The Green Bay Packers have a very important game this week against the Chicago Bears. With a victory, the Packers will clinch a spot in the NFC playoffs. For such a young team, led by first-year full-time starting quarterback Jordan Love, it would be quite an accomplishment. While the Packers are fighting to keep their 2023 season alive, we will take a look at what general manager Brian Gutekunst might be facing this off-season. One of those items might be a possible overhaul of the Green Bay Packers secondary.
Green Bay Packers Secondary In Store for an Overhaul
The Green Bay Packers secondary might not be the only area of the team that looks different in 2024. As we recently discussed, there is a high probability that head coach Matt LaFleur might be looking for a replacement for defensive coordinator Joe Barry. Even with a solid defensive showing in their 33-10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings, it shouldn’t be enough for LaFleur to keep Barry on the staff in 2024.
Barry hasn’t been the only issue, although he has been a big one, on the Packers defense. Personnel-wise, the Packers have some major weaknesses on the defensive side of the ball. The run defense continues to struggle, something that needs to be addressed. But that isn’t the only area that needs upgrading.
Entering the season, the Packers secondary, especially the cornerback position, was supposed to be the strength of the defense. Unfortunately, injuries and underwhelming play caused the cornerbacks to struggle. It didn’t help that Gutekunst shipped starting cornerback Rasul Douglas to the Buffalo Bills. Not only was Douglas playing the best out of the group, but he was a veteran leader. Not just in the secondary, but for the entire defense.
The safety spot is an even bigger weakness for the defense. The position entered the season as a weakness and as expected, it has struggled. With spending so many high draft picks on the defense, it is hard to believe Gutekunst would spend even more high draft capital on the defense once again. But it appears Gutekunst and the Packers will look for defensive help in this coming NFL Draft.
Packers Safety Position
As stated earlier, when the season started, it was well-known that the safety position would be the biggest problem in the Packers secondary. Darnell Savage, a former first-round pick of Gutekunst’s, was the best of the bunch. but that says more about the rest of the depth chart than it does Savage. While Savage hasn’t been downright awful, he still isn’t playing like a first-round talent.
A committee of players has held down the other spot this season. Veteran safeties Rudy Ford and Jonathan Owens have started at times throughout the season. Neither of their play has been Earth-shattering, but both have had decent showings at times. 2023 seventh-round pick Anthony Johnson has played in 11 games, starting four of them. The Packers seem intrigued by his potential, but he still has a long way to go to be a full-time starter.
Both Owens and Ford will be free agents this off-season. It wouldn’t be surprising if they re-signed one of them, especially with what both bring to special teams. The Packers have an option on Savage. With safety being such a weakness, they might be forced to bring him back once again.
The Packers don’t have the salary cap space to be major players in free agency this off-season. That leaves the NFL Draft to upgrade the position. One safety prospect that could improve the Packers secondary is Tyler Nubin. The Minnesota Gopher standout had a stellar Big 10 career and has the potential to be an instant starter. There is also a good chance he slides to the second round, which would be a plus for the Packers, since they might use their first-round pick on a cornerback.
Packers Cornerback Position
Before we dive into the cornerback position, let us make this statement: Jaire Alexander isn’t going anywhere. While injuries and selfishness have derailed his season, his potential to be a top-cover cornerback is too much to walk away from. If LaFleur finally fires Barry, there is a strong chance that a new coordinator can get the best out of Alexander.
Former first-round pick Eric Stokes has had a difficult start to his career. After a strong rookie season, Stokes has dealt with some difficult injuries. Even when healthy, which hasn’t been often, he has struggled since his rookie season. The Packers need Stokes to get healthy. With the trade of Douglas, the Packers need another capable boundary cornerback.
Similar to Anthony Johnson, the Packers are intrigued by what fellow seventh-round pick Carrington Valentine can do. Because of injuries, Valentine started 11 games this season. He is brash and has good ability as a press corner. But he can be “handsy” and lacks top-end speed. He is far from a finished product and will need time to develop. He also needs to cut down on the trash-talking.
Keisean Nixon seemed like he would be a perfect nickelback, but he has struggled at times in coverage this season. Nixon is still dangerous as a return man, which should earn him a roster spot, but he might not be the long-term answer at nickel. Corey Ballentine has also seen quite a bit of time at cornerback this season. But at best, he is a bottom-end cornerback in the Packers secondary.
There is a very strong chance that Gutekunst might look at cornerback in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft. Three prospects that could be on the board for the Packers, are Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry, Iowa’s Cooper DeJean, and Clemson’s Nate Wiggins. Gutekunst likes taking Iowa players, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see DeJean’s name called by the Packers in the first round.
Main Photo: Bob Donnan – USA Today Sports
