Free agency
Going into free agency, I would say the top five needs are pass rusher, safety, tight end, wide receiver and right tackle. That is if we let Randall Cobb and Clay Matthews go. I believe Green Bay’s top priority this offseason should be to bring back cornerback Bashaud Breeland. Even without a full offseason after dealing with injury, he jumped in and was solid for the Packers. The 27-year-old had two picks last season, including one for a touchdown against Atlanta. Breeland, Jaire Alexander and Kevin King could be a really nice cornerback trio for the Green and Gold. I would not be against bringing back defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson either, even after he suffered a season-ending injury in Washington this season.
I believe it would be wise to not only draft a pass rusher and a tight end, but sign one as well. Of course that means Jimmy Graham would have to get cut, which seems possible, if not probable. In free agency, former Packers tight end Jared Cook should be the top target. He already has some chemistry with Aaron Rodgers after playing with him for a season. Cook would be a great target, especially following his Pro Bowl season with the dumpster fire known as the Oakland Raiders. I am sure he would love to play with 12 again, and I believe he wanted to come back before Green Bay signed Martellus Bennett. If they can sign him with the money saved by cutting Graham, Brian Gutekunst needs to jump at that opportunity.
I know he is public enemy No. 1 in Green Bay after breaking Mr. Rodgers’ collarbone in 2017, but Anthony Barr should be a top target this offseason. Like Nick Perry with Green Bay, who I think is more of a 4-3 defensive end, I believe Barr was playing out of position with Minnesota and is better suited as a 3-4 edge rusher. That is a major reason why he only has 13.5 sacks in his five seasons so far. With Minnesota only having around $10 million in cap space entering 2019, it is highly unlikely Barr is back in Minneapolis. One more to look at if he hits free agency is Dee Ford. One big reason for that is the Packers just hired his position coach with the Chiefs, Mike Smith. Another position is safety. Earl Thomas seems to want to go back to Texas and play for the Cowboys. Adrian Amos likely will be back in Chicago. Landon Collins would be a great addition. He is a terrific, young, play making safety. Green Bay needs better tackling out of the secondary and Collins would help that immensely. Lamarcus Joyner and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (very doubtful) are out there as well.
Draft
For the first time this millennium, the Packers will enter the draft with multiple first round picks. Like I mentioned above, I would love for the Packers to take a tight end and pass rusher early. Fortunately, this draft is stacked at pass rusher and there are three really good tight ends in the class. It would make sense to take a tight end in the first. Trading down from 12 to around 20 and picking up an extra second is not out of the equation either, and draft players like Louisana Tech’s Jaylon Ferguson or Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat at pass rusher and one of the Iowa tight ends T.J. Hockenson or Noah Fant or Alabama’s Irv Smith, Jr. And then have a pair of seconds. But as we sit, Green Bay has picks 12 and 30 in the first round and six picks in the first four rounds due to the trade last year during the NFL Draft to acquire New Orleans’ first this year and a fourth from Washington for Clinton-Dix.
Right tackle should be addressed, as should guard. I am not one of those people pounding on the table for a guard on the first two days, but it can be upgraded. They have been able to find gems at guard in the fourth round before, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see that happen again. Right tackle, on the other hand, should be addressed in the first two days. Last year, I was convinced Bryan Bulaga would be cut after this year. Now, I am not so sure. He had a really nice year, so I think it would be wise to keep him for another year. However, he is a free agent after the 2019 season, and one of the Packers philosophies is to look down the road at who might be gone in a year. Preparing someone to replace Bulaga a year down the road would be a wise decision.
Wide receiver is a position that either could be signed or drafted. I have a hard time believing 18 will be back. He will be 29 by the time the season rolls around, so he has some good years left in him, but I have a hard time seeing him back here. In free agency, Cole Beasley has indicated he would not mind coming to Green Bay. DeSean Jackson is also a possibility, especially after saying he doesn’t want to go back to Tampa Bay. Green Bay needs a slot guy to replace 18, and those two would fit the bill. A couple guys in the draft I like are Hollywood Brown from Oklahoma and Parris Campbell from Ohio State. Robinson is more of a big-play threat, but Campbell is a reliable slot receiver, and could be hard in the second round. If they were to trade down from 12 and gather an extra second, Campbell would be a great get.
As always, I love to talk Packers, so if you want to debate or have a question, you can ask me on Twitter at @jzenk42 or simply respond here. Go Pack Go!
