Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Packer Plus
Following a blueprint to success
Green Bay — It’s been a long time since the Green Bay Packers had a defensive line that could pack a punch like their 2022 edition has a chance to deliver.
Coach Matt LaFleur said during the offseason program the Packers potentially have their best defensive line since he was hired in 2019. That shouldn’t be a surprise, because Kenny Clark said this is the most talented defensive line he’s played on since the Packers drafted him in the first round in 2016.
On paper, the Packers have their best and deepest defensive line since 2010, a group headlined by B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett and Howard Green that helped the Packers form a top-ranked defense and go on to win a Super Bowl title.
While some positions were neglected this offseason — see: tight end — the defensive line was at the forefront of general manager Brian Gutekunst’s teambuilding blueprint.
It shouldn’t be a surprise given how the NFL has trended over the past couple of years. The Los Angeles Rams won Super Bowl LVI on the strength of their defensive line. One year earlier, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Packers in the NFC title game on the strength of their defensive front. Quarterbacks win games, quarterbacks win championships, but in recent seasons the defensive line has been the second ingredient for title teams.
Now the Packers feel like they have not only the quarterback, but also, finally, the defensive line that can take them to the top.
Defensive line
Locks: Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Dean Lowry.
Good bets: Jarran Reed, T.J. Slaton. On the bubble: Jonathan Ford, Jack Heflin.
Long shots: Akial Byers, Hauati Pututau, Chris Slayton.
Biggest offseason move
It takes time for a rookie defensive lineman to transition into the NFL. Life in the trenches is tough work, presenting a different reality than the rigors of college football. So while there is no mistaking the potential that drafting Wyatt with the 28th overall pick brings the Packers’ defense, Gutekunst was prudent to sign veteran free agent Reed as well. Wyatt has the athleticism that in time could develop him into a star. At 304 pounds, his 4.77 40 led all defensive linemen at the NFL scouting combine. That kind of quick-twitch burst might demand more attention from interior blockers, giving Clark the freedom to make more plays. Until Wyatt gets comfortable at the professional level, the Packers expect Reed to contribute immediately. Entering his age-30 season, the seventh-year veteran might not have the pass-rush production he showed earlier in his career, when Reed produced 10.5 sacks with Seattle in 2018. He has shown there’s still enough in the tank to be a productive defensive
lineman, and his ability to line up at defensive end or slide inside to tackle gives the Packers flexibility up front.
Position battle
The top five defensive linemen appear set, but that doesn’t mean the Packers will stop at five on their initial 53-man roster. Heflin made the team as an undrafted rookie last season because of his hustle and grit, important ingredients for any defensive line. In Ford, the Packers spent a seventh-round pick on a 6-5, 338-pound prospect with impressive physical tools to mold. Either could force their way onto the 53. It might come down to the intangibles of Heflin’s motor against the tangibles of Ford’s size.
Keep an eye on
Wyatt’s arrival can make it easy to forget Slaton’s promising rookie season, but the offseason program was a reminder Slaton still has a chance to work his way into the rotation. With Lowry unavailable for team reps this offseason, Slaton consistently worked with the starting defense at nose tackle. At 6-4, 330 pounds, the 2021 fifth-round pick gives the Packers depth at nose behind Clark, who could get more snaps at three-technique defensive tackle this fall. The defensive tackle position is where playmakers often line up in a 3-4 defense, making it an ideal fit for Clark. Slaton improved as his rookie season progressed, becoming a disruptive run defender and showing some pass-rush ability with one sack and three pressures in 266 snaps.
Key question
Lowry had a career year in 2021, forcing the Packers to keep him by restructuring his contract instead of releasing him to create salary-cap relief. After struggling as a pass rusher early in his career, Lowry finally figured out how to convert his power into production, finishing with five sacks. That was half his sack total through the first five seasons of his career. The question is whether Lowry’s 2021 season was a one-hit wonder, or if it represented a new standard. Lowry is a wild card in this potentially stout defensive line. If he can continue to play like he did last season, it would open a lot of possibilities inside.
Prediction
After injuries derailed his 2020 season, Clark was selected to his second Pro Bowl in 2021. His reemergence was a reminder that few NFL defensive linemen are as productive as a healthy Clark. Most significant, Clark is clearly hungry for something more after finishing sixth in All-Pro voting last season. Clark made clear this offseason his goal is to be selected as an All-Pro, and entering his seventh season the ingredients are in place for him to be better than ever. Clark won’t turn 27 until early October, and headlining the best defensive line of his career should mean less attention from extra blockers than the past. In 2022, Clark will be firmly in his prime, recording double-digit sacks and earning his first All-Pro selection.