Green Bay Packers: Previewing the 2020 LB Position

Here is a quick preview of each inside linebacker on the current Green Bay Packers’ 90-man roster heading into training camp.

Sure, Blake Martinez came with his limitations at the linebacker position, but he did provide stability for the Green Bay Packers as well. He rarely missed snap, he was always around the ball, and he was the play-caller for this defense.

Even though the linebacker position was never really a strength during Martinez’s tenure, there are a lot more unknowns surrounding this unit entering 2020 then there have been in the past.

With Martinez now in New York with the Giants, Christian Kirksey was signed via free agency to hopefully take over as LB1, but behind him on the depth chart is a lot of inexperience. Oren Burks is entering Year 3, Ty Summers and Curtis Bolton are entering Year 2, while Kamal Martin and Krys Barnes are both rookies.

We saw the 2019 Green Bay Packers’ defense improve overall, but an off-ball linebacker that can provide some help against the run while also being able to hold his own in coverage will go a long way in helping this unit reach the next level.

So let’s take a closer look at the players who make up this Packers’ linebacker unit heading into training camp.

Christian Kirksey

Christian Kirksey is coming off two injury-riddled seasons and has played in just nine total games out of a possible 32 during that span. However, if he can stay healthy and regain some of his 2016-2017 form, he could very well be an upgrade over Martinez and with a much smaller contract as well.

Kirksey has shown that he is a reliable tackler and that he can provide help against the run game. He can also get home on blitzes and during his time in Cleveland, he was oftentimes asked to work in space. The Green Bay Packers need Kirksey to stay healthy this season because as I’ve already alluded to, there are a lot of unknows behind him.

Oren Burks

Injuries in training camp and an overall lack of development have resulted in Oren Burks seeing very inconsistent playing time during his first two NFL seasons. As a former safety, the Green Bay Packers traded up in Round 3 to select Burks who was supposed to provide them with some coverage ability at the linebacker position. However, that hasn’t exactly been the case.

Burks struggles to shed blockers and is oftentimes a non-factor against the run. Meanwhile in coverage, he needs to be quicker at diagnosing what is going on. But if he can do that, the ability is certainly there, and I’ve seen it with my own two eyes. At training camp last summer, he was all over Aaron Jones in coverage drills.

With that said, it’s now time to see that carry over to the real games. It’s Year 3 for Burks and it feels like a make or break season for him.

Ty Summers

Ty Summers certainly has the athletic ability to play the linebacker position in the NFL and we even saw some flashes from the seventh-rounder last preseason. However, he has to get better at fighting off blocks, securing his tackles, and reacting to the play much quicker. Hopefully, now that it is Year 2 in the system, we see Summers take a step forward but he still has to prove that he can be more than just a special teams player.

Curtis Bolton

As an undrafted free agent, Curtis Bolton came out of nowhere last summer and if it wasn’t for an ACL injury, it’s hard to argue that he wouldn’t have made the 53-man roster and even seen meaningful playing time. But questions remain. Can he pick up where he left off? And what can we even expect from Bolton this summer? He truly is a wildcard entering training camp.

Kamal Martin

Green Bay Packers’ fifth-round pick, Kamal Martin is someone who I am very interested in seeing this summer. While he didn’t pile up eye-popping stats at Minnesota, he brings a much-needed versatile skill-set to the linebacker position. He can be a thumper against the run but also displayed an ability to work well in space and he lined up at multiple positions last season, including in the slot and as the free safety.

Krys Barnes

An undrafted free agent from the 2020 class, Krys Barnes is a bit undersized which could limit his effectiveness against the run, but his ability in coverage will be a welcomed sight. Not to mention that he was a very effective blitzer at UCLA as well. It’s a crowded linebacker room with plenty of capable players, but Barnes’ ability to work in space could be what sets him apart as he makes a push for the 53-man roster.