Green Bay Packers: 3 Top Moves from the 2020 Offseason
The Green Bay Packers made a plethora of moves to alter their roster heading into the new season, but none better than these three.
The 2020 offseason was a lot quieter for the Green Bay Packers than the previous year, as the team prepares for the plethora of pending free agents in 2021. However, that doesn’t mean they didn’t make a number of moves to alter their roster heading into next season.
The moves may not be exactly what analysts were thinking and fans were hoping, but it’s clear general manager Brian Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur have a clear plan. And, for better or worse, they are molding their team in that vision.
With the NFL moving forward with their restart plan, let’s take a look at the three best moves the Packers made this offseason (as it stands now, at least).
3. Draft running back A.J. Dillon
Only time will tell if focusing heavily on the run game in this modern, pass-happy era is the right call. However, since the Packers are preparing to lean on the ground attack, drafting another running back makes sense since both Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams are free agents after this season.
A.J. Dillon is a bruising running back out of Boston College and his style should mesh well with Jones. Jones is a quicker back on the smaller side who beats defenses with elite cuts and speed. When Dillon enters the game, he’ll be able to punish them physically and plow right through them. That sounds like a dangerous combination.
2. Sign Devin Funchess
The Packers didn’t make nearly the splash at wide receiver most fans were hoping for. They did, however, take a low-risk, high-reward swing for the fences by signing Devin Funchess. It was just 2017 when he put up over 800 receiving yards and eight touchdowns with the Carolina Panthers. If he does anything similar for Green Bay in 2020, he’ll be considered a heck of a steal.
Next. Packers: 3 Definitive Strengths Heading into 2020 Training Camp. dark
1. Cut Jimmy Graham
The Packers have had a revolving door at tight end for years–typically filled by veterans close to their last legs. Jimmy Graham was brought in to help rejuvenate the position and give Aaron Rodgers a red zone target defenses feared. However, he only accrued five total touchdowns during his two-year tenure and never surpassed 650 receiving yards. His blocking was also a major liability. The best part is Green Bay saved $8 million by cutting him and letting him walk.