Packers Hope to Complete Offseason Reboot With a Stellar Draft Class
As offseason programs begin and the draft approaches, The Green Bay Packers will be putting their finishing touches on the offseason reboot of 2018. This offseason has certainly sent shock waves throughout the organization and everyone is keenly aware that the Packers must win in 2018 or dramatic changes will likely be on the horizon.
After the reconstructing of the front office and the coaching staff, Mark Murphy put Brian Gutekunst in charge of rebuilding the roster. Because the NFL is such a brutal game, players age quickly and it is crucial to have a balance of youth and experience on the roster every season.
This, of course, is easier said than done with the dramatic turnover of an NFL roster in just a few short years. In a perfect world, a GM will draft the majority of their core group of players in a 1-3 year span so that they can have a window of 3-5 years to win a super bowl championship.
The Packers right now, are hanging in a somewhat precarious position as many members of their core group of players are aging, have moved on, or could move on after this season. In addition to completing a roster rebuild, the Packers could be facing a potential change at head coach should they miss the playoffs or have an early playoff exit.
McCarthy knows that this offseason is crucial to the organization, as he overhauled his staff and reconstructed the playbook. Ultimately, the 2018 NFL draft will determine whether the McCarthy era will continue or whether the Packers will be looking for a new head coach next offseason or in the near future.
The Packers have made some controversial but shrewd roster decisions this offseason. The transaction that grabbed all of the headlines was the decision to release Jordy Nelson and use his $10.2 million cap savings to help pay for the free agent signings of Jimmy Graham, Mohammed Wilkerson, Tramon Williams, and Devon House.
With the addition of depth and veteran impact players, the Packers will now have to hit a series of home runs in the 2018 NFL Draft to successfully complete their reboot. In addition to this, they must also trust that the 2016 and 2017 draft classes come into their own during the 2018 season in order to fill in all of the holes on their 53 man roster.
Positions That the Packers Will Need to Address in the Draft:
Potential Early Options:
1. Edge Rusher: Marcus Davenport/Harold Landry
3. Offensive Line Depth: Mike McGlinchey, Kolton Miller, and Connor Williams4. Wide Receiver: Calvin Ridley, Courtland Sutton, DJ Moore, Anthony Miller, Christian Kirk, James Washington, Dante Pettis (not Dez Bryant)
If these signings and draft classes all come together at once the Packers could have another 3-5 year window to capture another Super Bowl and send Aaron Rodgers off to Canton, Ohio on a high note. However, If these moves do not pan out in the next year or two, look for McCarthy to be out as head coach and for Aaron Rodgers to reevaluate his options if his contract is not addressed this summer.
David Michalski is a recent college graduate from Princeton New Jersey who has been a life long Green Bay Packers fan. Like the great Vince Lombardi, he values God, family, and the Green Bay Packers in that order. You can follow him on twitter at @kilbas27dave
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