Littered with first-round picks, expectations are high for Joe Barry and the Green Bay Packers defense heading into 2023. General manager Brian Gutekunst has spent a lot of capital, mostly through the NFL Draft, on improving the Packers defense. While expectations will be high for those first-round picks to produce, there could be some other players who could become key contributors. Today, we look at possible surprising contributors for the Green Bay Packers defense in 2023.
4 Surprise Contributors on the Green Bay Packers Defense
Much will be expected out of the usual suspects for the Green Bay Packers defense in 2023. Barry will lean heavily on veterans such as Preston Smith, Kenny Clark, Rasul Douglas, and Jaire Alexander. But it’s the players who are flying under the radar, that might help the Packers defense to the level many have been patiently waiting for. In this piece, we take a look at four possible players who might be contributors in 2023.
T.J. Slaton, Defensive Line
With the departures of Dean Lowry (Minnesota Vikings) and Jarran Reed (Seattle Seahawks), the Packers defensive line will look a lot different in 2023. Standout defensive tackle Kenny Clark returns and will once again be the key to the Packers success on the defensive line. But behind Clark, there are questions.
The Packers have high hopes for Devonte Wyatt, a 2022 first-round pick, in 2023. He played sparingly in his rookie season, but with Lowry and Reed gone, he will need to make a big jump in his second season. Clark and Wyatt will be the Packers top two interior defensive linemen heading into 2023.
While Clark and Wyatt are expected to produce in 2023, T.J. Slaton might be ready for a breakout season. A former fifth-round pick from 2021, Slaton has played sparingly in his first two seasons with the Packers. He registered a combined 29 solo tackles and one sack during that time.
The numbers don’t show it, but Slaton has shown some potential. Even with being 6’4″ and 330 pounds, Slaton is an exceptional athlete. His athletic ability allows him to play at several different spots along the defensive line. It’s similar to what Clark can do. So if Barry decides to move Clark around and look for favorable matchups, he could replace Clark at the nose with Slaton. While Slaton isn’t at Clark’s level, he is bigger and could shore up the run defense if plugged in the middle.
The Packers run defense has struggled under Barry. If Barry is truly ready to adjust his scheme and shore up the run defense, getting Slaton and Clark on the field more together could help.
Thought #Packers rookie DT T.J. Slaton had his best game yet… Stout at POA vs Chiefs iOL – and then flashed the ability to shed blocks and make tackles too pic.twitter.com/yGZvbdZVQw
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) November 8, 2021
Kingsley Enagbare, Outside Linebacker
We have been pretty critical of Brian Gutekunst’s drafting for the Packers since becoming general manager. It’s something we believe more people should be critical of. But we have to give him credit when he has earned it. One example of this is the selection of Kingsley Enagbare in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
While Enagbare wasn’t All-Rookie in his rookie campaign, he was a key part of the Packers outside linebacker rotation in 2023. He played in 17 games last season, starting 7 of them. Playing part-time, Enagbare posted 18 solo tackles and three sacks. For a fifth-round rookie, that is the type of contribution that helps defenses elevate their play.
Similar to Wyatt, Enagbare will be expected to take his play to the next level in his second season. The Green Bay Packers defense will need for him to step up. Star pass rusher Rashan Gary is still recovering from a 2022 season-ending. His return for 2023 is unknown at this time. The Packers will lean on veteran Preston Smith and 2023 first-round pick Lukas Van Ness heavily until Gary’s return.
But don’t sleep on Enagbare. After posting three sacks in part-time duty in 2022, he could play an even bigger role until Gary returns. If Van Ness struggles early, don’t be surprised to see Enagbare become a starter opposite of Smith.
Tariq Carpenter, Inside Linebacker
In his rookie season, Tariq Carpenter became a key part of the resurgence of the Packers special teams in 2022. Being a key member of the special teams is what Gutekunst envisioned when he selected Carpenter in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. But in 2023, Carpenter could see his playing time increase on the Packers defense.
The Packers made the decision to shift Carpenter from safety to inside linebacker this off-season. It appears the position switch could not only lead to more playing time on defense, but he could be a key piece for the Packers defense.
Carpenter not only has the size to play inside linebacker, 6’3″ and 230 pounds, but he would bring with him exceptional speed to the position (4.5 forty-yard dash). Fellow inside linebacker Quay Walker had an outstanding rookie season in 2022. He is firmly entrenched as one of the starting inside linebackers. But the same can’t be said for veteran inside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell.
After having an excellent 2021 season, Campbell’s play dropped drastically in 2022. Along with his subpar play, he also dealt with injuries that forced him out of action. It wouldn’t be farfetched if he continues to struggle that Carpenter replaces him. As a former safety, Carpenter should play well in pass coverage. He also has the bulk and speed to handle playing closer to the line as well.
Keisean Nixon, Cornerback
Keisean Nixon the kickoff and punt returner isn’t flying under anyone’s radar. Last season, after the failed Amari Rodgers experiment finally came to an end, Nixon became the NFL’s top kickoff and punt returner. It’s a position that the Packers, and Nixon, believe he will continue to thrive at. But there is a new position that Nixon might make a name for himself playing.
Last season, former first-round pick Eric Stokes suffered a season-ending injury. An injury to a player is never a blessing, especially one that is a former first-round pick, but it’s an injury that made the defense stronger. Rasul Douglas was mistakenly cast as the Packers starting slot cornerback to start 2022. It’s a position that Douglas struggled at. But when Stokes went down, Douglas replaced him as the starting boundary cornerback opposite of Jaire Alexander. Once moved, Douglas excelled, similar to how he played in 2021. With Stokes expected to be brought along slowly this season, Douglas will start once again on the boundary.
This has opened up the starting slot spot for Nixon. He saw some time there last season and held his own. If the season were to start tomorrow, he would be the Packers starting slot cornerback. Nixon is tough as nails and has solid speed, his playing slot shouldn’t be too big for him. In fact, it is a position he should do very well at. If he plays as well as we expect, he, Douglas, and Alexander should make up one of the top trio of cornerbacks in the NFL.
Main Photo: Eric Hartline – USA Today Sports
