Thoughts about the Packers after the Draft
No matter what your thoughts are of the NFL Draft, it definitely got Packer fans talking. The Packers ended last season with a 13-3 record and an appearance in the NFC Championship Game. Two major events that generate a lot of hype during the offseason are the start of free agency and the draft. There are so many opinions about this draft and whether the Packers actually improved their team. I was trying to make sense out of this draft myself, but I don’t think it is time to panic.
The controversy started on Day 1. The Packers traded up from the 30th overall pick to the 26th and gave up their fourth-round pick in the process. Will they take a receiver or perhaps linebacker Patrick Queen? No, they took quarterback Jordan Love, the possible successor to Aaron Rodgers. In the second round, they took running back AJ Dillon, another head-scratching pick given that Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams are still on the roster and have been productive. The rest of their picks included a tight end, three defensive players and three offensive linemen. The biggest shocker was that no wide receivers were drafted in such a deep draft for receivers and what was thought to be a position of need for Green Bay.
This draft surprised almost all of us, but does it mean it was a terrible draft? I guess it depends on your perspective. If you are looking to increase their chances of winning a Super Bowl next year, you probably hate this draft. If you are thinking long-term, this doesn’t look so bad. Jones and Williams, their top two running backs, are entering the final year of their contracts. If I had to guess, Williams will be let go and Dillon will take his place, although it remains to be seen with Jones and how much money he will be asking for.
What I think the Packers are trying to do is transition to more of a running team. They drafted TE Josiah Deguara, who will help them in their need for a blocking tight end. Perhaps we will see Deguara and Jace Sternberger on the field at the same time. As for receivers, they got Devin Funchess in free agency. Funchess can help if he stays on the field. A major problem with him has been injuries and dropped passes. Equanimeous St. Brown, who has been injured all of last season, is like getting a new addition. Allen Lazard showed some promise last season and will look to take the next step. Can Marquez Valdes-Scantling rebound from a disappointing season? He has the tools to be a productive receiver, but he needs to work hard to earn playing time. I still think they will look to add another receiver either in free agency or off waivers.
Another huge question is how Aaron Rodgers will handle everything, especially since they drafted his possible successor instead of a player who can possibly make an impact on the field next season. He has said the right things so far, even reaching out to Jordan Love to congratulate him and welcome him to the team. He was on the other side of things when he was drafted as the successor to Brett Favre. I think Rodgers will try to end his playing career in Green Bay on good terms, unlike Favre. Rodgers has also suffered quite a few injuries and missed games due to injury during his career. The drafting of Love hopefully gives the team a capable backup should Rodgers miss any games.
Are the Packers a better team today than they were last season? On paper, it doesn’t look like it. Their defense got pushed around twice by the San Francisco 49ers, a team who lost some key players but who were very aggressive on getting players who can help the team almost immediately. The Packers still have a lot of question marks, especially on defense. What is going to stop them from being run over by Raheem Mostert for example?
This team still has an incredible amount of talent. They also had players who underwhelmed and others who have been in the league a very short time. They need to hear the criticism and take it as motivation to get back on the field and dominate. You can get all of the players you want, but the teams that win championships are the ones who play like a team. There are no guarantees in the NFL. Will San Francisco be as good as they were last season, or would they suffer a Super Bowl hangover? Will the Kansas City Chiefs build on their Super Bowl win last year and put together a dynasty? Injuries can derail a season, and the Packers know that about as well as any team. I think it’s a big season for Mike Pettine. His defense needs to take the next step. I know Brian Gutekunst is getting a lot of anger thrown his way, but he was also the guy who got Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith among others. He is trying to get players for this team. People will say what they want but I will not put limitations on this team.
Finally, due to COVID-19, there is no guarantee that there will even be an NFL season in 2020-21. This may be what the front office was thinking when they did this draft. You have to prepare for just about anything. I hope there is NFL football in the fall and I hope for the best. In the meantime, take care Packer fans and stay safe out there.
Go Pack Go!
@DieHardPackrFan #DHPF #GregGoshaw @gg901
