Last Year:

Record: 10-6

Offense: 27.0 ppg (4th)

Defense: 24.3 pa (21st)

Offseason: 

Key Acquisitions: TE. Martellus Bennett, OG. Jahri Evans, CB. Davon House

Key Losses: TE. Jared Cook, OG. T.J. Lang, C. J.C. Tretter, OLB. Julius Peppers, CB. Sam Shields

 Breakdown

Offense:

The Packers were an elite offense last season and should be again with the most talented thrower of the football in Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. Just go ahead and pencil him in for 40+ TDs, single digit interceptions, and a + 100 passer rating. In the first half of last season the Packers were really struggling at running back after Eddie Lacy went down. Then they struck gold by converting receiver Ty Montgomery to running back and he ended up rushing for 457 yards on just 77 carries for an incredible 5.9 yards per carry average. He is going to be a big time weapon as the Packers can also use him in the passing game by throwing it to him out of the backfield or easily motioning him out to receiver and instantly forming an empty set where Rodgers can find mismatches and pick the defense apart. The Packers are even more loaded with receiving options thanks to the addition of tight end Martellus Bennett. He is probably the best tight end Rodgers has played with since Jermichael Finley years ago and will add a new dimension to the Packers offense. The trio Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and Davante Adams are all back at receiver. Nelson bounced back like he never left having one of his best seasons after missing the entire 2015 season due to injury. Cobb was effective when healthy but he only started 10 games last year and will look to have a stronger season this year and hopefully better luck with injury. Davante Adams came out of nowhere and established himself as a pretty good receiver racking up nearly 1000 yards and 12 TDs. These three receivers combined with Bennett forms an elite receiving corps that will be tough for most opposing defenses to cover. The Packers had the best pass blocking offensive line in the NFL in  2016. They lost a couple of good offensive lineman during free agency in T.J. Lang and J.C. Tretter. Lang could end up being a huge loss as he is one of the best guards in the NFL and replaced him with an aging Jahri Evans who was effective last season in New Orleans but is coming to the end of his career. The loss of Tretter will not be as big of deal as he ended up replacing Corey Linsley last year who was playing on an injury he never fully recovered from. He should be fully healthy and ready to go at center this year. Next to him at the other guard spot will be Lane Taylor. Taylor was an undrafted free agent who progressed well enough to find himself in the starting lineup after the shocking and sudden release a former packer great Josh Sitton during training camp last season. Taylor was not Sitton but he was decent and proved he belonged which is why he will be starting at guard again this season. They have the best pass blocking tackle duo in the league in David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga. With those two protecting both edges Rodgers should be well protected all season. Overall the Packers have one of the best group of skill players in the league, one of the best offensive lines, and Rodgers at QB. I will just go out on a limb and say the Packers are going to score a bunch of points in 2017.

Defense:

The Packers were a below average defense last season and though they made no major moves in free agency to improve the defense they are hoping for improvement through the draft and via growth from the young players already on the roster. Up front the Packers are not bad led by defensive end Mike Daniels who has been a monster in the interior for years now. Kenny Clark, the team’s first round pick last season, had a productive rookie season and should be even better in his second season at nose tackle. Letroy Guion most likely would have been the other starting end but is suspended four games for PED violations. Dean Lowry is the current favorite to replace him until he returns. Nick Perry emerged as the team’s best pass rusher leading the team with 11 sacks. Perry is also fantastic vs the run and will be the team’s top outside linebacker. Clay Matthews will be the other outside backer and will look to bounce back after a disappointing season due to injury. One of the more promising positions for the Packers defense is the inside linebacker group featuring a pair of two young guys in Jake Ryan, fourth round pick in 2015, and Blake Martinez, fourth round pick last season. Both showed flashes last year and currently Ryan is the better of the two as he is effective both in coverage and defending the run. So far Martinez has been decedent defending the run but is not very good in coverage. I would expect him to improve some in that area in his second season. The biggest problem position for the Packers in 2016 was the cornerback position which was decimated by injury. Veteran Sam Shields only played in one game and was cut during the offseason. Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins also both had some minor injuries and missed time and also played hurt in other games which negatively impacted both of their performances. This season the Packers have five cornerbacks that will all by vying for playing time. Who the starters will be is completely up in the air as the Packers have been reportedly rotating different groups with the first team all throughout training camp up to this point. According to cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt, Rollins has been by far the most impressive corner so far in camp. Along with Randall and Rollins the team’s second round pick Kevin King, Davon House, who was picked up in free agency, and LaDarius Gunter, who actually ended up playing the most last season, will all be competing for the top three corner spots. If I had the guess I would say the Packers will probably start Randall, Rollins, and House. The Packers fared a lot better at safety where Morgan Burnett and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix formed one of the better duos in the league last year. Cinton-Dix had a breakout year and finally looked like the highly touted safety he was projected to be coming out of Alabama. Burnett is also really good at strong safety and will look to have another productive season in 2017. Overall if the Packers defense can just have better luck with injury they could end up being a lot better on defense. They should be a lot better at cornerback and the front seven has proven productive players on it already.