Many picked Green Bay to win the NFC North. Instead, the Packers finished the season 7-9, behind the Vikings and Lions in the division and obviously out of the playoffs.
Of course, Aaron Rodgers' collarbone injury had something to do with that - and Green Bay will be getting its superstar quarterback back for the 2018 season. That's a great step in a return to the postseason, but Rodgers' absence revealed several areas of concern on the roster.
Usually a very stable organization, the Packers have already made changes at general manager and defensive coordinator.
It's unusual for the Packers not to be drafting late in the round, but they'll pick 14th overall this year. Green Bay will also be about middle of the pack in terms of salary-cap space, but could create more by releasing receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb. Kicker Mason Crosby also could be a cap casualty.
Morgan Burnett is the Packers' most notable free agent; they'd be wise to bring him back. Davon House's and Jahri Evans’ contracts are expiring as well.
Brian Gutekunst took over for Ted Thompson as GM and will be in charge of bolstering the roster. Thompson was notorious for not going outside the organization in free agency, instead building the Packers through the draft more than any NFL team.
It's unclear what Gutekunst’s approach will be, but it's probably safe to say the Packers will be more open to bringing in free agents. On what areas should Gutekunst concentrate?
Thompson went out of his comfort zone last offseason, signing tight end Martellus Bennett. That didn’t work out well at all and Bennett was released during the season. Considering what Cobb and Nelson are making, they're unlikely to be back under their current contracts.
One or both could restructure or come back at a reduced rate. Still, as great as Rodgers is, pass catchers at wide receiver and tight end should be the top priority on offense.
Davante Adams was recently signed to a long-term deal, an excellent move to keep him off the open market and he should clearly be viewed as the Packers' No. 1 receiver. A strategy Green Bay should strongly consider is moving Ty Montgomery back to wide receiver.
That isn’t an indictment of Montgomery as a running back. He still could get some carries here and there, but that move would be an earned vote of confidence for Green Bay’s pair of 2017 rookie running backs, Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams. Both are very different types of backs, but they complement each other very well.
Both deserve playing time, and penciling in Montgomery as a starter opposite Adams at wide out would be the best way for Green Bay to get its best and most dangerous skill position players on the field.
Richard Rodgers isn’t a great player, but his contract is up as well. Tight end remains a huge area of concern for Green Bay. It doesn’t look like there's a tight end likely worthy of the 14th pick, so maybe a free agent such as Tyler Eifert or Trey Burton would make sense, in addition to using a draft pick on the position. As evidenced by the Bennett signing, a threatening tight end is very important in this offensive system.
By season's end, the Packers offensive line - due in part to Bryan Bulaga’s injury - was a big problem area as well. Green Bay has had major defections up front over the past several offseasons and should reinforce their front five. This is most glaring at the guard position.
Jason Spriggs returns from injury, but he's probably best suited as Green Bay’s swing tackle rather than as an interior player. Evans could be re-signed and Green Bay should also strongly consider drafting a guard on the first two days of the draft.
Notre Dame’s Quenton Nelson would look awfully good in that capacity if the Packers want to attack the area in the first round and get their line back to greatness.
On defense, it's a little more difficult to speculate on needs, as Green Bay has yet to hire its new coordinator. The Packers have two foundational big men in Mike Daniels and Kenny Clark. Although he's getting up in age, Clay Matthews had a nice bounce-back year, while Nick Perry is a fine bookend. When Matthews and Perry were on the field together, their edge presence was pretty strong.
Still, more than anything, additional pass-rush is absolutely needed in any form the Packers can get. Don’t be surprised if their first-round pick somehow helps Green Bay apply more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Front-line defensive depth wouldn’t be a bad idea either.
On the second level, Blake Martinez is a keeper and a leader. Only Ha Ha Clinton-Dix played more snaps on that side of the ball. Under Dom Capers, the second inside linebacker was clearly not valued as he preferred lining up with an extra defensive back. Last year’s second-round pick, Josh Jones, played a linebacker role at times.
Green Bay may want to add a complement to Martinez, or they could be fine if a second true linebacker isn’t going to play a lot of snaps.
Including Jones, Green Bay has invested a lot of draft capital in the secondary. Last year and in 2015, Thompson used his first two draft picks on defensive backs, and Clinton-Dix was the Packers' first-round pick in 2014. Kevin King and Quinten Rollins finished the season on injured reserve, but you'd think the Packers would be in great shape overall in the secondary, but that's debatable.
Some of these young players show promise, but Clinton-Dix and Burnett were once again Green Bay’s best defensive backs. Should the Packers go back to the well again and draft a cornerback? You can never have too many talented corners, but maybe Gutekunst decides to spend big money on Trumaine Johnson. The more likely option would be to pursue a less expensive veteran option like Morris Claiborne or Prince Amukamara.
Rodgers’ return immediately means Green Bay is back in contention. But make no mistake; Gutekunst has work to do.
Matt Williamson is a former scout for the Cleveland Browns and spent 10 years at ESPN as a scout and co-host of "The Football Today Podcast." Find him on Twitter @WilliamsonNFL.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)
