Let the NFL off-season begin! This is the time of year, with the opening of NFL free agency and the draft, that teams look to upgrade their rosters. Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst has a lengthy list compiled headed into this off-season. As Packers fans know, the wide receiver position is at the top of that list. The Packers wide receiver needs some help. But we believe there is another position that is just as crucial that needs upgrading. Gutekunst will look to upgrade the Packers inside linebacker position this off-season.
Packers Inside Linebacker Position at the Top of the To-Do List This Off-Season
There are some that believe the inside linebacker position isn’t as important as it once was in the NFL. With spread offenses becoming quite popular in today’s NFL, secondary players have become sorely needed for defenses. But we believe that the inside linebacker is still vital for an NFL defense.
With passing offenses evolving, so has the inside linebacker position. The days of asking your inside linebacker to concentrate just on the running game are over. Now, the inside linebacker not only has to be aware of the running game, but he also is a key player in pass coverage.
Tight ends have become bigger and faster. They are frequently utilized to stretch the middle of a defense. That is why you need an inside linebacker who not only is fast enough to cover these tight ends, but also physical enough to jam them at the line of scrimmage.
Gutekunst and the Packers will be looking for an inside linebacker who can do those things we just described. It won’t be easy for Gutekunst. But he does have a couple of different ways he can upgrade the Packers inside linebacker position this off-season.
Moving on From Blake Martinez
Blake Martinez did a lot of things well at the Packers inside linebacker position. He was reliable and he made a lot of tackles, 331 solo tackles so far in his career.
While he did those things well, he had struggles in other areas. When asked to drop into coverage, Martinez had a hard time keeping up with tight ends and even running backs out of the backfield.
The number of tackles Martinez made are impressive. But there were times that Martinez was gobbled up by offensive linemen and taken out of plays. A lot of his tackles he made were after good size gains. Some of it has to do with his size as well as his lack of speed.
Martinez is a free agent this off-season. It has been speculated that some team in dire need of inside linebacker help will give him a big-money deal. Not only might that big money deal price him out of Green Bay, but it appears the Packers inside linebacker position needs more than Martinez can give them.
Unfortunately for the Packers, it appears they don’t have a player currently on their roster to replace Martinez. In 2018, Gutekunst’s first draft as the Packers general manager, the Packers selected inside linebacker Oren Burks with their third-round pick. Burks, an ultra-athletic prospect, was looked at to be the type of player that today’s NFL inside linebacker must be. But so far, Burks hasn’t been that type of player.
Burks has struggled with injuries and has seen most of his playing time come on special teams. Even when healthy, he was bypassed on the depth chart by natural safeties Raven Greene and Ibraheim Campbell on the Packers inside linebacker depth chart.
Burks still could be a part of the Packers inside linebacker position. But to rely on him to be the lead inside linebacker on their defense, might be a risk the Packers can’t take.
A Possible Free Agent Replacement
Gutekunst could turn to free agency to find a player to upgrade the Packers inside linebacker position. If he does, there is one player that seems to be a perfect fit for what the Packers need.
Tom Silverstein and Jim Owczarski of PackersNews.com recently wrote the Packers might be exploring bringing in Cleveland Browns inside linebacker Joe Schobert. Schobert is a familiar name to Wisconsin fans. He was a standout player for the Wisconsin Badgers from 2012-2015.
But Schobert isn’t just a “homer” choice. He has been a very productive player for the Browns the past four years. In his four seasons with the Browns, he has totaled 408 combined tackles, six interceptions, and registered eight and a half sacks. While he hasn’t made the number of tackles Martinez has, he has made more game-changing plays. Those plays have been missing out of the Packers inside linebacker position in recent history.
Similar to Martinez, Schobert might command top dollar on the free-agent market. That might price him out for the Packers. The Packers spent a lot of money last off-season on free agent pickups Adrian Amos, Billy Turner, Za’Darius Smith, and Preston Smith. So money, especially with possibly re-signing offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga, might be tight. If that is the case, Gutekunst might have to look to the draft to upgrade the Packers inside linebacker position.
Finding Help in the NFL Draft
The Packers have the 30th overall pick in this year’s NFL draft. If they decide to address the inside linebacker position via the draft, there are two possible prospects this might be available at 30.
The first being Oklahoma inside linebacker Kenneth Murray. Murray is a very explosive inside linebacker who played three years for the Sooners. It appears he is chiseled out of granite and is a very big hitter. He has great size, 6’2″ 243 lbs., but also has top-end speed. It also appears that the Packers have an interest in Murray. It was reported that he met with the Packers at the NFL combine this past week.
If you are a follower of mock drafts, you know there is a chance that Murray might not be available when the Packers are on the clock. If that is the case, they might turn to another prospect to fill the Packers inside linebacker position.
LSU inside linebacker Patrick Queen is coming off a stellar season. He was a big part of the Tigers winning this year’s NCAA championship. Like Murray, he played three years of college ball. This past season, he had 85 total tackles, three sacks, and had one interception. He doesn’t have the size Murray has, 6’1″ 227 lbs., but is just as athletic Murray.
There is a chance that both players might be off the board by the time the Packers select. Or, Gutekunst could deem wide receiver more important to address with their first-round pick. If that is the case, they might wait to address the inside linebacker position.
If that is the case, keep an eye on Wyoming linebacker Logan Wilson. Wilson had a stellar career for the Cowboys. This past season, he registered 105 total tackles, one sack, forced one fumble, and had four interceptions. Daniel Parlegreco of DTPDraftscout.com has pegged Wilson going in either the third or fourth round. Grabbing Wilson in either the third or fourth round would allow Gutekunst to address wide receiver and possibly offensive tackle or tight end with their first and second-round picks.
A Change This Off-Season
No matter if it is in free agency or in the draft, it appears the Packers inside linebacker position will be going through some change. While some might think the inside linebacker position isn’t important anymore, the truth is that it still has a major place in NFL defenses.
The Packers defense struggled against the run and cover opposing tight ends last season. A big part of those struggles came from the Packers inside linebacker position. Upgrading the position is needed and expected this off-season from the Packers.
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