Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Packer Plus
Six positions worth targeting in the draft
The Green Bay Packers are going into the 2022 NFL draft armed with 11 picks, giving general manager Brian Gutekunst all the ammo he needs to add talent and patch up the holes he perceives in his roster.
As always, the draft is more about future roster planning than finding immediate answers. Most rookies struggle early and need time to develop and improve at the NFL level. In most scenarios, draft picks are spent to create longterm stability at positions.
Fortunately for Gutekunst and the Packers, the roster only has one glaring weakness at this point in the offseason process — at wide receiver.
Based on the current makeup of the team and future roster needs, here are six position groups the Packers are highly likely to target in the 2022 draft:
Wide receiver
Let’s get the obvious one out of the way. Wide receiver represents the Packers’ biggest present and future need; Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb are the team’s top two at the position currently, and only Amari Rodgers is under contract for 2023. The Packers desperately need contributors for 2022 and longterm stability at receiver, so drafting 2-3 is not only possible but probable. Targeting a receiver or two early is likely, and with six picks on Day 3, including three in the seventh round, it wouldn’t be surprising if the team took a lateround flier on a developmental prospect.
Safety
Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage are back as the starters, but this is a sneaky need. Amos turns 29 this month and is entering the final year of his deal in 2022, and Savage will also be entering a contract year if the Packers don’t pick up his fifth-year option for 2023. As it stands now, only Vernon Scott is under contract at safety past 2022, and he played all of 17 total snaps on special teams last season. Henry Black, who played almost 300 snaps as the designated third safety, wasn’t given an exclusive rights tender and isn’t expected to return. Drafting a versatile safety who could take Black’s snaps in 2022 and potentially move into a starting role in 2023 might be a priority.
Tight end
The Packers’ tight end room will look awfully similar in 2022. Robert Tonyan, Marcedes Lewis, Josiah Deguara, Dominique Dafney and Tyler Davis are all back. But the draft is about long-term roster building, and there is a clear future need here. Tonyan is coming off ACL surgery but is back on a one-year deal, Lewis turns 38 in May and will be a free agent in 2023, and both Dafney and Davis are going into 2022 on one-year deals. Deguara, who is more of an Hback type, is the only player under contract at tight end for 2023. The Packers have generally liked signing veteran tight ends, but drafting a prospect who can develop for a year in the system looks necessary. Missing so badly on Jace Sternberger in 2019 has created a need for 2022.
Defensive line
The Packers should be at least fourdeep along the defensive line entering 2022 after taking TJ Slaton in the fifth round last year and signing veteran Jarran Reed. Kenny Clark is a perennial Pro Bowler, and Dean Lowry is coming off his best season. Still, only Clark and Slaton are under contract past 2022, and there’s no guarantee that Reed will bounce back after a so-so season in Kansas City or Lowry will continue producing as a pass-rusher.
Offensive line
The Packers draft at least one offensive lineman almost every year, including all four years under Gutekunst, so it’ll be no surprise if the streak continues in 2022. Continually drafting and developing the protectors for the offense is just good business, especially with a 38-year-old quarterback under center. The Packers need to add depth up front after losing Billy Turner and Lucas Patrick, two of the most versatile linemen on the team over the last few seasons. Also, Elgton Jenkins is still recovering from ACL surgery and veteran Dennis Kelly remains unsigned. Expect the Packers to target an athletic, versatile lineman, likely with offensive tackle experience.
Edge rusher
The Packers have Preston Smith, Rashan Gary and Jonathan Garvin under contract at edge rusher for the next two seasons (once Gary’s fifth-year option is exercised), but good teams can never have enough quality pass-rushers, and Gutekunst has liked to keep a stable of rushers – including a developmental player in the pipeline – on his roster. Taking an edge rusher at some point in this draft is likely, especially after losing Za’Darius Smith. This is a strong class and the Packers are loaded with picks. Finding the eventual Preston Smith replacement is possible. He turns 30 in November and is really only tied to Green Bay for the next two years.
Other thoughts
– Cornerback is strong after re-signing Rasul Douglas. This position is three-deep in starting-caliber players entering 2022, and Shemar JeanCharles gives the roster another player under contract into 2023. Jaire Alexander is entering the final year of his deal, however.
– The Packers look good at running back with Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon, but Jones has a $20 million cap hit in 2023, and 2021 seventh-round pick Kylin Hill is coming off a major knee injury.
– Returning De’Vondre Campbell should keep inside linebacker low on the priority list, but the Packers did lose Oren Burks and both Krys Barnes and Ty Summers are replacement-level players.
– The Packers have three kickers on the roster, and Pat O’Donnell should be the punter for the next two seasons. What about long snapper?
– Barring a Jordan Love trade, the quarterback position should be set entering 2022. Aaron Rodgers signed a major extension but it’s still going to be a year-to-year process.