Coming into 2023, the expected strength of the Green Bay Packers was supposed to be the defense. Early on, that proved to be correct, but as the season progressed, the defense seemed to regress while the offense made strides.
The Packers team has a good core of youth and is looking to fill out a roster to compete for a Super Bowl next year. To do so, they must improve in a few positions.
Let’s Look at the most important positional needs going into the 2024 season.
Green Bay Packers Biggest Hole Is Safety
The defense has some glaring needs in the secondary, especially with the expiring contracts of the following starters: Keisean Nixon, Darnell Savage, Jonathan Owens, and Rudy Ford.
Safety has been a position that the Green Bay Packers have patched over the years, but it is now the thinnest position on the team. I expect them to sign a free agent and draft one or two. Newly hired defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley mentioned the value of safety in his defense.
” I want a guy who can go sideline to sideline and take the ball away,” Hafley mentioned in his recent press conference. Hafley also mentioned in layman’s terms that he wants an aggressive safety that won’t shy away from tackling.
Currently, the Packers have seventh-round pick Anthony Johnson Jr. and a couple of practice squad guys as the only safeties on the team. In recent years, Brian Gutekunst doubled up when the team was thin at a position. Expect him to be aggressive in free agency and in the draft to fill this position.
Aaron Jones Proved the Value of a Running Back
Safety and running back are undervalued and underpaid positions, and the Packers need both. The offense when Aaron Jones was healthy compared to when he was out was night and day. The NFL might not value running backs like the 1990s, but they make a difference. I doubt the Packers will bring back AJ Dillon unless it’s on a cheap deal. The 62nd pick in the 2020 draft was good, but he never had the breakout season we were all waiting for.
Aaron Jones is 29 years old. Patrick Taylor was released, then resigned, but was mainly used on passing downs. Emanuel Wilson never could recreate what he could do in the preseason. The 2024 draft may not have a first-round back. This draft does have some guys that could complement the offense well. I would expect Gutekunst to address this position in the draft.
Linebacker Depth Needed With Green Bay Packers New Scheme
The scheme may be over-talked about, with most of the league running two high nickels nowadays. Regardless, the Packers plan to be more of a 4-3 defense under Hafley. It is a change from the 3-4 defenses of the past years.
The Packers currently have three inside linebackers on the roster. Quay Walker, De’Vondre Campbell, and Isaiah McDuffie. With the base defense needing three linebackers, depth is much needed. This year’s draft has some talented linebackers that would fit well in the defense. If the Packers want to spend up at linebacker, they can find their guy in the second or third round.
PackerNotes Staff Mock Draft 1.0: Green Bay Packers Address Secondary
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