It’s difficult to think of a year this century when the Packers went into a draft with glaring needs at so many positions. With the exceptions of quarterback and inside linebacker, GM Brian Gutekunst could use his No. 1 pick on a running back, tight end, wide receiver, O-lineman, D-lineman, edge rusher, cornerback, or safety, and nobody would blink an eye.
The following is an in-depth look at the needs on defense, from the biggest to the smallest (the number at the end of each positional analysis represents the level of need (8-10 is a top priority; 6-7.9 is a mid-level priority; under 6.0 is a low priority):
DEFENSIVE LINE
There are other positions with less talent, but the line tops this list because there’s no way to be effective on defense if the big guys up front can’t get the job done. While the Packers like youngsters Devonte Wyatt and T.J. Slaton, as of now, Kenny Clark is the only proven commodity. Wyatt, a No. 1 pick last April, played less than 230 snaps in a disappointing rookie campaign. Slaton showed growth in 2022, but whether he can be counted on to stay on the field for 40 snaps a game remains to be seen. Getting worn down was a problem in college. After these three, the cupboard is pretty bare. While Gutekunst and the coaches thought enough of huge Jonathan Ford to keep him on the 53-man roster all season, he was an underachiever at Miami and showed little last summer. Journeyman Chris Slayton had a much better camp, but he was never promoted from the practice squad, and the Packers are his sixth team since entering the league in 2019. (8.75)
EDGE RUSHER
This is a need; how big depends on when Rashan Gary returns from last fall’s torn ACL. If the budding star gets back sometime in September or early October, the Packers should be fine on the edge. Preston Smith is a solid starter, and Kinglsey Enagbare had a surprisingly strong rookie season. Journeyman Justin Hollins is a good backup. But if Gary’s return lingers into November, there could be a big problem since Smith, Enagbare, and Hollins aren’t explosive pass rushers. Either way, don’t be surprised to see this position addressed early since a defense can never have too many players that can get after the quarterback. Another avenue to generate pressure without Gary would be to give Quay Walker more chances to come off the edge. The second-year inside linebacker was used in that role only 30 times in 2022. (8.25)
SAFETY
The Packers’ best safety will be playing cornerback (Rasul Douglas). Why? Because defensive coordinator Joe Barry is, well, he’s Joe Barry. In the meantime, disappointing Darnell Savage will get another opportunity to prove he deserves to start. Next to him figures to be journeyman Rudy Ford, ex-49ers backup Tarvarius Moore, or a rookie drafted on Day 2 or 3. Unfortunately, this looks to be a particularly weak class. Big and speedy Tariq Carpenter is another possibility, although his lack of transitional quickness might be hard to overcome in coverage. So why is safety only third on the list? Because it’s probably the least important position on defense. The Los Angeles Rams won the Super Bowl in 2021 with the middling duo of Jordan Fuller and Taylor Rapp. Still, it would behoove Gutekunst to add a body or two later this week. (8.0)
CORNERBACK
Considering how much draft capital and money Gutekunst has spent on cornerbacks since 2018, this shouldn’t be a need. But alas, it is. That’s because Eric Stokes is coming off a poor season and a serious leg injury, and kick returner Keisean Nixon is the presumptive starting nickel. The former Raider held up OK in limited snaps in 2022, but whether he can get the job done for 17 games remains to be seen (I doubt it). So if the best available player at No. 15 happens to be Illinois’ Devon Witherspoon, Penn State’s Joey Porter Jr., or Maryland’s Deonte Banks, it wouldn’t be a big surprise to see Guterkunst pull the trigger. Ask any general manager or coach, and they’ll tell you that cornerback is one of a football team’s four most important positions. It would be nice if Shemar Jean-Charles finally develops, but that can’t be counted on. The fifth-round pick from Appalachian State has barely gotten on the field since being drafted in 2021. (7.75)
INSIDE LINEBACKER
It’s strange to see this position so far down the list after years of being at or near the top. That’s what happens when the starters are 2021 first-team All-Pro De’Vondre Campbell and 2022 All-Rookie Quay Walker and not Blake Martinez and Antonio Morrison. Even the backups are OK. Isaiah McDuffie flashed intriguing potential in 175 snaps last season, and special teams standout Eric Wilson has 27 career starts under his belt, including 15 as recently as three years ago. Since Campbell turns 30 in July and his cap hit balloons to $14 million in 2024, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to use a Day 3 pick on an inside linebacker, but it’s hard to imagine Gutekunst spending an earlier pick on a position that’s finally a strength. (6.50)
I’ve done this same exercise for the past couple of drafts. The following is how the needs compared in 2021 and 2022 to this year:
| POSITION | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterback | 5.50 | 5.00 | 6.25 |
| Running Back | 5.75 | 6.00 | 6.50 |
| Tight End | 6.50 | 7.00 | 8.50 |
| Wide Receiver | 7.75 | 9.50 | 9.00 |
| Offensive Line | 8.25 | 7.50 | 7.75 |
| Defensive Line | 8.50 | 7.00 | 8.75 |
| Edge Rusher | 7.00 | 8.00 | 8.25 |
| Inside Linebacker | 7.50 | 6.50 | 6.00 |
| Cornerback | 8.75 | 6.00 | 7.75 |
| Safety | 6.75 | 6.50 | 8.00 |
| Special Teams | 5.00 | 5.00 | 5.75 |
| TOTAL | 77.25 | 74.00 | 82.50 |
People keep talking about an edge rusher at 15, but I was impressed by Kingsley Enagbare last season. Maybe he can be the longterm starter opposite Rashan Gary.
My positional hopes are for edge or OT at #13. The game is won in the trenches. Plus, Bakh is gone after this season, probably to play in NY with Aaron.
Plan B, trade down. Maybe even take a #1 (plus other picks of course) in what many say is a deeper draft in 2024.
safety seems like a pretty obvious draft need this year. not to the Packers; however, Brian Branch has been pushed by draft pundits into round 1 conversation ad nauseam. i think most folks are dismissing the chance for Branch to become a Packer due, at least in part, to Branch’s lackluster athletic testing. also, i still remember HaHa Clinton-Dix and i am still recovering from “HCD PTSD”, so the safety prospect from Alabama feels unnecessarily risky/wrong to me.
even armed with 2 2nd round picks, the Packers don’t seem on the verge of spending huge draft capital on the safety position this year. i think some serious scouting acumen will need to be employed to fill the Packers’ vacancy left by Adrian Amos. maybe Jordan Howden will be their guy? given that Darnell Savage was actually benched last year, it behooves the Packers to have a plan for the future at safety.
the pick of Van Ness seems good in that Van Ness should have the positional versatility to play EDGE in the absence of Rashan Gary and also play inside in a rotation maybe similar to the way Zadarius Smith played with the Packers. Van Ness has been comped frequently to Gary; however, in Van Ness’ highlights, i see some Zadarius Smith. maybe some Packers’ scouts saw that too.
one more point on the Van Ness selection: the Packers may have snatched Van Ness just ahead of Bill Belichick/the Pats. we know that the Pats traded out of their pick at #14 after the Packers selected Van Ness. if this theory is correct, the Jets pick swap from #15 to #13 was great for the Packers.