The Green Bay Packers enter the 2019 NFL Draft with numerous holes to fill after suffering through the franchise's worst season in over a decade. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was active in each of the Packers' 16 regular season games, but the quarterback's numerous injuries — from a broken leg in Week 1 to a fierce concussion in Week 17 — played a major role in Green Bay's disappointing 2018 season.
While the 35-year-old veteran comes with his fair share of drama, a healthy Rodgers gives the Packers a legitimate shot at a playoff berth in 2019. So instead of initiating a full-blown rebuild, Green Bay's front office needs to remain aggressive over the remainder of the offseason by adding multiple immediate contributors in the draft.
The Packers lost several key roster pieces this year, including linebackers Clay Matthews, Nick Perry, and Jake Ryan, cornerback Bashaud Breeland and wide receiver Randall Cobb.
Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst countered these losses with some significant splash signings in NFL free agency, including a pair of pass rushers in Za'Darius Smith and Preston Smith, and a quality safety in Adrian Amos. Gutekunst also threw big money at versatile but master-of-none offensive lineman Billy Turner, who will likely start the season for the team at right guard.
The Packers started strong, but they still have a long way to go. Luckily, the team currently holds 10 picks in the 2019 NFL Draft, including two first-rounders and four selections in the first 75 overall picks. Green Bay will need to effectively utilize all of their draft capital in order to complete their roster before the 2019 season begins, with a specific focus on their three biggest positional areas of need.
3. Offensive Line
Without a healthy Rodgers, the Packers won't be able to compete with the NFL's elite, so the team needs to prioritize the protection of their star quarterback. Green Bay has five starting offensive linemen on their roster, but outside of stud left tackle David Bakhtiari and solid center Corey Linsley, the remainder of the line is far from optimal.
With oft-injured right tackle Bryan Bulaga entering perhaps his final season with the team, Green Bay could add a tackle early in the draft. And although Turner was given a starter's salary, he is better suited for a backup role. Lane Taylor was merely serviceable in 2018 despite the advantage of playing on the left side of the Packers' offensive line. Taylor's eight sacks allowed was the league's worst mark among left guards last season, per Pro Football Focus.
2. Tight End
When the Packers made tight end Jimmy Graham the NFL's highest-paid tight end last offseason, they expected considerably more than two touchdowns from the former All-Pro. Unfortunately, Green Bay is stuck with Graham for another season after deciding to push much of his salary cap hit into the second year of his contract.
Essentially a “big slot” possession receiver due to his subpar blocking skills and his lack of speed, Graham is no longer the matchup problem he was in his early days with the New Orleans Saints. The only other experienced tight end on Green Bay's roster is Marcedes Lewis, who is also nearing the twilight of his career. Lewis spent much of his time with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a blocking tight end and was used almost exclusively in that role last season, but the 12-year veteran proved to be a liability as a blocker while hauling in just three receptions in 16 games.
In an age where teams strive to be multiple, the Packers' tight ends are anything but, which is likely causing Green Bay Head coach Matt LaFleur to salivate at the thought of landing either one of the draft's two top tight end prospects.
1. Safety
The Amos signing brought some much-needed stability to this otherwise barren group, but the Packers still lack a second starting-caliber safety after the team shipped top safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to the Washington Redskins midway through last season.
Ironically, Clinton-Dix will be filling in as Amos' replacement in 2019 after signing an inexpensive one-year “prove it” deal with the Chicago Bears. Green Bay felt the effects of Clinton-Dix's departure last season, as the Packers gave up 30 touchdowns through the air and ranked 29th in the NFL on both deep passes and throws in the middle of the field, per Football Outsiders. Amos was brought in to improve the team in those areas, but he will no longer have the pleasure of playing next to one of the game's top playmakers in fellow safety Eddie Jackson.
Adding a starting safety in the first two days of the 2019 NFL Draft would go a long way in solidifying the backend of the Packers' defensive unit for the foreseeable future.
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