The Green Bay Packers had another great season, securing the top seed in the NFC behind an MVP season from Aaron Rodgers. Everything was clicking on all cylinders. The right coach seems to be in place. They have the first ballot hall of fame quarterback. There is a thunder and lightning duo at running back. The team even played pretty good defense with some of the pieces injured throughout the year.
Putting themselves in cap hell, and constantly kicking the can down the road, does eventually have ramifications. They lost a couple of high-impact players this offseason. This includes most notably, star receiver Davante Adams, who was traded to the Raiders. With the increased draft capital and new look weapons, how will this Aaron Rodgers offense-led team look in 2022?
Free Agency Preview
Projected Cap Space (w/ Rank): $14,991,647 (12th)
The Green Bay Packers entered the offseason with one of the worst cap situations in the NFL. Now they are one of the healthiest cap space teams in the NFL. They managed to do this while keeping most of their defense intact, outside of the loss of Za’Darius Smith.
The receiving room is where the impact will be felt most strongly. Of course, the blockbuster trade with the Raiders meant saying goodbye to superstar Davante Adams in exchange for draft capital and a lot of cap space. They also saw Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Equanimeous St. Brown sign with other teams. Considering this was already a position of need for the Packers, it will be an offseason priority for them.
The Green Bay Packers started to fill out their depth chart with veteran Sammy Watkins who signed a one-year deal with the Packers. They also brought back restricted free agent Allen Lazard and were able to convince Randall Cobb to take a pay cut to stay with the team.There is still a lot of work to do, though.
While the pickings may be slim at this point of free agency, there are still names available that could help the Packers fill out their depth chart. These include Jarvis Landry, Julio Jones, Odell Beckham, Will Fuller, Cole Beasley, and Emmanuel Sanders. They could also pursue trades for players such as Tyler Lockett, Laviska Shenault, or one of the superstar receivers in contract negotiations with their current team.
The tight end free agent market is thin, and the Packers seem likely to roll with newly re-signed tight end Robert Tonyan. Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon will continue to form a formidable duo in the backfield behind Aaron Rodgers.
Draft Preview
With reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers locked in under center and Jordan Love waiting in the wings, the Green Bay Packers seem unlikely to draft a quarterback this year. Similarly, they have a high-end veteran at running back with Aaron Jones and an ascending young player in AJ Dillon. Kylin Hill showed some small flashes as well. Those two positions feel locked up.
While I don’t think tight-end will be a top priority in the draft for the Packers, it is certainly a position they could address in the middle rounds. Some names that might fit well include Greg Dulcich, Jeremy Ruckert, Charlie Kolar, and Jake Ferguson. None of these players would be likely to have a year one impact, but the situation could be a good one for fantasy production down the road.
Wide receiver is really where the focus on the Packers draft should be. Some analysts have even mocked two wide receivers to the Packers in the first round. That seems unlikely to me, but double-dipping at the position at some point of the draft feels inevitable.
Some first and second-round names to monitor for the Packers include Chris Olave, Treylon Burks, Jahan Dotson, Christian Watson, George Pickens, and Skyy Moore. Some middle-round names for Packers fans to know include Alec Pierce, Calvin Austin, Jalen Tolbert, Danny Gray, and Justyn Ross.
2022 Preview
While Packers fans should be relieved to see Aaron Rodgers return under center, it will be a bit of a new-look offense in 2022. The dynamic duo of Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon may take center stage with the lack of proven weapons. I believe both backs will be fantasy-relevant on a weekly basis, and Aaron Jones may be one of the best values in fantasy football right now as a pass-catching weapon on a team that is lacking them.
It feels like the Green Bay Packers could still land another veteran free agent receiver at some point. Regardless, it is one of the best landing spots for rookie wide receivers. Aaron Rodgers will allow for at least one, if not more, receivers to produce for fantasy. The answer to who that may be likely isn’t on the roster yet. I have no problem taking late flyers on Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, or even Sammy Watkins at their current prices. But the true upside play is not yet there.
There are a lot of questions marks for fantasy for the Packers this year. Which current Packers receivers will have value? Which rookies or free agents are yet to be added, and will they be able to step up right away? Can Robert Tonyan rebound to a 2020-type impact?
There are some certainties as well though. Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon have proven to be effective pieces to build the offense around for Matt Lafleur. And of course, you still have one of the most talented quarterbacks of all time under center. While it may be a stressful time for Packers fans, my message would be simple. Relax!
