This is The Gridiron Review’s Green Bay Packers 2023 Offseason Team Breakdown. We provide you with all things you need to know about the Packers heading into FA and the draft. We also provide our thoughts on the needs of the team and how we think they can be addressed!
Green Bay Packers 2022 Record: 8-9
Green Bay Packers Salary Cap(According to Spotrac): $-17,549,478
Notable Free Agents(According to Spotrac):
- Randall Cobb, WR
- Allen Lazard, WR
- Robert Tonyan Jr., TE
- Dean Lowry, DL
- Jarran Reed, DL
- Krys Barnes, LB
- Keisean Nixon, CB/ST
- Adrian Amos, S
Team Needs: WR, TE, OT, DL, S
3 Free Agent Targets(In No Order):
- JuJu Smith Schuster, WR
- Jabrill Peppers, S
- Ronnie Harrison, S
Green Bay Packers First Round Pick(s): Pick 15
3 Draft Prospect Fits/Targets:
- Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College
- Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah
- Bryan Bresee, DL, Clemson
Our Packers Ideal Offseason Plans/Thoughts:
- The Packers for the second straight offseason are over the cap; however, it’s not even close to what it was last year… luckily.
- The QB position needs to be addressed in regard to who your guy is going forward. Even if Aaron Rodgers comes out of the darkness and wants to play again, you need to let him go. You are in a horrifying situation right now where you drafted your supposed QB of the future in the 1st round in 2020, and you have to make a decision on his 5th year option with essentially no tape. In our opinion, the Packers have to pick up Love’s 5th year. It will only cost them $20.27 million in 2024. That’s a steal in today’s QB market. If you move Rodgers, first and foremost, it should help the cap situation. Secondly, you give Love two years to prove he is your franchise QB. Love has looked good in the minimal time that he’s gotten recently. You need to move forward with Love before the situation gets worse.
- The Packers have to grab a receiving option in the first round this year. They had not one, but two first round picks last year and decided to draft two defensive players instead. Doubs played okay, Watson shined toward the end of the year, but neither of them was “the guy”. Maybe Watson will be “the guy”, but they could still add another starting receiver in the room, especially if Lazard is not re-signed. JuJu is a WR to watch in FA. He should be a relatively cheaper veteran option and his skill set would fit nicely into their WR room. If they want to draft a new WR, think Boston College’s Zay Flowers.
- If no wide receiver is there, the receiving option can come in the form of a tight end. The Packers have lacked an elite presence at TE since probably Jermichael Finley. They’ve tried proven vets like Jimmy Graham and Jared Cook and although they had semi-decent production, both played like they were at the end of their career. Look for the Packers to bring in a serious TE threat for the first time in a long time. We think Dalton Kincaid is the best option for the Pack if he’s available here at 15.
- Rookie Zach Tom really struggled in his first year on the Packers line. I thought Tom was a mid-round gem, but I didn’t think he was going to be ready to start year one. It’s possible he takes a step forward in year two, but he has a lot of work to do. Don’t be surprised if the Packers look to improve the RT position. Ohio State’s Dawand Jones could be a solid day 2 option for the Pack.
- The Packers have one of the better defensive line anchors in the NFL in Kenny Clark. Clark is losing his help though as both Dean Lowry and Jarran Reed are FAs. They need to prioritize bringing back at least one of the two with the goal of hopefully getting both back on relatively cheaper deals. If they do not get back one or both, don’t be surprised if they have Clemson’s Bryan Bresee on their board here. He brings a different skill set to the Packers’ defensive line room. Yes, the Packers have Devonte Wyatt, but he was nearly non-existent this year. Wyatt really needs to take a big step heading into next season as a former first round pick.
- The Packers are on track to needing a new safety. Adrian Amos is set to be a FA. He has played well for the Pack, so he may ask for more money than they can offer him. If this is the case and they can’t bring him back, there’s two cheaper veteran options here for the Pack. The first is Jabrill Peppers who has pretty much been a journeyman since his college days, but could supply solid and versatile defensive play. The other option is Ronnie Harrison who is a big time hitter and box safety who would fit perfectly in the physical NFC North.