Packers Roster Assessment, 2025 Off-Season

[Heyjoe4]

1A. Dline. Either inside or outside who can pressure the QB.
1B. An outside cover corner.
1C. Whomever you did not get from 1A.
4A. WR - all around receiver.
4B. OL- Left tackle.
6A. LB depth- Special teams player.
6B. WR- Deep threat
Draft plus a late FA signing.
IMO.

That's a pretty good list Schultz and especially this year, with not much available in FA or trades, the draft is gonna take on a lot more significance.

I know the party line is that this is THE year for the Packers to make a SB push - the reasoning is that this is Love's 3rd year as a starter and he needs to/will show up. Ehhhhh, yes and no.

As important as elite QB play is in getting to a SB, there are other pieces missing, and you capture those in your list. The draft almost always provides surprises - good and bad. I'm also looking for the current players to take a big step as well. Some of these guys are in position to make a big difference or this team - Reed, Doubs, Gary, LVN, Cooper, Williams, Bullard, and a few others (JA? who knows.......). But there is seemingly a lot of talent already on the roster. So time for all of them, in addition to Love, to nut up.

 

[gopkrs]

I read one guy who said we would move Tom to center and Jenkins to R tackle. I think that would be a huge mistake because I don't think Jenkins could handle it. I'm not sure Jenkins gave up a lot of sacks when he was over there. But he gave up a ton of pressures.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I read one guy who said we would move Tom to center and Jenkins to R tackle. I think that would be a huge mistake because I don't think Jenkins could handle it. I'm not sure Jenkins gave up a lot of sacks when he was over there. But he gave up a ton of pressures.

Yeah I've heard that rumor too, moving Tom to C. Not a good idea imo. I think Jenkins will make a better C than G, and Tom is too talented to have him play anything but RT. I didn't see anywhere that Jenkins was giving up a lot of pressures. Certainly something to watch for.

As it stands, they have a decent starting OL - Walker LT, Banks LG, Jenkins C, Morgan RG and Tom RT. I expect another FA to be added for veteran line depth, and another OL taken in the draft.

There are a lot more ? marks on the DL, Edge, WR, and CB. My guess is that Gluten goes early for a WR in the draft, followed by DL/Edge and then CB.

 

[Curly Calhoun]

Yeah it will be fun to watch the draft from Green Bay. Although I have no idea where they will put all the people. There are supposed to be 250,000 people in town. I'll still watch from home near Milwaukee.

My daughter suggested we take a drive up there the week before the draft just to check out what it looks like - I might do that. I always enjoy the Green Bay area anyway.

On draft night itself, I'll be watching it TV just like every other year. I do enjoy that.

 

[gopkrs]

There are a lot more ? marks on the DL, Edge, WR, and CB. My guess is that Gluten goes early for a WR in the draft, followed by DL/Edge and then CB.

The more I think about it, the more I'd like to see a class receiver drop to us. I would not want to reach for one. Especially because there seems to be some close to sure thing good ballplayers on defense. Maybe even O line.

 

[Heyjoe4]

The more I think about it, the more I'd like to see a class receiver drop to us. I would not want to reach for one. Especially because there seems to be some close to sure thing good ballplayers on defense. Maybe even O line.

Yeah I've looked at a few mocks and there are still some v good iDL/Edge guys available at #23. And improving the rush makes the job of the CBs and Safeties easier.

Like a lot of people, Im on the fence re: the 1st round pick (assuming Gluten keeps it). There should still be some v good WRs available, although WR talent then falls off.

It comes down to "where does the team need an impact player, what priority?" I think it's clear they need to get more pressure on the QB. Maybe they can take a WR day 1 and still find Edge guys later. Now I'm hedging.

 

[gopkrs]

comes down to "where does the team need an impact player, what priority?" I think it's clear they need to get more pressure on the QB. Maybe they can take a WR day 1 and still find Edge guys later. Now I'm hedging.

I think hoping for an impact player puts too much pressure on the pick. I know what you mean but I'll be happy with a damn good football player.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I think hoping for an impact player puts too much pressure on the pick. I know what you mean but I'll be happy with a damn good football player.

Good clarification. Even in the 1st round, past #10 or so, it's hard to select a guy that's gonna come in and play Pro Bowl ball from day 1.

I do hope Gluten focuses more on a guy who is "a damn good football player" and not primarily a project. I think Gary and LVN were taken around #12 overall. LVN is still a project, two years later. Gary was a project for about a year before he dialed it in, although he took a step back last year.

 

[OldSchool101]

Yeah I've looked at a few mocks and there are still some v good iDL/Edge guys available at #23. And improving the rush makes the job of the CBs and Safeties easier.

Like a lot of people, Im on the fence re: the 1st round pick (assuming Gluten keeps it). There should still be some v good WRs available, although WR talent then falls off.

It comes down to "where does the team need an impact player, what priority?" I think it's clear they need to get more pressure on the QB. Maybe they can take a WR day 1 and still find Edge guys later. Now I'm hedging.

Yep. It seems like along DL there will be some nice impact players near or at our neighborhood all the way into that RD3,4 area. Our best chance though is Day1-2 to get an immediate contributor.
I think we see some reaching at WR. There’s only 1 consensus top half of Day1 WR..McMillian. Recall when we took Watson at 33? Moving up. There were like 6 WR drafted well before our RD1 selection. There are currently at best 4-5 WR worthy of a 1st RD pick altogether. most at the back of the round. I’m speculating but I think inside the top 2 Rounds WR needy teams will need to be aggressive and move up some due to a shortage of top end guys mixed with a very average field in the middle rounds.

Now in RD7 and PUDFA there are like 78 of them. Ok I’m being facetious but you get the drift.

 

[PackerDNA]

I'm still hoping they can work things out with Alexander. That would be best case scenario. As far as some of you talking about redoing his contract I've read repeatedly in a number of places that JA himself has made it clear to the organization that he wouldn't even consider such a thing. The way this all sets up though it could be a while before we get an answer.

 

[Curly Calhoun]

I'm still hoping they can work things out with Alexander. That would be best case scenario. As far as some of you talking about redoing his contract I've read repeatedly in a number of places that JA himself has made it clear to the organization that he wouldn't even consider such a thing. The way this all sets up though it could be a while before we get an answer.

Hope springs eternal.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Yep. It seems like along DL there will be some nice impact players near or at our neighborhood all the way into that RD3,4 area. Our best chance though is Day1-2 to get an immediate contributor.
I think we see some reaching at WR. There’s only 1 consensus top half of Day1 WR..McMillian. Recall when we took Watson at 33? Moving up. There were like 6 WR drafted well before our RD1 selection. There are currently at best 4-5 WR worthy of a 1st RD pick altogether. most at the back of the round. I’m speculating but I think inside the top 2 Rounds WR needy teams will need to be aggressive and move up some due to a shortage of top end guys mixed with a very average field in the middle rounds.

Now in RD7 and PUDFA there are like 78 of them. Ok I’m being facetious but you get the drift.

I agree. iDL/DT/Edge is deeper than WR - and yeah, the very best WRs are probably just 3, maybe 4 guys. If one of them drops to #23, Gluten will probably make the pick.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I'm still hoping they can work things out with Alexander. That would be best case scenario. As far as some of you talking about redoing his contract I've read repeatedly in a number of places that JA himself has made it clear to the organization that he wouldn't even consider such a thing. The way this all sets up though it could be a while before we get an answer.

I wouldn't expect anything less from JA! Reality will hit home though if he seeks a team for a trade. He's likely to find that demand for his services have dropped and his best way to keep making top $$$ is through an incentive-laden contract.

Now he may still end up on the Packers, but it will be on a new contract.

 

[El Guapo]

I agree. iDL/DT/Edge is deeper than WR - and yeah, the very best WRs are probably just 3, maybe 4 guys. If one of them drops to #23, Gluten will probably make the pick.

I'm definitely a BPA guy. Much like going out to a restaurant, in general you don't get the salad the first time that you go to a steak house and your don't order the burger at a healthy restaurant. Order what they are known for first.

This draft is heavy in defensive linemen. If an Aaron Rodger-type of gem drops to us at 23 (or a move-up into the teens is warranted), Gutekunst should pull the trigger. Otherwise he should feast on what the menu has to offer.

 

[Thirteen Below]

1. 5th year Senior
2. 5 year Starters
3. Team Captains
4. Full 4 year Starters or players who impacted as Freshman

These two posts were just excellent analyses, very insightful. I would expand on that by pointing out that no fewer than 6 of our 11 picks were team captains, and of the first 6 picks, 5 were from major football colleges - which for the purpose of this discussion, I'm saying teams that are historically often ranked in the Top 25. Players who excelled at schools with traditionally very high standards, and compete against some of the best teams in the country. Schools that attract the highest quality recruits, where competition for a starting slot is very high. These players have been tested many times over, we've seen them truly at their absolute best.

Thirdly, as said perfectly by someone or several people in here, we have probably the largest group of young players entering their 2nd, 3rd and 4th seasons due to unusually large draft classes. Where do players typically ascend or begin to peak? I’d argue 3rd to 4th seasons.

You're exactly right. Historically, the statistics bear out that for the significant majority of young players, the transition from Year 2 to Year 3 is where they improve the most.

The first year, most players are overwhelmed by the learning curve, starting right from Day One of camp. The entire first season is just trying to adjust to the speed of the game, the complexity of their assignments, and the enormous step up in physicality and the strength of other players.

By the time the 2nd year camp comes around, they're much more prepared, and there aren't many surprises. A full year of NFL-level nutrition and conditioning programs has made them significantly stronger, and they match up better physically than they were able to do in their rookie year. They understand what they're up against and what they can expect, and they're more self-confident.

Going into Year 3, their physical conditioning is at its peak, they've had 2 full seasons and 2 complete training camps to learn how to play the game, and they get more out of their 3rd training camp than they did the first 2 because they understand how to use their time. They understand much more clearly what is expected of them, and what they are capable of doing. By the time most players start their 3rd full season, they're entering the prime of their careers, and ready to take full advantage of it.

In 2025 we don’t just have our regular clump of natural selections. I’d argue we have draft selections 23,25,42,55,87,87 Day1-2 talent being added into the mix over top of Edgerrin and Javon.

I'm a little surprised that this isn't talked about very much. It's going to be a really exciting camp; a huge logjam of high picks at many key positions. Three years worth of 1st and 2nd day picks, 10 of them altogether if you count the 2023 draft class who are just coming into their 3rd year. If they can all stay healthy this time, we're going to have a much stronger team.

 

[Thirteen Below]

I'm definitely a BPA guy.

I think even in the best of cases, "BPA" is rarely 100% "best player available". There are some examples that were clearly BPA (Rodgers, for instance - the last thing we needed in Round One that year was a quarterback for the future), but most players are so close to one another, it's very difficult to objectively say which one is better - especially since even in the first round, every player is still going need a certain amount of development to bring out the most he can be.

I think every GM (if they're completely honest) will admit that if they badly need a cornerback, and there are 2 or 3 players of pretty equal value sitting there, the one who happens to be a CB is going to look like a better player in their eyes.

 

[Thirteen Below]

I agree. iDL/DT/Edge is deeper than WR - and yeah, the very best WRs are probably just 3, maybe 4 guys.

Out of curiosity, who do you see as those 3 or 4 guys?

 

[Schultz]

Not sure who Joe was thinking of, but in most "experts" opinion they are MacMillan, Burden, Golden & Egbuka.

 

[tynimiller]

Not sure who Joe was thinking of, but in most "experts" opinion they are MacMillan, Burden, Golden & Egbuka.

That would be the consensus top four if you polled a ton of knowledgeable folks.

Higgins is in the top for to some.
I’ve also heard Bech getting some love by a few I highly respect.
I know one sole dude that has been in this scouting game for years that swears like I do that Egbuka is only behind Tet because of traits and ceiling…Egbuka is the best day1 walk in WR.

I personally have Tet/Egbuka/Higgins/Golden with Luther fifth

 

[Heyjoe4]

I think even in the best of cases, "BPA" is rarely 100% "best player available". There are some examples that were clearly BPA (Rodgers, for instance - the last thing we needed in Round One that year was a quarterback for the future), but most players are so close to one another, it's very difficult to objectively say which one is better - especially since even in the first round, every player is still going need a certain amount of development to bring out the most he can be.

I think every GM (if they're completely honest) will admit that if they badly need a cornerback, and there are 2 or 3 players of pretty equal value sitting there, the one who happens to be a CB is going to look like a better player in their eyes.

Yeah I'm sure every GM in the league will say they "always" take the BPA, but I don't believe that. It's more accurate to say that a GM will take the BPA from a position group that is lacking on the current roster.

Hard to say if the Rodgers selection was TT willing to use a 1st round pick on a guy who would likely sit for 2 or 3 years, because he was arguably the BPA. Favre was entrenched as the starter. Even so, the team had the "luxury" of taking Rodgers to let him learn behind Favre. In retrospect it was nearly perfect. Although at the time, I felt that the last thing GB needed from the 1st round was a QB. That's why I'm not a GM.

 

[El Guapo]

To me BPA means taking the best player available that you feel will be a star, regardless of position - especially when we are talking about the first round. The best example is Rodgers. It could mean taking Barry Sanders even if you've got Josh Jacobs, or George Kittle even if you already have Tucker Kraft.

Anything after the first round should be primarily based on needs, with still an eye on gems that everyone else has missed.

 

[Heyjoe4]

To me BPA means taking the best player available that you feel will be a star, regardless of position - especially when we are talking about the first round. The best example is Rodgers. It could mean taking Barry Sanders even if you've got Josh Jacobs, or George Kittle even if you already have Tucker Kraft.

Anything after the first round should be primarily based on needs, with still an eye on gems that everyone else has missed.

The definition of a "star" is subjective. For the first round of the draft, I agree with your take - regardless of need, take the BPA (if it's clear there is one).

Why not address need first? Well a player who can become elite at his position in short order is a valuable asset - to the team or on the market. A BPA may be worth 2 or three later-round picks to some teams.

I've ever seen this happen. The logic is there though.

 

[El Guapo]

Of course it's subjective, and subject to failure. It's the type of risk that is inherent in a GM's job.

Rodgers is the clear BPA example for the Packers. We didn't have the need for a top QB at the time, but how could we refuse? Many other teams went for need before we took Aaron. Below is the list of everyone taken after Alex Smith. Most of the picks were likely needs-based. Would any of these teams' fortunes have been different had they taken Rodgers? Probably most of them. Had one of them gone BPA-before-Need they probably would have won one or two SBs.

2 Miami Dolphins Ronnie Brown rb, Auburn
3 Cleveland Browns Braylon Edwards wr, Michigan
4 Chicago Bears Cedric Benson rB, Texas
5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Carnell Williams rB, Auburn
6 Tennessee Adam "Pacman" Jones cb, West Virginia
7 Minnesota Vikings Troy Williamson wr, South Carolina
8 Arizona Cardinals Antrel Rolle cb, Miami (FL)
9 Washington Redskins Carlos Rogers cb, Auburn
10 Detroit Lions Mike Williams WR, Southern California
11 Dallas Cowboys DeMarcus Ware de, Troy State
12 San Diego Chargers Shawne Merriman olb, Maryland
13 New Orleans Saints Jammal Brown ot, Oklahoma
14 Carolina Panthers Thomas Davis fs, Georgia
15 Kansas City Chiefs Derrick O. Johnson olb, Texas
16 Houston Texans Travis Johnson dt, Florida State
17 Cincinnati Bengals David Pollack de, Georgia
18 Minnesota Vikings Erasmus James de, Wisconsin
19 St. Louis Rams Alex Barron ot, Florida State
20 Dallas Cowboys Marcus Spears de, Louisiana State
21 Jacksonville Jaguars Matt Jones WR, Arkansas
22 Baltimore Ravens Mark Clayton WR, Oklahoma
23 Oakland Raiders Fabian Washington cb, Nebraska

 

[Heyjoe4]

Of course it's subjective, and subject to failure. It's the type of risk that is inherent in a GM's job.

Rodgers is the clear BPA example for the Packers. We didn't have the need for a top QB at the time, but how could we refuse? Many other teams went for need before we took Aaron. Below is the list of everyone taken after Alex Smith. Most of the picks were likely needs-based. Would any of these teams' fortunes have been different had they taken Rodgers? Probably most of them. Had one of them gone BPA-before-Need they probably would have won one or two SBs.

2 Miami Dolphins Ronnie Brown rb, Auburn
3 Cleveland Browns Braylon Edwards wr, Michigan
4 Chicago Bears Cedric Benson rB, Texas
5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Carnell Williams rB, Auburn
6 Tennessee Adam "Pacman" Jones cb, West Virginia
7 Minnesota Vikings Troy Williamson wr, South Carolina
8 Arizona Cardinals Antrel Rolle cb, Miami (FL)
9 Washington Redskins Carlos Rogers cb, Auburn
10 Detroit Lions Mike Williams WR, Southern California
11 Dallas Cowboys DeMarcus Ware de, Troy State
12 San Diego Chargers Shawne Merriman olb, Maryland
13 New Orleans Saints Jammal Brown ot, Oklahoma
14 Carolina Panthers Thomas Davis fs, Georgia
15 Kansas City Chiefs Derrick O. Johnson olb, Texas
16 Houston Texans Travis Johnson dt, Florida State
17 Cincinnati Bengals David Pollack de, Georgia
18 Minnesota Vikings Erasmus James de, Wisconsin
19 St. Louis Rams Alex Barron ot, Florida State
20 Dallas Cowboys Marcus Spears de, Louisiana State
21 Jacksonville Jaguars Matt Jones WR, Arkansas
22 Baltimore Ravens Mark Clayton WR, Oklahoma
23 Oakland Raiders Fabian Washington cb, Nebraska

Probably fair to say that every GM on this list would have taken Rodgers, well if they could see into the future.

 

[DoURant]

Of course it's subjective, and subject to failure. It's the type of risk that is inherent in a GM's job.

Rodgers is the clear BPA example for the Packers. We didn't have the need for a top QB at the time, but how could we refuse? Many other teams went for need before we took Aaron. Below is the list of everyone taken after Alex Smith. Most of the picks were likely needs-based. Would any of these teams' fortunes have been different had they taken Rodgers? Probably most of them. Had one of them gone BPA-before-Need they probably would have won one or two SBs.

2 Miami Dolphins Ronnie Brown rb, Auburn
3 Cleveland Browns Braylon Edwards wr, Michigan
4 Chicago Bears Cedric Benson rB, Texas
5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Carnell Williams rB, Auburn
6 Tennessee Adam "Pacman" Jones cb, West Virginia
7 Minnesota Vikings Troy Williamson wr, South Carolina
8 Arizona Cardinals Antrel Rolle cb, Miami (FL)
9 Washington Redskins Carlos Rogers cb, Auburn
10 Detroit Lions Mike Williams WR, Southern California
11 Dallas Cowboys DeMarcus Ware de, Troy State
12 San Diego Chargers Shawne Merriman olb, Maryland
13 New Orleans Saints Jammal Brown ot, Oklahoma
14 Carolina Panthers Thomas Davis fs, Georgia
15 Kansas City Chiefs Derrick O. Johnson olb, Texas
16 Houston Texans Travis Johnson dt, Florida State
17 Cincinnati Bengals David Pollack de, Georgia
18 Minnesota Vikings Erasmus James de, Wisconsin
19 St. Louis Rams Alex Barron ot, Florida State
20 Dallas Cowboys Marcus Spears de, Louisiana State
21 Jacksonville Jaguars Matt Jones WR, Arkansas
22 Baltimore Ravens Mark Clayton WR, Oklahoma
23 Oakland Raiders Fabian Washington cb, Nebraska

Picks 11-20 were a heck of a lot better than 1-10, just with Ware and Merriman going 11 & 12 alone! My oh my, has the draft changed though. 3 RB's, 3 CB's & 3 WR's all picked in the Top 10, I don't think we will ever see a draft like that again. In today's day and age that would be 3 QB's, 3 OT's, and 3 DL/ED guys. ( throw the ball, protect the passer, & rush the passer).