Coordinator Joe Barry began moving him around the defense, not just at safety. Savage is the only safety on the roster that played significant time that is under contract for 2023.
Long time Packer Adrian Amos and newcomer Rudy Ford are both free agents. Adrian Amos had a bit of a decent year in 2022 compared to 2021. In 2021 Amos had two interceptions to just one in 2022 but did add a fumble recovery. Amos also registered more tackles in 2022, 102 to 93 in 2021 and missed fewer tackles as well. In 2021 Adrian Amos was charged with eight missed tackles, finishing with a tackle percentage of 92.1 percent. In 2022, Amos missed just four, finishing with a 96.1 percent tackle rate, certainly a player the Packers could use back on the roster if a deal that works for both parties can be agreed to.
Rudy Ford should be a priority this off-season
The other key free agent safety the Packers should likely want to retain is Rudy Ford, cut by the Jaguars ahead of the 2022 season and promptly scooped up by Brian Gutekunst. Ford was lauded as a strong special teams contributor and was brought in to help an overhauled unit under Rich Bisaccia. However, Ford not only found himself on special teams, but also in the secondary quite regularly, first filling in for Adrian Amos when he had a concussion, and then taking over for Darnell Savage during his struggles and move to the slot coverage position.
Over the last six games of the season, Ford played 85 percent or more of snaps in four of the six. Ford over the course of the season played just 43 percent of defensive snaps but still managed to collect three interceptions, third on the team to only Jaire Alexander and Rasul Douglas, both cornerbacks who played over double the snaps Ford did.
Whether the Green Bay Packers choose to go the route of retention, free agency or the draft, safety will be one of the biggest positions of need going into 2023.
Linebacker
Admittedly, this won’t be the most pressing need for the Green Bay Packers heading into 2023, but still one to keep an eye on. The Packers will likely start the season without Rashan Gary, who was heading for an All-Pro season before tearing his ACL against the Lions in Detroit. Rashan Gary does possess an otherworldly work ethic and we did see with Robert Tonyan that a mid-season ACL tear isn’t necessarily an indicator that a player can’t be ready for the season opener. However, Brian Gutekunst doesn’t have the luxury of sitting back to wait.
The Packers, with Gary healthy, have a pretty decent linebacking corps, Gary, Preston Smith, who remains one of the Packers most consistent players, Devondre Campbell, who was First Team All-Pro in 2021, and Quay Walker and Kingsley Enagbare, two rookies who showed a lot of future potential and are in position for huge roles in 2023. After that the Packers’ depth at linebacker is a bit questionable. Kris Barnes is a restricted free agent, not a guarantee that he is back. Justin Hollins provided some help as a pass rusher but would be better as a backup to Gary and Smith than as a starter. Isaiah McDuffie had some flashes during the season and is under contract for 2023 does give the Packers some depth at linebacker if Barnes were to sign elsewhere.
Given the injury to Rashan Gary and the need for depth, the Packers may not need to add a lot to the linebacker room, but likely still one or two players, whether through the draft or free agency.
Defensive line
Defensive line is going to be one of the Green Bay Packers biggest positions of need heading into 2023. Dean Lowry will be an unrestricted free agent, Jarran Reed only had a one year deal with the Packers and is likely heading for a pay raise in 2023 and while Devonte Wyatt did come along strong towards the end of the season, rebuilding defensive line depth, and preferably dominance, will be a high focus area for the Packers front office.
TJ Slaton is likely due for a large increase in playing time backing up Kenny Clark at nose tackle in 2023, Slaton had a quietly solid season for the Packers in his second season. The aforementioned Devonte Wyatt, assuming the Packers aren’t able to find a way to bring back Lowry and Reed on deals that work for the players and the team, is likely due for a starting gig at defensive end in 2023. You could make the case, and I wouldn’t argue, that Wyatt’s play warrants letting one or both of Lowry and Reed go to free up more playing time for Wyatt.
Offensive line
Switching sides of the ball but staying in the trenches, even though the Green Bay Packers could let their main offensive free agent Yosh Nijman go and slot in Zach Tom at right tackle and have a damn solid offensive line, we know Brian Gutekunst is going to be looking for offensive line depth and value in the draft.
Offensive line may not be the strongest position of need, but it is certainly a position that you want your team to be prepared for injuries than to have to react to them. This may actually be the biggest strength of Brian Gutekunst as GM, replenishing talent at offensive line, look for more of the same when the 2023 NFL Draft rolls around.
Wide receiver
Brian Gutekunst and the Green Bay Packers front office nailed the wide receiver position in the 2022 NFL Draft. Snagging Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs, both who despite dealing with some unfortunate injuries during the season, look to be massive parts of the team’s future.
That said, Randall Cobb is a free agent essentially tied to the future of Aaron Rodgers, same goes for Allen Lazard, who is likely due for a sizable pay raise after scoring 14 touchdowns over the last two seasons and being one of the best blocking wide receivers in the entire NFL.
The Packers have Samari Toure and Bo Melton stashed on the practice squad but will certainly have to build depth back up, whether through free agency or the draft. Is this finally the season we see the Packers take a first round wide receiver? Maybe Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba?
Tight end
The Green Bay Packers will need to take a good hard look at the tight end position heading into 2023. Marcedes Lewis is a free agent, regardless of whether Aaron Rodgers is on the team I’d love to see Lewis back if he’s willing to keep playing, he’s a fantastic blocker and sure handed when the Packers are looking to catch a team off guard by sending him out on a route. Robert Tonyan is also a free agent and not guaranteed to be back in 2023, potentially looking for a change of scenery. Tyler Davis is also a free agent but is far more valuable as a special teams contributor than an offensive weapon.
That leaves just Josiah Deguara as the lone tight end guaranteed to be on the team in 2023, Deguara plays a dual role often acting as the Packers fullback in certain sets. I do like Deguara acting as the lead blocker for Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon.
The Green Bay Packers have a lot of work to do at tight end going into 2023.
