Subscribe
Follow Us
The 2018 season was a disappointment for the Green Bay Packers, but it's not like any Aaron Rodgers-led team is that far away from contention in any given season.
Yes, the Packers have a handful of holes to fill this season. They'd be smart to find a pass-rusher or two through the draft and free agency and safety is still a big need. There's also the question of Matt LaFleur and how he'll handle his first season, ever, as a head coach.
How LaFleur handles his job could go a long way towards determining how good the Packers are in the 2019 season, but this is still a game that is won or lost between the lines.
With that said, the Packers are a team that could improve even more with simply a better season from a few key players.
In particular, these three players need to step up for Green Bay next season.
3. Kevin King, Cornerback
Kevin King has flashed signs of excellence in the past for the Packers. The problem with him has been consistency. He's also had a hard time staying on the field due to health reasons, so heading into the 2019 season a big showing will be a must for him. Remember, the Packers drafted King with the No. 33 pick in the 2017 draft, so he is expected to be a major player in this Mike Pettine defense.
The thing is, when healthy, he does have all the tools to be a lock-down cornerback. He's tall and lanky at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds and he's proven to have an even bigger wing-span. King has the ability to poke his hands into passing lanes and he also uses his length at the line of scrimmage in man press coverage situations.
Across from Jaire Alexander, who appears to be on his way to an All-Pro career, King has everything he needs to be successful for the Packers in 2019 and beyond. In fact, he and Alexander could prove to be one of the best cornerback duos in the NFL, but a lot of that is hinging on King.
With only 15 games played over the last two seasons, he needs to find a way to stay healthy in order for Green Bay's defense to take another step forward in year two of Pettine's system.
2. Jimmy Graham, Tight End
Look, nobody expects Jimmy Graham to be the player he was for the Saints — when he dominated the league — or even the player he was for the Seahawks. Graham, at 32 years old, has clearly lost a few steps and he battled through injuries much of his first season with the Packers.
There's a chance the Pack cut him, of course, but let's go into this with the assumption that LaFleur will like the idea of Graham's veteran presence in his offense, plus another season to build rapport with Rodgers as a pass-catcher.
Assuming the Packers bring him back, Graham absolutely needs to step up and produce. He doesn't bring much to the table as a blocker, but hypothetically he should still be able to a top option for the Packers in the middle of the field.
At the very least, he needs to start catching footballs that would normally be automatic for him. Even an improvement like that should see him have a productive 2019 season.
He's big enough to be a mismatch in the flats and he's still fast enough and a good enough route runner to get open over the middle for Rodgers in a pinch. The offense should in no way revolve around Graham, but he can still be major contributor and at the very least operate as a safety-valve in the passing game.
1. Mason Crosby, Kicker
When all is said and done, Mason Crosby will go down as an all-time Packer. He's been with the organization since 2007 and he's been one of the most consistent kickers in the NFL over the past 10-plus seasons. He's won a Super Bowl with the Packers and he's the franchises scoring leader with 1,469 points and counting.
Crosby is a Green Bay great, but the 2018 season was a nightmare for him. No Packers fan needs Crosby's season rehashed in great detail — it's too hard to remember — but the numbers tell a grim story. He went 30-of-37 in field goals, including a game in Detroit that saw him miss four out of five field goals and one extra point try.
That Detroit game would have gotten most kickers fired, but Crosby heading into the 2019 season as the Packers kicker goes to show you the trust and respect he has earned in Green Bay since being selected in round six of the 2007 NFL Draft out of Colorado.
Simply put, Crosby needs to be better in 2019, especially if the Packers are planning on making another playoff run.
Games are won and lost on special teams, and the Packers won't have much room for error in LaFleur's first season on the job.
