As we are quickly approaching the draft, it is important to take a brief moment and view the Packers\u00a0pre-draft situation\u00a0in context.\u00a0 Every fanbase seems to go through the offseason looking at all the things their own team did, but all the other teams in the division had changes too.\u00a0 Just as a football game is like a game of chess, so too is the offseason. Each move is done with an internal look and an external look.\u00a0 Here is a review of how the Packers should feel about the current state heading into the Draft.\u00a0 The Pre-Draft Packers situation is not just good, it holds up well against the division rivals.<\/p>\n
The Lions have some names Packers fans should recognize.\u00a0 Jared Abbrederis<\/a><\/strong>, T.J. Lang<\/a><\/strong>, Khyri Thornton<\/a><\/strong> and Kennard Backman<\/a><\/strong> are all wearing Honolulu Blue these days. The offense should be roughly what it was last year.\u00a0 The Lions lost Riley Reiff<\/a><\/strong>, but then signed Ricky Wagner<\/a><\/strong>. They also added some depth at running back with Mike James<\/a>, but the single biggest upgrade was the addition of Lang.\u00a0 It will help strengthen a line that ranked 21st in sacks surrendered last year.\u00a0 Still, the Lions were 21st in total yards and 20th in points scored.\u00a0 Without major changes this is still a team that had a -1 turnover differential last year and gave up sacks.<\/p>\n On defense, the Lions did add Paul Worrilow<\/a><\/strong> and D.J. Hayden<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 These should bolster a weak defense.\u00a0 The Lions were 18th in overall yards, but ranked 23rd in interceptions.\u00a0 Hayden is a solid corner and should make it a little harder to throw the ball.\u00a0 Still, the Packers additions at tight end should help attack the Lions’ linebacking corps.\u00a0 Yes, the Lions added Worrilow, but they also released DeAndre Levy<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 The Lions were also the 30th ranked team in sacks and have not added anyone in the pass rush.\u00a0 While the Lions will have better coverage, if Aaron Rodgers<\/a> is safe in the pocket it should still be a good scenario for the Packers.\u00a0 Considering the Packers swept the Lions last year, this bodes well for the current status quo.<\/p>\n The Vikings started off very hot last year, but everyone figured them out as the season went on.\u00a0 They were swept by the Lions and split with the Bear and Packers.\u00a0 The single greatest hole on this team was the offensive line.\u00a0 The Vikings ranked dead last in rushing yards per game last year.\u00a0 Also, do not kid yourself into thinking it would have been fine if Adrian Peterson<\/a><\/strong> were only healthy.\u00a0 Over his last ten starts, AP had two 100+ yard games and averaged just 3.52 yards per carry.\u00a0 Matt Asiata<\/a><\/strong> had 3.3 yards per carry last year with the same offensive line.\u00a0 Vikings added Latavius Murray<\/a><\/strong> and upgraded their line by adding Riley<\/a> Reiff and Mike Remmers<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 They did lose Matt Kalil<\/a><\/strong>, but he will not be missed.\u00a0 The offense should be better, but it was the 28th offense in yards and 23rd offense in points scored.<\/p>\n Sam Bradford<\/a><\/strong> set an NFL record for completion percentage, but failed to throw for 4,000 yards.\u00a0 It was a meaningless stat.\u00a0 His QB rating was just 99.3 and he had 20 touchdowns to five interceptions.\u00a0\u00a0Just half the touchdowns of Aaron Rodgers<\/strong>.\u00a0 \u00a0Bradford’s average depth of target (aDOT) was just 6.6 yards.\u00a0 That was the lowest in the league.\u00a0 Showing a receiving corps best suited for underneath routes and nothing deep.\u00a0 Vikings did re-sign Adam Thielen<\/a><\/strong>, but there were no other notable additions.\u00a0 It looks like the Vikings are content to sit on their great defense and hoping to get a “good enough” rushing attack to keep things close.<\/p>\n That defense has not improved in free agency.\u00a0 They just re-signed Terrance Newman<\/strong> and added Datone Jones<\/a><\/strong> for depth.\u00a0 Still, that defense was the third overall defense in yards (third in passing and\u00a020th in rushing).\u00a0 This defense definitely hurt Rodgers in the first matchup (the first home game in the new stadium), but they did nothing to slow him down the second go around.\u00a0 Vikings might pass up the Lions this year, but the added offense might only balance out the fact their defense did not improve while the Packers added Martellus Bennett<\/a><\/strong> and Lance Kendricks<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 It remains to be seen what the loss of Chad Greenway<\/a><\/strong> will do as well.<\/p>\n The most interesting move from the Bears was the release of Jay Cutler<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 This led to the signing of Mark Sanchez<\/a><\/strong> and Mike Glennon<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 Neither player scares anyone, but the Bears were the worst team in turnover ratio.\u00a0 The Bears were -20 in turnovers last year.\u00a0 A lot of that was Cutler’s reckless passing.\u00a0 It seems the Bears are looking for stability over pure talent.\u00a0 The rest of the offense will be basically the same.\u00a0 There is the additional depth of Benny Cunningham<\/a> in the backfield.\u00a0 Markus Wheaton<\/a> is going to be filling the spot vacated by Alshon Jeffery<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 Last year, the offense got yards, but rarely got points.<\/p>\n The defense was pretty decent.\u00a0 Bears ranked 12th in sacks, seventh against the pass, and 15th in total yards.\u00a0 The problem was they were often behind and it led to being ranked 27th against the run.\u00a0 The Bears sought to boost the defensive backfield by adding Prince Amukamara<\/a><\/strong> and Quintin Demps<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 It should help some for a defense that was 29th in interceptions last year.\u00a0 Bears are in for a long rebuild and the free agent market did not do much to build this team.\u00a0 Bears should still be a work in progress this year.<\/p>\n The Packers improved their offense by adding two of the best tight ends available.\u00a0 This should allow them to play several new sets and be more varied in their attacks.\u00a0 The movement away from the power running game of Eddie Lacy<\/a><\/strong> and toward the more athletic, pass catchers of Christine Michael<\/a><\/strong> and Ty Montgomery<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 The offense was already fourth in points scored last year and looks improved.\u00a0 The defense was weak, but it added Ricky Jean Francois<\/strong> up front and Davon House<\/a><\/strong> in the backfield.\u00a0 The Packers not only improved against themselves, but they made more improvements against their opponents’ strengths.<\/p>\n Main Photo:<\/p>\nMinnesota Vikings\u00a0(2017: 8-8, 2-4 in NFC North)<\/h3>\n
Chicago Bears\u00a0(2017: 3-13, 2-4 in NFC North)<\/h3>\n
Overall<\/h3>\n