Packers have money, picks to be offseason players
The Green Bay Packers have largely competed for a Super Bowl for each of the past 25 years. If they plan on keeping that stretch going, they need to add more pieces on both sides of the ball.
While Aaron Rodgers remains one of the league’s great quarterbacks, the supporting cast around him went utterly stale in 2018. After years of public scraps, the Packers finally moved on from head coach Mike McCarthy. In his place is 39-year-old Matt LaFleur, who is both a terrific offensive mind and also getting his first head-coaching job on any level.
If LaFleur can command the respect of Rodgers and get some early success under his belt, he has a chance to be a very good hire.
Beyond the potential upgrade at head coach, general manager Brian Gutekunst has to give Rodgers help on the field. Last year, Rodgers was blessed with Davante Adams but behind him, was largely throwing to a pair of talented but young kids in Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown. That’s not getting any team into the Super Bowl conversation.
With cap space at his disposal and a pair of first-round picks at hand, Gutekunst has to add in this area. The class of free agents aren’t deep at wide receiver, but additions such as Tyrell Williams or even Adam Humphries would be nice, depending on the cost. Beyond that, the draft has a pair of intriguing kids out of Ole Miss in D.K. Metcalf and A.J. Brown. There’s also N’Keal Harry out of Arizona State, who some believe could be a second-round pick with first-round potential.
On defense, the Packers must start backfilling the edge position. At 33 years old, Clay Matthews has likely played his last snap as a member of Green Bay. If Nick Perry is retained, one of the spots is locked up. If not, the Packers have to strongly get into the market for pass-rush help. Luckily, Green Bay has a wide array of players to choose from when you look at both the open market and the draft. In the latter, one NFL executive expressed to me that there are a dozen pass-rushers who he believes are worthy of a first-round choice.
No matter which avenues Gutekunst takes in the coming days and weeks, the objective is clear. Help Rodgers win another Super Bowl with short and long-term help, especially on the perimeter of the offense and the front of the defense.
