In 2019, the Green Bay Packers had one of the most successful seasons in the NFL. General manager Brian Gutekunst put the finishing touches on a two-year defense review for his team, adding Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Adrian Amos, Darnell Savage and Rashan Gary to the mix to strengthen both pass rush and back defense. The results were about as good as the team could have hoped.
The Smiths combined for 25.5 sacks, 28 tackles for loss and 60 hits. Amos started all 16 games safely, while Savage started 14. Gary worked as a rotator behind the starters. Under-the-radar pickups like Chandon Sullivan and BJ Goodson also played rotational roles, and adding these guys to a core that already included Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, Blake Martinez, Jaire Alexander and Kevin King helped make one of the best defense in the NFL.
The defense helped carry the Packers to a 13-3 season. But the Green Bay record was better than its points differential suggested, and in the NFC title game, the 49ers ran over them and the game was essentially over at half time. If the Packers’ offensive had been able to recover some of the slack, which may not have been the case, but unfortunately, the Green Bay offensive took a step back in 2019.
Aaron Rodgers and coach Matt LaFleur often seemed to be on separate pages, but Rodgers’ game had also plunged in general. It’s not surprising given that 2019 was his 36 year season; but this indicates that he is now a quarterback who needs at least a little help from his support cast, rather than one who can overcome all of the shortcomings on the list.
The shortcomings of last season included one of the worst wide receiver groups in the league outside of Davante Adams, a situation the Packers must resolve for this offseason. Former general manager Ted Thompson drafted a few fainting spells in 2018 (Marquez Valdes-Scantling, J’Mon Moore and Equanimeous St. Brown), but only one is even an NFL rotation player and he didn’t stand out as a difference- manufacturer. The team’s tight final position was also an issue, with Jimmy Graham looking like a shell and Jace Sternberger, third rounder of 2019, appearing in only six regular season games and catching nothing before having three in the Packers. two playoff games.
The Packers also continued to split Aaron Jones in the back field with a clearly lower back than Jamaal Williams, which helped reduce the team’s offensive efficiency. The Packers were simply much better off with Jones on the field than off, but a reluctance to engage with him as a full-time feature film is now a problem of two years and two coaches.
As the 2020 offseason approaches, the Packers desperately need to add talent for passing games. They must entrust Jones as full-time rear. They must ensure that Rodgers is well protected by re-signing the right tackle Bryan Bulaga. And they have to find a way to make all of their defensive skills happen at a high level at the same time – and how not to be completely hacked into opposing racing matches at the worst possible time.
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Key dates to come
- 12th of March: The franchise / transition tag deadline. Tackle Bryan Bulaga is probably the only Green Bay nominee for either tag, but it would be surprising if that happened.
- March 16: The period of legal falsification begins. The Packers and the other 31 teams are free to speak to free agents without restriction.
- March 18: The new championship year officially begins at 4 p.m. AND. Teams can now officially sign free agents.
- March 29-April 1: The annual league meeting in Palm Beach, Florida.
- Half April: The 2020 regular season schedule is out. But we already know which teams the Packers will face in 2020. In addition to their normal divisional roster (two against the Bears, Lions and Vikings), they will also face the Panthers, Falcons, Jaguars, Titans and Eagles (at home) and the Saints, Buccaneers, Texans, Colts and 49ers (road).
- April 23-April 25: The NFL draft in Las Vegas. The full list of Green Bay project choices is shown below.
- May 1-4 OR May 8-10: Rookie minicamp.
- End of May-June: OTA. Final dates to be determined.
- June: Minicamp compulsory. Final dates to be determined.
- End of July: Training camp. Final dates to be determined.
Free agent dashboard
All information on contracts via Spotrac
Unrestricted free agents
Bulaga and Martinez should be the priority reprogramming for the Packers here. It would in no way be surprising that none of the free players on the team, with the exception of Allen Lazard (see below), will be back next season, given the group’s underperformance this year and last year. Allison, in particular, has appeared to have lost Rodgers’ confidence in the past two years and has not been a major factor in the playoff rotation. Ervin seemed to be a favorite of the coaching staff, even siphoning off some of Aaron Jones’ work while Jamaal Williams was away, but the team shouldn’t be afraid to give Jones a bigger share in the future. Williams has resurfaced as a decent corner this season, but he is growing in age and the team could be better served by investing in a little more young people in this position.
Restricted free agents
Lazard, Johnson, Lancaster and Sullivan forged solid roles on the team last season, and you’d think the Packers would like to get them all on relatively cheap deals. Kumerow has shown some interesting skills at times, but as mentioned, the large reception hall in Green Bay needs a makeover. If the Packers choose not to bring Lewis back, Tonyan could return as the backup end.
Releases
Free agent signatures from other teams
Internal free agent signatures
The Packers probably feel good about signing their kicker again, but the way the deal is structured makes it unwanted. Crosby receives a payment of $ 6 million in the first year, even though he was underperforming for several years. If he does it again and the Packers choose to cut ties after 2020, they will save only $ 2.5 million and have a load of $ 2 million in their books.
Draft of 2020
- Round 1: Green Bay (30)
- 2nd round: Green Bay (62)
- Round 3: Green Bay (94)
- Round 4: Green Bay (TBD)
- Round 5: Green Bay (TBD)
- Round 6: Green Bay (to be determined), Las Vegas (to be determined), Tennessee (to be determined)
- Round 7: No
Rumors, reports and updates
February 22, 2020: Packers Sign Kicker Mason Crosby Until 2022 With $ 12.9 Million Extension, Reports
February 10, 2020: Former DC Capers Dom Capers return to NFC North as Vikings senior defensive assistant
January 25, 2020: Packers GM Expects To Face Free Agency Restrictions As Team Seeks To Retain Talent
January 22, 2020: Packers to retain defensive coordinator Mike Pettine despite nightmarish performance against 49ers