Development of 2019 Rookie Class Key to Packers’ 2020 Success

For the Green Bay Packers to make another Super Bowl push in 2020, they are going to need members of their 2019 draft class to make that Year 2 leap.

When there are specific holes on a roster or the team in general just needs to improve, the first thought of many is, which free agent can we sign? Or which player in the draft can help us win now? It’s human nature to think that way and it doesn’t only apply to Green Bay Packers fans and not even to just NFL fans, but to fans of every team from every sport for that matter.

Despite the Packers finishing the 2019 season 13-3 and making it to the NFC Championship game, it was quite clear after their loss to San Francisco that there is still work to be done if they hope to bring the Lombardi Trophy home in the near future.

However, this offseason with limited spending power, the Packers weren’t able to make that flashy free agent signing and the draft didn’t go even close to how many expected or hoped that it would. And truthfully, while A.J Dillon and Josiah Deguara will each have their own specific roles, there’s the very real possibility that neither player sees the field for 40 percent of Green Bay’s total offensive snaps in 2020.

So while many are left discouraged without the big free-agent addition or a high-profile prospect brought in, and are wondering how this Packers team will be better in 2020, I say, look no further than Green Bay’s 2019 rookie class.

If these players can develop and make that Year 2 leap that so many successful NFL players do, in a sense, these will be the Packers “new additions.”

Rashan Gary will now play a bigger role, since he doesn’t have to split reps with Kyler Fackrell, and he will look to build upon his performance over the second half of the season. This included three games where he tallied a sack and five pressures in just 46 snaps.

Then there is Darnell Savage who shows nothing but promise, however, like many rookies, he took his lumps and as always, there is room to grow. Heck, even Elgton Jenkins who had a very dominant rookie season should continue to develop and only be better.

Meanwhile, Jace Sternberger will take over as TE1 and hopefully give Aaron Rodgers the reliable tight end option that this team hasn’t had in recent seasons. Kingsley Keke should be seeing more snaps to provide Kenny Clark the help he needs inside against the run. While Ka’dar Hollman had shown some promising flashes in the 2019 preseason.

Not to mention that Ty Summers and Curtis Bolton will be competing for snaps at the linebacker position, which after Christian Kirksey, is up in the air.

Now, statistically, not all of these players are going to see huge gains in 2020, but if the Green Bay Packers are going to be successful once again and hopefully make another Super Bowl push, more of these players than not are going to have to take a big step forward to becoming bigger contributors.

While it’s easy to get fixated on bringing in outside talent to help, the rookie classes of good NFL teams develop, see their roles increase, and become impact players that help win games and hopefully Championships. So let’s see which of the Packers’ 2019 class is ready to make the jump.