Three of the more pressing needs the Green Bay Packers will likely try to address in the upcoming draft, unfortunately, happen to be the lowest graded position groups in this year’s class by PFF.
Of the 10 position groups that PFF graded, running back was the lowest, receiving a C, while linebacker and safety both received C+ grades.
With how aggressive teams were at the running back position in free agency, including the Packers, in handing out some lucrative deals, that potentially gives us some insight into what the league thinks of this year’s class.
With Josh Jacobs on the roster, the Packers have stability at the position, but AJ Dillon isn’t guaranteed a roster spot this season with his contract, and Emanuel Wilson remains a relative unknown.
The second running back on the depth chart has become an important role in the NFL, and it was the run game late in the season that helped unlock the full potential of the Packers’ offense.
At linebacker, the Packers are in need of both depth and need to determine who their strong-side linebacker is going to be when they are in their base 4-3 defense. As the roster is currently constructed, Isaiah McDuffie would probably be the middle linebacker with Quay Walker the weak-side linebacker, along with Eric Wilson there for depth.
As I wrote about recently, I’m not sure that within the Packers’ organization there is as much consternation about the linebacker position as there is on the outside.
Jeff Hafley’s defense can hopefully put Quay Walker in more consistent positions to make plays. McDuffie played his final collegiate season at Boston College under Hafley and performed well when called upon last season. Wilson, meanwhile, provides experienced depth, and although the Packers now run a 4-3 scheme, they will still spend most of their snaps in nickel with just two linebackers on the field.
The Packers found their do-it-all safety in free agency in Xavier McKinney, whose presence on the field will make everyone around him better. However, it’s also possible that McKinney’s running mate isn’t on the roster yet either, with Anthony Johnson as the next most experienced defensive player with a few hundred career snaps.
With McKinney likely playing most of his snaps as the post-safety, finding a safety who can play in the box would be a good complement. However, at both safety and linebacker, GM Brian Gutekunst doesn’t want to hyper-focus on one specific need and pigeonhole a player into a role. Versatility at both positions is going to be an emphasis for Gutekunst in the draft.
Now, having said all of that, with players like Walker, Jacobs, and McKinney, the Packers do have very strong, solid foundations at those position groups.
With five picks in the top 100, Gutekunst has the flexibility to move around if needed to find the right player. He also shouldn’t feel the need to reach for a certain player or position group either because with that many selections in the firs three rounds, along with having 11 altogether, the Packers won’t be waiting too long before they are back on the clock again.
The Packers have options going into the draft, and that is what every GM wants. However, in terms of finding some immediate impact help at any of these position groups, that still could be a challenge.