I will preface what’s next by saying it’s a lot easier to make decisions when there are no severe ramifications. Unlike the men and women who work for the Packers, my life isn’t affected by how many games the team wins or loses in any given year. With that out of the way, here’s what I would do if I were in general manager Brian Gutekunst’s shoes this offseason:
1) Trade Aaron Rodgers
Trading the four-time MVP has been No. 1 on my list for the past two offseasons, but it feels much more likely this year. In fact, a person who worked in NFL front offices for over two decades and whose opinion I very much trust told me on Thursday to expect Rodgers’ spectacular run in Green Bay to officially come to an end by sometime next week. We shall see.
2) Sign a veteran backup QB
Assuming Rodgers moves on, the Packers will need to add an experienced veteran to back up Jordan Love. Ideally, this person would be a pretty good player and a really good sounding board. Fortunately, they’ll be no shortage of options available in free agency. Names to keep in mind include Marcus Mariota, Taylor Heinicke, Jacoby Brissett, and Baker Mayfield.
3) Acquire a veteran wide receiver
Gutekunst won’t be able to spend big money on a receiver, but he can’t cheap out like he did with Sammy Watkins last year. Regardless of who’s under center in Week 1, the offense will need a proven and reliable pass catcher to team with talented youngsters Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs. Perhaps Corey Davis of the Jets if he’s released in the coming days.
4) Draft a tight end early
Nothing would help Love more next season than having a quality tight end catching passes in the middle of the field. Fortunately, it’s a really good year at that position in the draft. It’s not a coincidence that Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts, the two quarterbacks in last month’s Super Bowl, completed a lot of passes to Travis Kelce and Dallas Goedert, respectively.
5) Acquire another pass rusher
This would be a priority even if Rashan Gary weren’t coming back from an ACL injury that could keep him out early in the season. Veteran Preston Smith is solid, and young Kingsley Enagbare has potential, but neither is very dynamic off the edge. The easiest way to make defensive coordinator Joe Barry look competent is to get consistent pressure on the quarterback.
6) Re-sign special teams studs
Hiring Rich Bisaccia to coordinate special teams made a big difference last season, but signing Keisean Nixon, Rudy Ford, Dallin Leavitt, and Eric Wilson was every bit as significant. Nixon made the All-Pro team as a returner, while Ford, Leavitt, and Wilson added talent and professionalism to the coverage units. Gutekunst should try hard to keep them.
7) Overhaul the safety position
Darnell Savage was benched in late November, and Adrian Amos lost a step in his eighth season. The Packers need to do a lot better at both spots. Moving Rasul Douglas from cornerback would be a positive start. The 27-year-old has the skill set to be a productive safety. Free agency should provide several capable and not-too-expensive options to replace Amos.
8) Find a spot for Zach Tom
The coaches spent last spring and summer raving about Tom’s versatility and surprisingly solid play, yet he only saw the field during the fall and winter when other offensive linemen were injured. He needs to be a starter in 2023, and if that means benching former second-round pick Josh Myers, so be it. The third-year center was mediocre at best last season.
9) Get rid of the geezers
Despite not having much money to spend last spring, Gutekunst still chose to keep wide receiver Randall Cobb and tight end Mercedes Lewis. Part of the reason was to help out on offense, and part of the reason was to keep Rodgers happy. Regardless of who’s at QB, it’s time to cut the cord. If their leadership is so important, hire them as assistant coaches.
10) Promote Richmond Williams
The front office recently lost an up-and-coming executive when Chad Brinker was hired as Tennessee’s assistant GM. Williams will be next to go if he’s not promoted in the very near future. As director of player personnel, he’s done an excellent job of adding productive and inexpensive free agents to the roster. To be honest, it’s surprising that he’s still around.
IN CONCLUSION: I wrote this same post a year ago, and six of my 10 suggestions were followed, including trading star wide receiver Davante Adams. But the big one, replacing Rodgers with Love, didn’t happen. Gutekunst chose instead to give his subtly sagging roster a simple Botox treatment. After watching the team struggle on both sides of the ball and fail to qualify for the postseason for the first time since 2018, we’ll soon find out whether he’s finally ready to go for the facelift.
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Great piece. Hopefully your source is right.
Huge news if true. FWIW – I trust your sources more than others. Thanks for putting it out there.
Safety is the position group that worries me the most. We need two guys back there, otherwise it looks like another MD Jennings / McMillian combo type season.
If I were really confident in the information, it would’ve been its own story, and I’d be tweeting every five minutes. But it’s something I was told by somebody who knows what people in the league are thinking, so I figured I’d pass it along.
Looks like your source was right. The Jets have flown to California to meet with Rodgers. Their owner really wants Rodgers, so hopefully, that’ll get the Packers more and better draft picks.
He’s always been reliable, so I’m not surprised.
Pretty good list. Another often overlooked area of priority is the Defensive Line to help our only proven player in Kenny Clark.
If Love is going to be the quarterback next season, I’m a little surprised Gutey keeps restructuring contracts and pushing money into future years. I thought he might start releasing or trading high-paid players in an attempt to get the cap under control as quickly as possible. Maybe he thinks the Packers can make the playoffs with Love. That seems overly optimistic but who knows. The NFC isn’t that strong and third-place schedule should help.
Great post. To me #9 is the most important but including Rodgers among the geezers.
Donation sent, keep up the great work.
Unfortunately, the best and easiest move the Packers could’ve made this offseason was to replace Joe Barry, and LaFleur chose not to. It’s tough going into another season already knowing the defense won’t be good.