The Green Bay Packers have seen a lot of veteran players depart this offseason including Aaron Rodgers, Marcedes Lewis, Adrian Amos, Dean Lowry, Randall Cobb, and Mason Crosby. That leaves the 2023 version of the team much younger and less experienced than last year’s team.
While the youth movement makes sense on several levels, there are still some positions that Packers could use some veteran help at before training camp opens next month.
Here are three positions the Packers could still fortify by signing a veteran free agent:
Position One the Packers Could Sign a Veteran: Backup Quarterback
Jordan Love is the starter now after Rodgers’ departure and the team will give the former first-round pick every opportunity to prove he should be the next long-term starter at the position.
But right now, the Packers lack an experienced backup. Neither of the two candidates on the roster have taken a snap in an NFL game. Danny Etling was drafted by the Patriots in 2018 but has still yet to appear in an NFL regular season game after five full seasons bouncing around the league.
The Packers also drafted Sean Clifford of Penn State. Clifford has good leadership skills according to scouts but lacks the arm strength to be a starting quarterback in the league.
The Packers don’t want to threaten Love’s status as the starter but having a backup with experience could help mentor Love and the other young quarterbacks on the roster. More importantly, the Packers need a backup who is ready to take over for a few games if Love gets injured and needs to miss time.
Position Two the Green Bay Packers Could Sign a Veteran: Wide Receiver
Right now, the Packers do not have any receiver on their roster with more than one year of NFL experience on their roster.
With an inexperienced quarterback like Love under center, having one reliable veteran on the roster could be a help.
Obviously, the Packers don’t want to take significant snaps away from young players like Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed and Samori Toure.
Still, a veteran could help speed up their development and give Love a reliable target to look to in clutch situations as he learns to be a starter in this league.
Position Three the Green Bay Packers Could Sign a Veteran: Safety
The issue at safety is more a lack of proven talent than anything else. We know Darnell Savage will be one starter but there are no proven starters on the roster right now. GM Brian Gutekunst seems to be hoping that by signing multiple players, one of them will emerge from the competition and claim the job.
John Johnson III remains a free agent and would be an upgrade over unproven players like Rudy Ford or Jonathan Owens.
It remains to be seen if Gutekunst decides to add any of these players before training camp starts but veteran upgrades at any of these positions could be helpful to the team in 2023.
Three Opportunities Jordan Love Took Full Advantage of in 2022
Contact/Follow us @Packer_Notes on Twitter, Subscribe to our Newsletter here, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Green Bay Packers news, notes, opinion, and analysis. You can also follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers
Follow this link and use promo code: BADGERNOTES for 25% off your next True Classic order.
Join our watch party on Playback Sports and stream Packers games by following this link
