This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.
The original was posted on /r/nfl by /u/CobblerFantastic5003 on 2023-08-08 17:52:23.
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…
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