Green Bay Packers: Ranking Positional Needs Heading into 2021 NFL Draft
By Paul Bretl
Free agency for the Green Bay Packers has slowed down, although I’m sure some will argue that it never really got going as all but one of their “additions” has been a re-signing.
However, that doesn’t mean that there haven’t been changes to what positions they should address heading into the 2021 NFL Draft. With the re-signing of Aaron Jones, running back isn’t nearly as pressing of a need as it was expected to be. And the same can be said for the edge rusher position with Preston Smith sticking around as well.
So with the draft less than a month away, I’ve ranked the Green Bay Packers positional needs from least important to the most important.
Of course, this is subject to change depending on what happens in free agency, but at this moment, here is how I would rank the needs that the Green Bay Packers could address during the NFL Draft.
11. Quarterback
The Green Bay Packers have Aaron Rodgers, who is coming off an MVP season and who still has three years left of his current deal. On top of that, they, of course, have Jordan Love as well, their 2020 first-round pick.
In terms of need, there is none. They have a top-tier starter for 2021 and the future of the position learning behind him. Now with that said, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Packers take a Day 3 quarterback with Tim Boyle now in Detroit as they look for that third quarterback to have on the roster or practice squad—this is something that Green Bay has done in the past.
10. Running back
Had I done these rankings before free agency, this position would have been much higher as I mentioned above, with the assumption being that Jones was heading elsewhere. However, he is back and the Green Bay Packers also spent a second-round pick last year on AJ Dillon.
They still do need to find a third option for this season because I don’t believe Dexter Williams is the answer; however, I do like Patrick Taylor, who spent 2020 on the practice squad after being an undrafted rookie last year out of Memphis. He is a player that was effective in both the running and passing games, but he’s no guarantee either.
With 10 draft picks — at least at this moment — I do expect Green Bay to spend a mid to late-round pick on running back, but with Jones and Dillon it’s far from a priority.