Coaching Changes
This offseason, the Packers allowed defensive backs coach Jerry Gray, whom Rasul Douglas credits with his turnaround from a practice squad castoff into a legit player, to walk to Atlanta, while they promoted safeties coach Ryan Downard to DB coach, and hiring Greg Williams from Arizona as their defensive passing game coordinator (no relation to Bountygate architect Gregg Williams). Rich Bisaccia was named assistant head coach in addition to his role as special teams coordinator, while outside linebackers coach Jason Rebrovich was promoted to pass rush specialist. They also hired some additional names (Tim Lester, senior analyst, Rob Grosso, offensive quality control, Kyle Wilber, special teams quality control).
Free Agency
Players departed
| Player | Position | New Team | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Krys Barnes | LB | Arizona Cardinals | 1 year, $1.035m |
| Dean Lowry | IDL | Minnesota Vikings | 2 years, $8.5m |
| Jarran Reed | IDL | Seattle Seahawks | 2 years, $9m |
| Robert Tonyan | TE | Chicago Bears | 1 year, $2.65m |
| Marcedes Lewis | TE | Chicago Bears | 1 year, $2m |
| Mason Crosby | K | Retirement? | |
| Jack Coco | LS | Free agent | |
| Allen Lazard | WR | New York Jets | 4 years, $44m |
| Randall Cobb | WR | New York Jets | 1 year, $3m |
| Adrian Amos | S | New York Jets | 1 year, $1.75m |
Players re-signed
| Player | Position | Contract |
|---|---|---|
| Yosh Nijman | OT | |
| Dallinn Leavitt | S | |
| Eric Wilson | LB | |
| Justin Hollins | EDGE | |
| Rudy Ford | S | |
| Corey Ballentine | CB | |
| Keisean Nixon | CB/RS | |
| Tyler Davis | TE |
Players added
| Player | Position | Old Team | Contract |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tarvarius Moore | S | San Francisco 49ers | 1 year, $1.13m |
| Matt Orzech | LS | Los Angeles Rams | 3 years, $3.675m |
| Jonathan Owens | S | Houston Texans | 1 year, $1.01m |
Draft
| Round/Pick | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.13 | Lukas Van Ness | EDGE | Iowa |
| 2.42 | Luke Musgrave | TE | Oregon State |
| 2.50 (via TB) | Jayden Reed | WR | Michigan State |
| 3.78 | Tucker Kraft | TE | South Dakota State |
| 4.116 | Colby Wooden | IDL | Auburn |
| 5.149 | Sean Clifford | QB | Penn State |
| 5.170 | Dontayvion Wicks | WR | Virginia |
| 6.179 | Karl Brooks | IDL | Bowling Green |
| 6.207 | Anders Carlson | K | Auburn |
| 7.232 | Carrington Valentine | CB | Kentucky |
| 7.235 | Lew Nichols III | RB | Central Michigan |
| 7.242 | Anthony Johnson Jr. | S | Iowa State |
| 7.256 | Grant DuBose | WR | Charlotte |
Projected Starting Lineup
Offense
- QB: Jordan Love
- RB: Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon
- WR: Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed (slot), Samori Toure
- TE: Luke Musgrave, Josiah Deguara, Tucker Kraft
- LT: David Bakhtiari
- LG: Elgton Jenkins
- C: Josh Myers
- RG: Jon Runyan Jr.
- RT: Zach Tom
Defense
- EDGE: Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Lukas Van Ness
- IDL: Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, TJ Slaton
- ILB: De’Vondre Campbell, Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie
- CB: Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Rasul Douglas, Keisean Nixon (nickel)
- S: Darnell Savage, Jonathan Owens
Projected 53-man, Training camp battles, Strengths and weaknesses
- QB (2): Jordan Love, Sean Clifford
Training camp battles to watch: It’s a fight between rookie Sean Clifford and USFL MVP Alex McGough, and Brian Gutekunst loves his draft picks. Last year, all eleven of his draft selections in April made his final 53 man roster, and expect Clifford to have a massive advantage coming in because of this, even if he were bad. Clifford has been good at camp though, and those who are watching have said he displays more zip on his throws than he did in college. Could it have been a coaching issue?
Strength/Weakness?: The lack of a vet backup is concerning, and it's fair to say that the Packers QB room is at least a huge question mark, if not a weakness. But in terms of matching the numbers of last year's performance, Jordan Love's job of being better than 2022 Aaron Rodgers (with a broken thumb) is not too difficult: Rodgers failed to hit 300 yards passing in any game last year.
- RB (3): Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon, Tyler Goodson
Training camp battles to watch: It will be interesting to see if any in a group that includes last year’s UDFA Tyler Goodson, returning vet Patrick Taylor, and seventh-round rookie Lew Nichols will be the third RB on the depth chart, if they make it at all. Brian Gutekunst kept just two on the initial 53 man roster last year. Nichols has missed some time with injuries during camp.
Strength/Weakness?: Fair to say Packers have one of, if not the, best running back tandem in football. Aaron Jones has been a dynamic playmaker every year he's been in Matt LaFleur's offense, and he's been pretty blessed with good health in that time. AJ Dillon is a thumping downhill runner, and he consistently gets a yard or two more than most backs would thanks to his size and strength. Expect Green Bay to lean into the run game, and lean into it a lot, to help out their young QB.
- WR (6): Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Samori Toure, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Malik Heath
Training camp battles to watch: Packers coaches are raving about second-year pro Samori Toure, and it will be a question whether he or rookie Jayden Reed will get more snaps as the third receiver. On the other hand, it looks to be an uphill battle for rookie Grant DuBose to make the roster as he missed minicamp with injuries, all while undrafted free agent Malik Heath has impressed as he has run some reps with the first-team offense, something not even Wicks has managed to do.
Strength/Weakness?: Packers have the cheapest, youngest WR room in the NFL, with Christian Watson being the most seasoned vet here. Him and Doubs will need to make second-year leaps for this room to be considered a strength by any stretch of the imagination.
- TE (4): Luke Musgrave, Josiah Deguara, Tucker Kraft, Tyler Davis
Training camp battles to watch: Will rookie Luke Musgrave immediately catapult to the top of the depth chart? Coaches and teammates have heaped praise onto just how fast and smooth he looks on the field. Or will third-year tight end Josiah Deguara, the most experienced pass catcher on the roster, start the season as TE1?
Strength/Weakness?: Just like the WR room, the TEs here are among the youngest in the NFL. TEs are also usually much more difficult to onboard than WRs, so look to some growing pains here as the rookies get their welcome to the NFL moments throughout the season.
- OL (9): David Bakhtiari, Yosh Nijman, Zach Tom, Caleb Jones, Jon Runyan Jr., Josh Myers, Elgton Jenkins, Royce Newman
Training camp battles to watch: Assuming Bakhtiari is healthy, it will be a fight between fifth-year former UDFA Yosh Nijman and second-year tackle Zach Tom to be the starter at right tackle. And if Nijman wins that fight, prepare to see the talented Tom, who played at every spot but center in his rookie year, to give third-year center Josh Myers a serious run for his money there. Bakhtiari, Jenkins and fourth-year guard Runyan all likely have their starting spots locked up, but there’s going to be a serious squeeze to be a backup interior lineman among third-year guard Royce Newman, second-year lineman Sean Rhyan, and fourth-year guard Jake Hanson, of which only two, maybe possibly just one, will make the roster.
Strength/Weakness?: When healthy, the left side of the line (with David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins) is the best in football, and there's no question about it. And despite the struggles of center Josh Myers (in run blocking, primarily), expect the Packers offensive line to still be a strength overall, as they should give Jordan Love a comfortable time in the pocket if they can stay healthy.
- EDGE (5): Rashan Gary, Preston Smith, Lukas Van Ness, Kingsley Enagbare, Brenton Cox Jr.
Training camp battles to watch: It's not a battle with a player, but Rashan Gary's timeline for his return from a season-ending ACL tear will determine the success of the Packers defense early on. He was activated from the PUP list yesterday. Preston Smith is likely solidified in his role as the number two pass rusher behind Gary, though behind him, it'll be a battle between second-year OLB Kingsley Enagbare and the rookie Lukas Van Ness. And behind them yet again, it will be down to Justin Hollins, a midseason pickup last year from the Rams, and Brenton Cox, a former Gator who went undrafted due to character concerns in spite of his pretty good tape.
Strength/Weakness?: If Gary is back and healthy, which he seems to be given that he was activated from PUP, this could be a strength. Lukas Van Ness has flashed at camp and will get significant snaps spelling starters if he doesn't start. Preston Smith is a solid, dependable producer who will consistently get 5-8 sacks a year. But without Gary and Van Ness, this was a struggling unit last year, so mark this as a we'll see.
- IDL (5): Kenny Clark, TJ Slaton, Devonte Wyatt, Colby Wooden, Karl Brooks
Training camp battles to watch: The one here to watch will be whether TJ Slaton, the third-year man out of Florida, or last year’s first-round selection Devonte Wyatt, will serve as Kenny Clark’s primary running mate when rushing four. Slaton is a terrific run defender, while Wyatt has flashed as a pass rusher, so the expectation now is for them to get on the field when it suits their skillsets, but could either pull ahead to be the primary starter? Wyatt has been tearing up camp. The other battle to watch is if last year's seventh round pick, Jonathan Ford, makes the 53 man roster. LaFleur said he's had a great camp, but we haven't heard much.
Strength/Weakness?: If Devonte Wyatt is as good as advertised in camp, mark this as a strength. The Packers let a significant number of snaps walk out the door with Lowry and Reed departing, but their presence was a major factor in Wyatt not getting enough playing time last year. Kenny Clark is a fringe Pro Bowl talent every year who's the heart and soul of the Packers' run defense, and the rookies could have an opportunity to showcase their talents in obvious passing situations given their lighter weights and pass rushing acumen.
- LB (5): De’Vondre Campbell, Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, Eric Wilson, Tariq Carpenter
Training camp battles to watch: There's actually not a lot going on here. It's pretty clear what the pecking order will be, and the biggest off-season question at linebacker: whether Krys Barnes would return, was answered when the Packers didn't pick up his option. It’s clear the pecking order will go from Campbell, the one-time First Team All Pro, to Walker, who flashed in his rookie campaign, to McDuffie, who had a noticeable second-year jump in 2022, to Wilson, a special teams player for Bisaccia. One unanswered question here would be whether the Packers keep 4 or 5 linebackers, with 2022 seventh-round pick Tariq Carpenter, who competed at safety and was a special teams standout, competing for the fifth spot.
Strength/Weakness?: Depends on if Campbell can prove that he can get back to his 2021 All-Pro form. He was supposedly hampered by injury throughout 2022, which led to inconsistent play, so hopefully a full offseason to heal will help. Walker was brilliant in pass coverage last year for an LB, even if his block shedding and tackling depth (how far down the field he gets to the runner) left something to be desired.
- CB (6): Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Rasul Douglas, Keisean Nixon, Carrington Valentine, Corey Ballentine
Training camp battles to watch: Keisean Nixon, a first-team All-Pro at kick returner last season, has said he intends to do the same at cornerback. He will potentially start the season in the slot with Jaire Alexander and Rasul Douglas outside while third-year corner Eric Stokes recovers from a season-ending foot and ankle injury in 2022. Once Stokes returns, it’s a question as to which two between him, Alexander and Douglas will play on the perimeter, and whether the loser of that battle will be able to displace Nixon in the slot. Stokes was terrific as a rookie but suffered an awful sophomore slump that saw him lose the latter half of his season to an injury at Ford Field in Week 9. Third-year safety Innis Gaines has also gotten playing time in the slot at camp. In addition, rookie seventh-round pick Carrington Valentine has been terrific at camp and made a play almost everyday; it will be hard to keep him off the field. Is it fair to expect him to be the primary backup if any of the outside corners go down?
Strength/Weakness?: Strength, especially on the boundary. Jaire Alexander is one of the best corners in football, and Rasul Douglas is still a ballhawk and competitor on the outside who can use his size and length to knock away passes. In the slot, there's a major question mark, as Douglas struggled there last year, and physically speaking, the player most suited to playing there would be Jaire, but you don't pay him $21M to be a slot corner primarily.
- S (4): Darnell Savage, Rudy Ford, Jonathan Owens, Dallin Leavitt
Training camp battles to watch: Of these, Savage and Leavitt likely have their jobs secure, with Savage playing on his fully guaranteed fifth-year option, and Leavitt being a special teams ace. Ford also plays on special teams as a gunner, but between him, Owens and Moore, they only have $200,000 guaranteed combined among themselves. Will Brian Gutekunst keep five safeties? Any of them could be cut and it wouldn’t be a surprise. And don’t count out rookie Anthony Johnson Jr., a projected mid-round selection the Packers scooped up in the seventh round.
Strength/Weakness?: Weakness. Savage was damn near a liability in 2022, with seemingly half the big plays this secondary gave up resulting in a finger being pointed at or by him. And the selection of running mates opposite him isn't exactly inspiring either. Look to this, or OT, being the first pick of the draft by the Packers in 2024.
- ST (3): LS Matt Orzech, K Anders Carlson, P Pat O’Donnell
Training camp battles to watch: The Packers are likely going to keep Carlson, the brother of Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson. Pat O’Donnell, who was fine last year, faces a small challenge from all-XFL punter Daniel Whelan, while rookie Hunter … will try,, but likely fail, to challenge Super Bowl-winning long snapper Orzech, who received a 3-year contract from Green Bay.
Strength/weakness?: Orzech gives the Packers a dependable long snapper for the first time in nearly a decade, and O'Donnell was fine in 2022. Rookie Anders Carlson has had a rough start to camp, with good kicking strength but not a lot of accuracy. He's bounced back the last few days. Other than Carlson, and combining with the return/kicking protection units, expect Rich Bisaccia's special teams transformation program to continue having a major impact on the upward trend of this group.
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