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5 Big Predictions for the Green Bay Packers in 2018

By David Steger

GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 27: Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Green Bay Packers watches from the sidelines during the fourth quarter of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 27, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Packers 38-8. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 27: Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Green Bay Packers watches from the sidelines during the fourth quarter of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 27, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Packers 38-8. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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Green Bay Packers, Mike McCarthy
GLENDALE, AZ – DECEMBER 27: Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Green Bay Packers watches from the sidelines during the fourth quarter of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 27, 2015, in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Packers 38-8. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

The Green Bay Packers have revamped their front office, coaching staff and roster to try and climb the NFL ladder again.

The Green Bay Packers the past three seasons have looked like a puzzle with a handful of pieces missing. Those pieces were either left to walk in free agency or big misses in free agency. The pieces that were missing began to accumulate and vast changes were on the horizon. Ted Thompson stepped down as the general manager and in stepped Brian Gutekunst like a light from the heavens.

When Gutekunst arrived, he gave Mike McCarthy the go-ahead to do what he needs to do to make the Packers an elite team again. McCarthy then wiped the slate clean of coordinators and most position coaches. Mike Pettine was brought in as the defensive coordinator and Joe Philbin returned to be the offensive coordinator again.

Gutekunst had the Packers and their fans nervous thinking it was going to be the same as years past. He proved them wrong 100 percent by doing things Packers fans haven’t seen in years. One of them was not just dipping his toes into free agency, but cannonballing into the pool.

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Gutekunst signed three big free agents in tight end Jimmy Graham, defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson and cornerback Tramon Williams that are instant upgrades in their position and already have the Packers trending up. He also landed Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson in the NFL Draft to bolster the secondary with the talent that Pettine needs to run a top defense.

McCarthy and Gutekunst know that they had to get things moving quickly because the NFC North was getting better as a whole. The Minnesota Vikings had signed a legitimate quarterback in Kirk Cousins. The Detroit Lions drafted an early running back to give the offense a rushing game and the Chicago Bears picked up new weapons for the offense to prove Mitchell Trubisky was worth the second overall pick last season.

There’s also the strength of schedule. The Packers have with one of the toughest with a record of 138-118 from teams in 2017. All in all, the Packers have a tough hill to climb ahead of them and I believe they made more than enough changes to get those missing puzzle pieces that from earlier and there are predictions ahead to show it.

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