Happy Wednesday everybody. Let’s dive into some of your questions.
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“Will The Packers get rid of DC Joe Berry?” (jasonholoubek8596)
My guess is yes. I assume Matt Lafleur will wait till the off-season to make the change just like he did last year with Packers special teams coordinator Maurice Drayton.
“Bro at this point I have no questions the Packers are sitting in 3rd place in their division.” (marioestrada6565)
Imagine if you would have told all of us Packers fans before the season that on December 14th we would be ranked 3rd in the NFC North. I’d think you were nuts.
I did think the Vikings would take a step forward this year with some of the changes they made, but I still assumed we’d win the division. I assumed incorrectly.
But the fact that right now the Lions are ahead of us is wild. Luckily over the next couple weeks the Packers have a chance to push ahead of them. We also play them one more time on January 8.
You have to give lots of credit to the Lions for what they have overcome after starting the year 1-6 and now sitting at 6-7. The Lions are a very likable team. Dan Campbell has changed the identity of the Detroit Lions. They play with a toughness and intensity that not many other teams play with. I guess that’s what happens when you are an under dog and nobody believes in you. It brings you closer to each other and gives you that much more motivation to prove everyone else wrong.
“Looking ahead to the draft I think the defense needs to be a priority, what do you think?” (connorwerdel2981)
The Packers defensive performance this year has been quite perplexing. Right now it is a much bigger weakness than the offense.
Looking back to last year's draft the Packers 2nd, and two 4th round picks (Christian Watson, Zach Tom, & Romeo Doubs) have made a bigger impact than the Packers two 1st round picks (Quay Walker & Devonte Wyatt). Quay Walker immediately won the starting job over Krys Barnes but has struggled to be consistent this year. He’s had flashes of greatness but is still figuring things out. PFF has him graded as the 59th best linebacker out of 82.
Devonte Wyatt on the other hand hasn’t seen the field much. He’s played in 125 snaps this year. One interesting thing I just researched is PFF has him graded slightly higher than Kenny Clark, Jarran Reed, and Dean Lowry this season. Hopefully next year Devonte Wyattl starts getting more opportunities and develops into something great.
Once the season comes to an end I will start diving more into the NFL draft and my thoughts on what the Packers should do.
Right now with how the defense looks it could make lots of sense to draft a defender in the 1st round. Right now the Dline and the safety room seem to be the areas that need the most improvement. Adrian Amos is going to become a free agent and we will see if the Packers decide to bring him back.
Darnell Savage will likely be back next year because the Packers exercised his 5th year option. Right now that’s not looking like the smartest idea as he has consistently struggled this year. They could move on but if I understand it correctly they would take on a pretty big dead cap hit in 2023. Rudy Ford who was brought in this year has played great at safety. He’s gotten more opportunities as the years gone on. Right now PFF has him graded as the 4th best safety in the NFL. Resigning him this offseason would be smart.
One thing that would be funny is if after having drafted two great receivers in 2022 the Packers come in this year and finally break the streak of drafting 1st round wide receivers. I wouldn’t be mad. In a league centered around the pass you can never have too many weapons. We’ve seen what can happen with injuries.
“At the end of the season it looks as if Watson and Doubs continue to be star players. Do the Packers still consider WR in the first 3 rounds of the draft?” (mit2971)
Not necessarily. As I stated at the end of the last answer I don’t think it would be a bad idea, but at the same time we do have three young receivers in Watson, Doubs, and Toure who could all be something special. We could use the first 3 rounds to adress more pressing needs than WR.
Randall Cobb and Allen Lazard will both be free agents this off-season. The Packers will have to decide if they want to bring both of them back. I feel like Randall coming back will hinge on Aaron Rodgers decision. Brian Gutekunst traded for Randall Cobb last year because it’s what Aaron wanted. If Aaron isn’t here I’m not sure that Gutey will bring Cobb back. I do think the Packers will sign Lazard. They still need to have some kind of veteran presence in the wide receiver room.
It would be smart of the Packers to sign another veteran WR this off-season to give the room more solid depth in 2023.
“Is the Jordan Love story legit?” (caleb.a.ruehs)
I assume you mean the story that’s floated around of people saying he wants to be traded if Rodgers returns in 23? I’ve seen a few titles with this idea but that’s not what he said. Some took what Packers reporter Jason Wilde said was his opinion about Love as fact. Wilde said this,
“I had a really great conversation with Jordan on Friday afternoon. I think he very clearly, even though he wouldn’t flat-out say it, he does not want to sit for another year. So, if we get to year four, and Rodgers does come back, I am fairly confident that he will seek a trade.”
Love just said that he will talk with his agent about what will happen if Rodgers returns in 2023. He never said he will be seeking a trade. He never mentioned a trade. Some people seem to have taken Wilde’s opinion as if Jordan Love said it.
I believe the Packers need to address safety, tight end, O line and D line in the draft. I'm sure Jordan Love doesn't want to sit another year but it seems the Packers have the leverage. I really hope he gets a legitimate chance to be a starter. Hopefully in Green Bay but if not then somewhere where he has a realistic chance to succeed.