What the Packers need and already have as they prepare for the NFL Draft
Riddick: Josh Jacobs has the potential to elevate the Packers’ offensive game.While Louis Riddick is sorry to hear that the Packers dismissed Aaron Jones, he thinks Josh Jacobs is a good addition. Green Bay, Wisconsin The Green Bay Packers added two first-round picks in outside linebacker Clay Matthews and nose tackle B.J. Raji to their defense the last time they made such a dramatic shift, going from a 4-3 to a 3-4 in 2009 after hiring Dom Capers as coordinator.
With Jeff Hafley joining as defensive coordinator this year, the team’s return to a 4-3 formation also requires the same level of dedication, but at different spots that are essential to the new system. The first move was made by general manager Brian Gutekunst when he signed former Giants safety Xavier McKinney in free agency, offering him a four-year, $67 million contract with a $23 million signing bonus.
This comes after Hafley emphasized the significance of his plan’s safety during his opening press conference. Hafley still needs help in at least one other position: inside linebacker. The Packers are short there since they have three off-the-ball linebackers on the field when they deploy their base 4-3, in addition to having dismissed veteran De’Vondre Campbell at the beginning of free agency.
That will almost certainly be a priority early in the draft, where Gutekunst has 11 picks in total, five of which come in the first three rounds. However, it is not the only area of need. Here’s a look at the Packers’ roster and what they need at each position: Quarterback What they have: A long-term starter. Jordan Love proved himself worthy last season and is almost guaranteed to get a long-term contract extension this offseason. Sean Clifford appears to be a good backup who could be traded to another team in the near future.
What they need: Alex McGough was the No. 3 quarterback last season but was on the practice squad; they haven’t had a third quarterback on the field for years. But Gutekunst stated that he intends to choose and nurture quarterbacks. “I’d like to get back to that because I just think having young, talented quarterbacks on your roster that the coaches can develop, I just think is really healthy and important for a franchise,” Gutekunst stated. Reversing course
What they possess: Josh Jacobs, who takes Aaron Jones’ spot as RB1, and AJ Dillon, who remains RB2 for the time being. As part of a four-year, $48 million contract, the Packers handed Jacobs a $12 million signing bonus; but, considering the financial structure of the deal, it’s really more of an annual contract. Dillon is back for a season on a prove-it deal. The offseason roster also includes Ellis Merriweather, Henry Pearson, Emanuel Wilson, and fullback Henry Pearson. What they would need: Drafting Aaron Jones’ ultimate replacement would have been top priority if the Packers had kept Jones and not signed Jacobs. However, the 29-year-old Jones and the 26-year-old Jacobs took over the position, so any quick additions here would be more for depth.
