Every offseason, countless articles are written and podcasts are recorded about the Packers positions of need. This year everyone seems to come down to defensive tackle, tight end, and safety. Not much is written or discussed about what positions the Packers have the least need in. Which spots are set? What position would be most surprising for the first-round pick?
Running back
I’ll slightly hedge this by saying that I’m assuming Aaron Jones is back. With Jones, Dillon, Patrick Taylor, and maybe Tyler Goodson, the team has four, at least decent, running backs. Add in a potential late-round speedster or another UDFA find and the room should be a plus even if one or two guys succumb to injury.
That said, I could see a second or third-round pick on running back if an insane value falls to the Packers. Jones is aging out of a roster spot and Dillon may or may not have played well enough to warrant a second contract with the team.
Quarterback
This one’s obvious. Either Aaron Rodgers stays and the team has one of the premier backup QBs in the league, or he leaves and they give Jordan Love a few seasons to prove himself. Maybe they’d trade down and take a shot on an Anthony Richardson if they decided to trade Jordan Love, but I don’t see it.
Like running back, look for the team to stick with their current room but maybe add someone in the second round if they trade either Rodgers or Love.
Cornerback
Eric Stokes and Rasul Douglas didn’t exactly light the world on fire last season, but this position group is just too crowded to need anyone new. Jaire and Stokes are first-round picks, Douglas has a decent-sized veteran contract, Keisean Nixon could be back at a relatively high deal for his returning skills, and the team may convert Darnell Savage (a third first-round pick) to full-time slot corner. The only way it makes sense to invest significant capital in this spot is if Rasul Douglas converts to safety or is traded away.
Look for the team’s typical late-round dart throw at a small school super-fast and long corner who would excel on special teams.
Inside Linebacker
De’Vondre Campbell and Quay Walker probably performed even worse than Douglas and Stokes, but this is another case of capital allocation. You can spend more capital on a position where you have a high vet contract and a first-round pick invested already. Especially when the position isn’t that valuable in the first place.
Like corner, the team always seems to take an extremely athletic special teams candidate late, don’t expect anything else this offseason.
Guard
Our final spot is the most tenuous. Elgton Jenkins got off to a shaky start last season and Jon Runyan was anything but consistent last year and is up for a new contract soon. But, Jenkins finished the year extremely strong and I’m sure Gute feels Center and Right Tackle are worse off than Runyan’s Right Guard spot.
I’m starting to sound like a broken record, but don’t expect more than a late-round stab at a highly athletic player in this spot.
Mike Price is a lifelong Packers fan currently living in Utah. You can follow him on twitter at @themikeprice.
——————
