Green Bay Packers: Pre-Training Camp Superlatives

Here are some players that could make some noise in 2020 as we dive into some pre-training camp Green Bay Packers’ superlatives.

Other than the outcome of the NFC Championship Game, the 2019 season for the Green Bay Packers went about as well as it could have. They finished 13-3 overall, including 6-0 in the division. Any questions surrounding Aaron Rodgers and Matt LaFleur’s relationship were put to rest and the Packers ended up just one game shy of the Super Bowl. Not too shabby.

However, despite that recent success, there is some uncertainty when it comes to the 2020 season. It’s fair to wonder how much the team actually improved after free agency and the draft. Not to mention that from a win-loss standpoint Green Bay is a prime regression candidate just given the fact that they won 13 games and many of them were by only one score. Statistically speaking, they won’t be able to maintain that same pace.

That means that the Packers are relying on several of their young players to make big strides this season, their free-agent additions will need some bounce-back seasons, and of course, the offense has to improve in Year 2 under Matt LaFleur.

So who are some of these players that are going to make some noise in 2020 and help the Green Bay Packers make another Super Bowl run?

Well, here are some pre-training camp Packers’ Superlatives for the 2020 season.

Most Underrated: Preston Smith

We all know Preston Smith but on a defensive front with Za’Darius Smith and Kenny Clark, it gets lost just how good Smith was last season. Smith would finish the season with 12 sacks which was the eighth-most in the NFL last season and according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required) in terms of pass-rush productivity, he was the 15th best among all qualifying edge rushers.

The Green Bay Packers are in a fortunate position to have both Za’Darius and Preston, but on most other teams, Preston would be the top edge rusher.

Breakout Star: Jace Sternberger

This is probably the answer that many are going to have but Jace Sternberger is going to have plenty of opportunities this season to make plays. As the Packers become more of what Matt LaFleur envisions, that means a lot of two tight-end sets and with Sternberger’s versatility, he will be able to line up all over the formation.

With that versatility and his skill-set, Sternberger is going to be a matchup problem for opposing defenses and he should get plenty of targets this season.

Rookie of the Year: A.J. Dillon

Out of this year’s rookie class for the Green Bay Packers, A.J. Dillon is going to have the most opportunities to make the biggest impact (although I will talk about Josiah Deguara here shortly). Whether it’s right away or maybe it takes a few weeks, Dillon is going to overtake Jamaal Williams for the RB2 role. That means plenty of carries and I expect to see him involved in the passing game as well.

Unsung Hero: Josiah Deguara

I told you that I would get to Deguara. At Cincinnati, Deguara was a tight end and he will see his fair share of passes in Green Bay. However, LaFleur mentioned after the draft that Deguara is going to fill the Kyle Juszczyk role with the Packers and that means picking up blocks, lining up all over the formation, and giving this offense an element that they didn’t have last season.

As I said, Deguara will get his opportunities with the ball in his hands, he just won’t be filling the stat sheet with eye-popping numbers. But he is a crucial part to the success of this Green Bay offense moving forward.

Final Season: Corey Linsley

Corey Linsley has been excellent at the center position for the Green Bay Packers for several years now, unfortunately, I think this is his final year in Titletown. Linsley is a free agent in 2021 and joining him are Kenny Clark, David Bakhtiari, Aaron Jones, and Kevin King. With what Linsley will likely make in free agency coupled with the Packers selection of Jake Hanson in the draft, and the other free agents that they have to sign, Green Bay will choose to move on from him after this season.

X-Factor: Rick Wagner

Although injuries were apart of his career at times, Bryan Bulaga provided the Green Bay Packers with stability at the right tackle position for years. But now with him gone, it is Rick Wagner’s job for the taking and to put it simply, he needs to produce.

Wagner played in just 12 games last season and when he was on the field he struggled. On top of that, there is little to no experienced tackles on the roster behind him. Meaning if he’s injured or playing poorly, there is going to be a huge hole at the position.

With a quarterback that likes to hold on to the ball and who will turn 37-years-old in December, it is crucial that Wagner stay on the field, and hopefully, he returns to his form from past seasons.

Most likely to be traded: Lane Taylor or Jamaal Williams

I cheated here a bit and chose both Lane Taylor and Jamaal Williams because while there are good reasons to keep each player, there are also reasons to trade each player.

If the offensive line stays healthy Taylor is going to be a backup this season, but if the Packers trade him, they can save over $4 million in cap space. On the flip side, if there is an injury he is a heck of an insurance policy. We know that he is a capable guard but he’s also taken snaps at tackle in his career as well.

Meanwhile with Williams, as I said above, Dillon is going to take snaps from him at some point this season and Green Bay can save a few million in cap space by moving on from him in what is the final year of his rookie deal. However, the three-headed monster of Williams, Dillon, and Aaron Jones is pretty appealing.

Don’t Forget About: Equanimeous St. Brown

This is a name that is on the radar of many and for good reasons. Although Equanimeous St. Brown missed all of last season with an injury, prior to that he was able to make some noise during his rookie season in 2018, and a few different times Rodgers has spoken highly of the young receiver.

Now, our expectations shouldn’t be that St. Brown is going to step in and assume the role of No. 2 wide receiver, and who knows, maybe this season is a dud for him. But what he can do is add another receiver to the mix who has found some NFL success, and he also has QB1 in his corner. Not to mention that St. Brown could be a prime candidate to take over as Green Bay’s big slot receiver this season.

Team MVP: Aaron Jones

When it comes to running backs, Aaron Jones really is a perfect fit for Matt LaFleur’s offense and it resulted in a breakout season with nearly 1,100 rushing yards, another 474 through the air, and 19 regular-season touchdowns in 2019. It was obvious that this Packers’ offense was completely different when he was on the field.

This season as the offense shifts to a more “run-oriented” system, Jones will once again be featured heavily and with the addition of Dillon who gives them another explosive back, Jones should see more opportunities in the passing game as well.

Aaron Rodgers is still Aaron Rodgers, and Davante Adams will get plenty of targets and produce as he has in recent seasons, but Jones is going to be the catalyst for this offense.