Packers Huddle

The annual talent search is upon us, with the combine in progress, Free Agency starting soon, and the Draft coming soon enough. So, I'd like to discuss with you fine folks what this roster needs.

I'll just throw a quick answer out there below.

Obvious needs: 1) the Safety group.

A little less obvious perhaps: 2) OLine.

And maybe obvious to some: 3) RB.

For the Safety group, I heard Andy Herman predict FOUR new Safeties. He based that upon Guty's history of shopping in quantity when he wants to reshape a group. I can see three, but four might be too much unlikely.

Savage will not come back. Owens doesn't bring enough value to be brought back unless as a last resort. Johnson will return because he has the upside. Ford is a maybe.

But the FA Safeties are a big group. It'd be easy this year to bring in a guy who wouldn't be spectacular, but well-rounded and reliable. I'm not saying that Guty doesn't make a big splash here. But he stay away from the uber-contracts unless he thinks it's a deal that is good for the long haul of the team, kinda like the QB of the defense. Thing is, I think he's still hoping that 7 is our defensive QB. We'll see. But it's gonna be fun.

I do think the OLine is ripe for new faces. We are losing some depth. So we need somebody. Our RG and C positions need to be improved too. Will it be a 1st round draft pick? I think so.

At RB, aside from AJones, we do not have a speedy RB. I do think Guty will want more ability and speed there. Our current backup RBs are JAGs. And we've seen what a couple of teams have done with two playmakers at RB. It's time to improve that group.

Agree on the three positions you listed--though all three seem obvious to me.

Also need more off-ball LB bodies.

I'd like to see a nickel CB specialist, as well.

So yeah, a RB with starting potential; a whole re-work of the safeties; OL depth that can challenge as starters on the interior right away (and probably a swing tackle who can develop into a starter). A nickel CB; and some LB bodies.

It's a regular amount of positions and players but due to the few starting needs and the relatively low positional value of a lot of these, a very easy list to fulfill.

Bullet #2 seems easily resolved.

5 OL is the most ever drafted in the first round and in 1968, that almost doesn’t seem real to me.

That just can’t be right. It’s nearly 25% of all starters, must have easily been 8 before or so.

BF004 wrote: ↑

04 Mar 2024 07:08

5 OL is the most ever drafted in the first round and in 1968, that almost doesn’t seem real to me.

That just can’t be right. It’s nearly 25% of all starters, must have easily been 8 before or so.

It's also the largest collective position group to choose from so it's likely many teams have felt there is no need to rush filling those holes. Plus if your position scouts are good, like in GB, you can get top tier talent in the mid-rounds and not look back.

BF004 wrote: ↑

04 Mar 2024 07:08

5 OL is the most ever drafted in the first round and in 1968, that almost doesn’t seem real to me.

That just can’t be right. It’s nearly 25% of all starters, must have easily been 8 before or so.

Just looking at 2010 there were 6 OL chosen round 1.

Cdragon wrote: ↑

04 Mar 2024 07:56

BF004 wrote: ↑

04 Mar 2024 07:08

5 OL is the most ever drafted in the first round and in 1968, that almost doesn’t seem real to me.

That just can’t be right. It’s nearly 25% of all starters, must have easily been 8 before or so.

Just looking at 2010 there were 6 OL chosen round 1.

8 in ‘22 I saw. No idea what that stat was supposed to show, but it wasn’t right.

BF004 wrote: ↑

04 Mar 2024 08:46

Cdragon wrote: ↑

04 Mar 2024 07:56

BF004 wrote: ↑

04 Mar 2024 07:08

5 OL is the most ever drafted in the first round and in 1968, that almost doesn’t seem real to me.

That just can’t be right. It’s nearly 25% of all starters, must have easily been 8 before or so.

Just looking at 2010 there were 6 OL chosen round 1.

8 in ‘22 I saw. No idea what that stat was supposed to show, but it wasn’t right.

Was it maybe specifically OT's?

I think we need a dude on defense. A lot of talented, steady, to borderline stars, but no Reggie, Wood, Clay, or Pepp. We need an alpha dog on defense.

NCF wrote: ↑

04 Mar 2024 08:51

I think we need a dude on defense. A lot of talented, steady, to borderline stars, but no Reggie, Wood, Clay, or Pepp. We need an alpha dog on defense.

We do got one in Jaire when healthy and his head is right.

NCF wrote: ↑

04 Mar 2024 08:50

BF004 wrote: ↑

04 Mar 2024 08:46

Cdragon wrote: ↑

04 Mar 2024 07:56

Just looking at 2010 there were 6 OL chosen round 1.

8 in ‘22 I saw. No idea what that stat was supposed to show, but it wasn’t right.

Was it maybe specifically OT's?

I think it was all OL, this year we could see 6 tackles go though which I think is the record, this is a bumper crop of OL, 2 centers could go round one, more and more I think we take a OL

BF004 wrote: ↑

04 Mar 2024 08:57

NCF wrote: ↑

04 Mar 2024 08:51

I think we need a dude on defense. A lot of talented, steady, to borderline stars, but no Reggie, Wood, Clay, or Pepp. We need an alpha dog on defense.

We do got one in Jaire when healthy and his head is right.

I’m hopeful Gary can be that. He burned out as the year went on and I think some of that might be because he grinded so hard to recover from the ACL. I’m hoping it’s not because he got paid. All indications are he’s a hard worker and a team guy.

NCF wrote: ↑

04 Mar 2024 08:51

I think we need a dude on defense. A lot of talented, steady, to borderline stars, but no Reggie, Wood, Clay, or Pepp. We need an alpha dog on defense.

In addition to Jaire and Gary, I think Van Ess could be that guy too. Maybe even Quay if used right in our new defense.

Let me start with what I think the Packers have, and then what they need:

On Offense, QB, WR, TE and all the starters in the Oline are all set.

All they need is backups, a swing tackle and an interior line backup. If they resign JRJ, which I hope they do, all they need is the swing tackle and it is even remotely possible that Tenuta could be that player. I assume Dillon is leaving and so they need a third RB behind Jones and Wilson, but that could be a very late draft pick or even an UDFA.

On D, the DT's and DE's are all set, including the backups. At CB Alexander is one of the very best in the league. Valentine played very well for a rookie. Stokes might be 95% but I doubt he is ever going to live up to the potential we saw as a rookie. Walker is a young and very good ILB.

#1 Someone who can play single high safety is the only critical need. I do not believe he is on the roster now. This is priority #1 and must be solved or the new DC's scheme is not going to work.

#2 is the slot CB. I don't think Nixon returns and if he does he should be the backup in the slot, not the starter.

#3 is ILB depth. It would be preferable to cut Campbell but if there is no one other than McDuffie then they almost have to keep him.

#4 is a second safety. Maybe Anthony Johnson Jr will be this, but he is more likely a backup.

I'd really like them to add a FA safety. Someone who has used up his rookie contract and has started at least 1 year. Pay the man. The Packers have 5 picks in the first 3 rounds so draft 2 safeties and a slot corner and a ILB and a swing tackle and a CB in the first 3 rounds. In the final 4 rounds, a RB and BPA in all of the positions except QB and kickers and D-tackles.

1 Someone who can play single high safety is the only critical need. I do not believe he is on the roster now. This is priority #1 and must be solved or the new DC's scheme is not going to work.

#2 is the slot CB. I don't think Nixon returns and if he does he should be the backup in the slot, not the starter.

#3 is ILB depth. It would be preferable to cut Campbell but if there is no one other than McDuffie then they almost have to keep him.

#4 is a second safety. Maybe Anthony Johnson Jr will be this, but he is more likely a backup.

I'd really like them to add a FA safety. Someone who has used up his rookie contract and has started at least 1 year. Pay the man. The Packers have 5 picks in the first 3 rounds so draft 2 safeties and a slot corner and a ILB and a swing tackle and a CB in the first 3 rounds. In the final 4 rounds, a RB and BPA in all of the positions except QB and kickers and D-tackles.
1


I agree about safety as #1 need, in fact I would put in a bid on several of the UFA

as to the #2 need, can you imagine what happens to our offense should Jones have a season or career ending injury? everything becomes harder, much harder, this defense can get by minus a stud slot corner, or a Walker clone at ILB, those positions wont make or break the defense that not having a ball hawking safety play would.

It's impossible to predict injury to anyone, just more likely for a aging RB though then other positions, I'd fortify it because the future of Love is as dependent on that is he is pass pro, about 70% of our offense is dependent on play action ability and that doesn't work minus a good RB.

You could argue that it isn't a "need" at this point, but to me a legit WR with size and wheels to replace part-timer Watson would keep our offense unlocked.

mnkcarp wrote: ↑

08 Mar 2024 12:44

You could argue that it isn't a "need" at this point, but to me a legit WR with size and wheels to replace part-timer Watson would keep our offense unlocked.

looked pretty unlocked against Dallas

I hear ya with Watson though, getting past these hamstring issues is the key thing for him, if he does, he's your big guy.

plus we have Reed and Wicks, Heath, Doubs, I know MLF will play his rookie receivers, but ya got to be walk on ready to sit any of those guys, we are pretty loaded with receivers counting Kraft and Musgrave, plus Jones is a WR disguised as a RB, sorta, we line him up like a WR at times, always felt like we could have used him more in that capacity.

I'am usually the guy wanting to draft a receiver not so this year

Watson will play 16+ games in 2024. Mark my words.

;-)

Scott4Pack wrote: ↑

08 Mar 2024 17:39

Watson will play 16+ games in 2024. Mark my words.

;-)

I really hope so, but I would still be happy if we added redundancy there on day 2.

My own ideal scenario would having us fill 2 starting safety spots in free agency, then getting LB, RB, OL, WR, and CB in the first three rounds.