The season for the Green Bay Packers is done. While they work to assemble a Super Bowl contender, there is no time for relaxation. These are their top three needs heading into the 2024 summer break.
The season is ended for the Green Bay Packers.
Similar to what Bill Murray said in Groundhog’s Day, they were defeated by the San Francisco 49ers.
Once more.
Unlike the other four games Aaron Rodgers has led, this one is a loss. Every postseason setback for Rodgers seemed to be the last one before it expired.
The Packers seem like they’re just getting started on their way to another run of glory, especially with Jordan Love’s rise and the squad being the youngest in the NFL.
The roster arrangement is decent but not ideal. There are flaws that are readily apparent right now, and more will become apparent as Green Bay’s cap casualties and free agency take their toll.
Here’s our initial assessment of the team’s top five needs, along with a possible draft pick and free agent replacement at each position.
Jaire Alexander had a fantastic conclusion to the 2023 season, but his journey there was, to put it mildly, unusual.
In addition to missing time due to two different ailments, he was suspended for actions that were bad for the club.
Eric Stokes has two stints on injured reserve following his 2022 recovery from a horrific injury he sustained in Detroit.
Everything he gives them is viewed as an added benefit.
Carrington Valentine, who had ups and downs during the year, rounds out the room.
Both Corey Ballentine and Keisean Nixon are available as free agents. It’s likely that the Packers need players in the nickel and boundary positions.
Michigan CB Mike Sainristil is a draft prospect.
Before the 2022 season, the outstanding wide receiver converted to cornerback, making him one of the best defensive players in college football.
Green Bay’s ideal thresholds are unlikely to be met by Sainristil, but because playing in the slot is the expectation, maybe they would be open to bending those.
Sainristil has an excellent sense of football and is a fearless run defender. During his last season in Ann Arbor, Sainristil had six interceptions. He can smell the end zone whenever he gets his hands on the ball. He has six picks, two of which were returned for touchdowns.
Kendall Fuller, free agent
As a playmaker, Fuller might address one of the most pressing issues in Green Bay’s secondary. He has had a strong start to his career. Fuller, who has 48 career interceptions, has an excellent sense of football.
A season before, he had just two, but that would have tied him with Rudy Ford for the club lead.
Entering the offseason, the team’s weakest group may be the safety position. Anthony Johnson Jr. is the only player they have a contract with through 2024.
Coming into training camp, we had ranked the position as the 11th out of 11, and this group lived up to that ranking.
As he has been for the whole of his time with the Packers, Darnell Savage was erratic and came in and out of the lineup due to injuries.
Journeymen or special teams players who were perhaps overexposed on defense make up the bulk of the group.
Prospect for the Draft: Cooper DeJean, CB/S Iowa
The previous season, Lukas Van Ness of Iowa was selected by the Packers with the 13th overall pick, earning them a first-round pick.
They could return to
DeJean is a versatile player who can play in the slot or deep. Five years ago, when they selected Darnell Savage in the first round, they loved something about him.
With Jayden Reed emerging as their main offensive weapon and Keisean Nixon expected to become a free agency, DeJean might also help in the return game, which is something they might need.
Free Agent: Xavier McKinney S New York Giants
Regardless of who coaches defense for Green Bay, McKinney is a desirable player.
If they choose to replace Joe Barry, Don “Wink” Martindale, who coached McKinney in New York, is one possible contender.
