Training camp is right around the corner for the Green Bay Packers, who are attempting to build on Matt LaFleur’s 13-3 season despite a unique offseason wrecked by the coronavirus pandemic.
GM Brian Gutekunst believes he’s built a roster capable of being a contender once again in 2020.
Here are the Packers’ biggest roster question marks entering training camp:
Backup offensive tackle
Of all the Packers’ potential roster holes, backup offensive tackle might be the most concerning. The offense is one injury to David Bakhtiari or Rick Wagner away from a pretty big problem. Who is the swing tackle? Alex Light struggled in relief duty last season, Jared Veldheer wasn’t re-signed and the Packers once again failed to draft a true offensive tackle prospect – in fact, the team hasn’t drafted a true offensive tackle since Jason Spriggs in 2016. It’s possible Veldheer could be an option again if the young guys struggle during camp, but the Packers are playing a dangerous game at a really important position.
Slot receiver
Do the Packers have a traditional slot receiver? And do they even want one? The receiver group is made up of a bunch of big, power forward-type players. That body type can win in the slot, and the extra size is great for the run game, but the passing game really doesn’t have a twitchy, ultra-quick player that can consistently win on option routes and create after the catch in the middle of the field. Geronimo Allison wasn’t the answer in 2019. Devin Funchess, his free-agent replacement, is more of a perimeter receiver. The guess here is that Matt LaFleur doesn’t really care about a designated slot receiver and will instead use a committee of players to handle the slot in 2020.
Depth along defensive line
Defensive coordinator Mike Pettine wants Kenny Clark and Dean Lowry playing fewer snaps and Tyler Lancaster spending less time at defensive end in 2020. But does he have the depth to do it? The Packers added Treyvon Hester and Gerald Willis, two potential depth options, and they’re expecting jumps from both Montravius Adams and Kingsley Keke. It’s difficult to envision the defensive line being much better in 2020 unless a lot of things go exactly right for the Packers.
No. 2 inside linebacker
The race to play next to Christian Kirksey will finally begin at camp. Oren Burks, Curtis Bolton, Ty Summers and Kamal Martin look like the four best candidates for the job, but consider the following: Burks has struggled to stay healthy and get on the field during his first two seasons, Bolton is coming off a significant knee injury and hasn’t played a single NFL snap, Summers didn’t play a single defensive snap as a rookie and Martin is a fifth-round rookie. The Packers are banking on one of the four stepping up and grabbing the job. If no one does, or injuries strike, GM Brian Gutekunst might have to go bargain-bin shopping at inside linebacker for the third straight August.
Slot cornerback
Tramon Williams remains unsigned, so there’s a real opportunity in the slot. Chandon Sullivan is a logical replacement option, and while he played well in coverage in 2019, the sample size was small and the experience dropoff from Williams to Sullivan would be huge. Second-year safety Darnell Savage could play more in the slot, but the Packers might be better off having him master safety first. Josh Jackson and Ka’dar Hollman may get chances. This is a fluid situation. Don’t be surprised if it ends up with Williams returning to play the position for one more year. He was terrific last season.
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