1) Packers draft an edge rusher in the first round but someone else (already on the roster) gets 10 sacks.
The Packers pick Marcus Davenport with the 14th overall pick and Packers Nation goes wild. Davenport immediately makes an impact but in a way most fans didn’t see coming. The freak athlete sees double teams as we as chips from tight ends and running backs early in the season as he proves dominant. The real benefactor is Vince Biegel. Yes, the second year Badger who basically kissed the entire season due to foot surgery. Biegel’s motor is unquestioned but he really didn’t get going due to missing all of OTAs and training camp. Biegel will be chomping at the bit to show his worth and will do so early with not one but two 3 sack performances. He will eventually cool off but only because offended will scheme him. Biegel ends the campaign with double-digit sacks! His superb season won’t land him in the Pro Bowl but it’ll put voters on notice for next year to be certain.
2) Tramon Williams doesn’t fall off from 2017.
Last year with the Arizona Cardinals, Tramon Williams put an excellent season on tape. He finished in the top 10 for cornerback efficiency. Although it’s unlikely for him to do that at age 35, look for Williams to have a huge impact grooming Kevin King in his 2nd year and helping the rookies along the way as well. Williams is more than serviceable and he’ll make Packers fans reminisce to the 2010 season when he made big play after big play helping the Green and Gold hoist their fourth Lombardi trophy. Williams will finish the season with at least 5 picks, one of which is going back to the proverbial house.
3) The Packers road to the Super Bowl in 2018 looks closer to the 1996 Packers instead of the 2010 Packers.
The road to the Super Bowl couldn’t have looked more different for the last two Packers championship teams. The former took the one seed and made the trek go through their backyard at Lambeau Field. The latter did it much differently, backing into the playoffs as the sixth seed and turning into road warriors, winning all three playoff games in their whites.
This 2018 will find a way to not only sweep the NFC North but go on to win 13 regular season games and will host in the playoffs. This is enough to get Rodgers back to the big show, where he won’t disappoint. The Packers will be your Super Bowl champions once again. The Mike McCarthy cynics will still be there, giving his assistants the bulk of the credit as well as our new GM, Brian Gutekunst. If you say the Packers won because of him or in spite of him, either way, the Pack will get “one for the thumb.” Can you see any of these predictions coming true? Which do you agree with? Disagree with? Have some of your own?
As always, Go Pack Go!
Robert Martin bleeds green and gold despite living in North Dakota, where many cheer for the purple. He is currently a writer for PackersTalk.com. You can follow him on Twitter @robertmartinPHD.