Following two consecutive sub-.500 win seasons, the Green Bay Packers bounced back and won the NFC North in head coach Matt LaFluer’s first season. The Packers came one game short of their first Super Bowl appearance since 2010, losing in the NFC Championship to the San Francisco 49ers.
The offseason for the Packers has been a head-scratcher, especially in the NFL Draft. The team’s biggest need, which is at wide receiver, was not addressed and is still a huge need for the offense. With that, let’s looks at some of the additions and losses to the team this offseason.
Key Additions: OT Rick Wagner, LB Christian Kirksey, and WR Devin Funchess
Key Losses: OT Bryan Bulaga, LB Blake Martinez, LB Kyler Fackrell, and LB B.J. Goodson
Now, let’s dive into the Packers roster going into the 2020 season.
Quarterback
Starter: Aaron Rodgers
The Packers have honestly hurt Rodgers career numbers by the way they have not addressed the need at wide receiver. However, Rodgers is still a top 10 quarterback, as he is still throwing for over 4,000 yards and over 25 touchdowns without a reliable No. 2 option.
The Packers drafted Jordan Love, who is the successor to Aaron Rodgers once he hangs up his cleats. This pick was very controversial as it may upset the star QB, especially when they needed to address the need at wide receiver. However, Love will use the next couple of years to learn the system and develop to be ready to take over after Rodgers retires.
Running Back
Starter: Aaron Jones
Jones had a breakout season last year as the starting back for Green Bay. He rushed for 1,000 yards for the first time in his career and led the league in rushing touchdowns with 16. He remains as the starter for the Packers this year and looks to repeat his production from his 2019 campaign.
Along with Jones was Jamal Williams. Jones and Williams created a solid duo with Williams playing a role in the passing game, totaling five receiving touchdowns. In the second round of April’s draft, the Packers drafted running back, A.J. Dillon out of Boston College. He is expected to get some carries throughout the course of the year as well.
Wide Receiver
Starters: Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Aaron Rodgers still has his No.1 option and one of the league’s best wide receivers in Davante Adams, but after that it gets shaky. Last year, Adams posted his fourth straight season with over 70 receptions and 850 yards receiving yards. Adams is primed for another big season as the main target for the future Hall of Famer under center.
Lazard and Valdes-Scantling combined for 61 receptions and 929 receiving yard last year, which are both less than Adams numbers, and he played 12 games due to injury in 2019. Both Lazard and Valdes-Scantling need to step up to and produce more for the Packers offense to be more successful.
The Packers did sign wide receiver Devin Funchess to a one year deal this offseason, but he opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19.
Tight End
Starter: Marcedes Lewis
Lewis returned to the Packers on a one-year deal this offseason. With the departure of Jimmy Graham, Lewis will see more opportunity and production as the top target at the tight end position. Last year, Lewis caught 15 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown.
Offensive Line
Starters: David Bakhitari (LT), Elton Jenkins (LG), Corey Linsley (C), Lane Taylor (RG), and Billy Turner (RT)
The offensive line for the Packers took big hit with the departure of Bryan Bulaga to the Los Angeles Chargers. Lane Taylor will replace Bulaga on the line, who has 49 career starts with most of them at the left guard position.
Bakhitari is back and is going to be the leader of the offensive line as the former All-Pro holds one of the most valuable roles on the offense by protecting Rodgers.
The Packers did sign Rick Wagner during the offseason, but he is not slated to be a starter on the offensive line to start the season, but could play a key depth role for the line.
Defensive Line
Starters: Dean Lowry (LDE), Kenny Clark (NT), and Tyler Lancaster (RDE)
The defensive line is going to be led by Kenny Clark, who is one of the best interior pass rushers in the NFL. Last season, Clark was terrific up front for the Packers, setting a career-high in tackles with 62 and tying his career-high in sacks with six.
Linebacker
Starters: Preston Smith (LOLB), Christian Kirksey (LILB), Oren Burks (RILB), Za’Darius Smith (ROLB)
The Packer linebacker core suffered some big losses this offseason with the departures of Blake Martinez, Kyler Fackrell, and B.J. Goodson. However, they bounced back and added Christian Kirksey following his release from the Cleveland Browns.
The defense still has the Smith duo at linebacker, who were the only two defensive players on one team who each recorded at least 15 sacks last year. Preston and Za’Darius Smith carried the load on pass rushing ,last year and expect the same from the dynamic duo.
Cornerback
Starters: Jaire Alexander and Kevin King
Jaire Alexander is entering his third season I the NFL and is becoming a rising start at the cornerback position. In his first two seasons, he has 28 total passes defensed and over 50 tackles each season. He is the key piece to the secondary for the Packers this year and for years to come.
Safety
Starters: Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage
The Packers have an underrated duo at safety. Adrian Amos had a good 2019 campaign, marking a career-high in tackles (84), while recording eight passes defensed and two interceptions. He is the veteran piece of the secondary and is going to be big for the defense this year.
Darnell Savage has a ton of potential. In his rookie season last year, he recorded 55 tackles with five passes defensed and two interceptions. The former first round pick is entering his second seasons nd expect a jump in his game in 2020.
Special Teams
Starters: Mason Crosby (K), JK Scott (P), and Hunter Bradley (LS)
Mason Crosby returned on a three-year extension this offseason after spending all 13 season of his career in Green Bay. Over his career, he has converted on 81% of his field goal attempts and 98% on his extra-point attempts.
The Packers failed Aaron Rodgers this offseason by not getting him additional help at wide receiver, but he is set to have another good year and the Packers are in prime condition to win the NFC North for the seventh time in the past 10 years.
