Green Bay Packers Biggest Defensive Addition is Development

After an offensive-heavy draft, the Green Bay Packers’ biggest addition on defense is likely another year of development for young players.

According to Pro Football Focus, the Green Bay Packers finished the 2019 season ranked 8th in overall team grade. This was an improvement from 24th in 2018 and 21st in 2017.

That shouldn’t have been a surprise after the Packers spent big money on free agent linebackers Za’Darius and Preston Smith and safety Adrian Amos. All three played big roles in helping the Packers reach the NFC Championship game.

In looking ahead to the 2020 season, the Packers decided it was time to give head coach Matt LaFleur some more to work with on the offensive side of the ball. Their first three draft picks were offensive players in quarterback Jordan Love, running back A.J. Dillon, and tight end/H-back Josiah Deguara.

With only so many draft picks and little money to spend in free agency, the Packers’ biggest contribution on defense is going to be the ability of their young defensive players to take steps forward this upcoming season.

Kenny Clark, Jaire Alexander, Kevin King, Rashan Gary, Darnell Savage, and Chandon Sullivan all played big roles in 2019 and they are all 25 years old or younger.  Add in up-and-coming players like Oren Burks and Kingsley Keke and this Green Bay Packers defense is developing a nice core.

Clark is on track for a second contract in Green Bay and is regarded as one of the top interior defensive linemen in the league. And recently, Defensive Coordinator Mike Pettine said that Gary will play significantly more snaps than he did in his rookie season.

Pettine also singled out Savage as a player that should certainly elevate himself in 2020. Last season, both Alexander and King were in the top-10 in passes defended with 17 and 15, respectively. Imagine another season with similar production from those two.

Barring injury, Green Bay’s defense should be as formidable this season as they were last year and possibly even better. Another year together and in Pettine’s scheme can only help the cause.

The Packers did manage to add some reinforcements in free agency. They signed linebacker Christian Kirksey and defensive lineman Treyvon Hester while also taking fliers on former Miami Dolphins defensive lineman Gerald Willis and linebacker Jamal Davis.

Kirksey replaces the departed Blake Martinez in the middle of the defense and offers more speed where it was desperately needed. Hester seems like a good rotational player and teams always need plenty of big bodies upfront.

The first defensive player added in this year’s draft was linebacker Kamal Martin in the fifth round. Martin comes in with high praise after a standout college career at the University of Minnesota but expectations should always be tempered with mid-to-late round picks. Burks is a good example of this as a third-rounder who is still finding his way at the pro level in year three.

With continued ascension, these young players also allow Pettine to get creative and add more wrinkles to their plates. Safety Raven Greene is a good example of this. He was slated to spend time moving down into the middle of the defense in a dime linebacker role in certain sub-packages until an injury derailed his 2019 season.

Any versatility that guys like Greene and Sullivan can offer will be a valuable step towards keeping the Packers competitive against tough NFC offenses such as San Francisco and New Orleans. It’s a gamble the team is taking, whether forced by a salary cap or limited draft capital.

After sounding uncertain about Pettine’s future following the NFC Championship loss to the 49ers, LaFleur retained and recently expressed confidence in his defensive coordinator. It’s now Pettine and his young defense’s time to shine.