Green Bay Packers: Ranking Positional Needs Heading into 2021 NFL Draft

6. Wide Receiver

With the Green Bay Packers top-3 receivers from a season ago all returning, I don’t see this being a position that has to be addressed in Round 1 like so many mock drafts have. If they go into 2021 with Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling as Aaron Rodgers’ top targets, this offense will be fine.

However, as I’ve already mentioned, the draft is for planning ahead and right now the Packers don’t have any receivers under contract in 2022. While I certainly expect Adams to receive an extension, they still need more bodies—obviously. And the draft presents them with an opportunity to bring in some players on cheap, rookie deals.

This LaFleur offense also thrives on having a gadgety-type of player in the offense to move around the formation and to be utilized pre-snap. With Tyler Ervin still a free agent, this is a need that has to be filled as well.

So while I don’t believe they need to find an immediate No. 2 option for Rodgers — although of course, that would be nice — Green Bay does need bodies for 2022, and filling that Ervin role is a must.

5. Linebacker

Many mock drafts have the Green Bay Packers taking a linebacker in Round 1, but as I’ve said before, I’ll believe it when I see it. Now, that isn’t to say that the Packers can’t upgrade the position, they certainly can as both Krys Barnes and Kamal Martin are young players who battled injuries as rookies. Additionally, Green Bay should look to add some depth with Oren Burks and Ty Summers being primarily special teams players.

With that said, I believe Green Bay is relatively comfortable heading into the season with Barnes and Martin as their top-2 linebackers if that ends up being the case. Even in the Los Angeles Rams’ league-leading defense last year, linebacker wasn’t the strong suit by any means—it was built around the defensive front and the secondary.

So having said all of that, I don’t have linebacker as a top need but it’s ahead of the others on this list because the Packers should look to bolster their depth at the position—that just doesn’t need to take place early on.

4. Interior offensive line

Admittedly, I struggled with placing this position. On one hand, they spent three picks on the position in last year’s draft and still have Elgton Jenkins and Lucas Patrick despite losing Corey Linsley.

I’d also feel a lot better about where this position group stands if they are able to address tackle right away and find a potential Day 1 starter because that will allow Jenkins to stay inside. But as currently constructed, I have my concerns.

What we saw from Jon Runyan Jr. in 2020 — albeit a small sample — looks promising but Simon Stepaniak and Jake Hanson are both question marks. Considering that they each missed ample practice time last season with injuries and that they are Day 3 picks, chances are they aren’t ready to be starters. Ben Braden is another relative unknown as well.

If the Packers plan to have Jenkins at tackle until David Bakhtiari returns, then adding to the guard position should be on the to-do list. On the flip side, if Jenkins can stay at guard, then I feel a lot better about an interior group made up of Jenkins, Patrick, and Runyan with the others coming off the bench. In that scenario, it’s not nearly as big of a need and I would put this position lower in the rankings.