5 Biggest Positions of Need for Green Bay Packers Prior to Free Agency
By Paul Bretl
![JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 12: Amari Rodgers #8 of the Green Bay Packers looks on during the fourth quarter of a game against the New Orleans Saints at TIAA Bank Field on September 12, 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 12: Amari Rodgers #8 of the Green Bay Packers looks on during the fourth quarter of a game against the New Orleans Saints at TIAA Bank Field on September 12, 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/607ccf9fbeb719648464ad4a0a8fd70101d3538d193478701d26d4231fd94be8.jpg)
Many of us are going to have slightly different definitions when it comes to determining the Green Bay Packers’ biggest positional needs this offseason–and those needs can change rather quickly depending on what happens in free agency.
For the Packers, this seems to ring especially true as we do not know what kind of spending power they will have in free agency or what kind of cap-saving moves they may make in the coming weeks that will alter the current state of a position group.
So these rankings are very fluid. But before the Packers begin making any cuts, or before they sign or re-sign any players in free agency, I have my top-5 positions of need for Green Bay. In determining which positions make this list, I took into account the value of the position along with what the depth chart currently looks like–and there may have been some foreshadowing as well.
Please note that these positions are not listed in any particular order
Green Bay Packers Position of Need: Cornerback
This one doesn’t appear to be heavily on radars, and I imagine that is because the Green Bay Packers already have a very formidable duo in Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes.
We all know what Alexander is capable of after he was named a second-team All-Pro in 2020, and as the season went on, we saw Stokes’ potential as well. He was targeted 100 times — a massive amount — as quarterbacks routinely tested him; however, he allowed a catch rate of only 51 percent and 11.9 yards per catch with nine pass breakups, according to PFF ($$).
But behind those two on the depth chart is where we run into some big question marks. The only other cornerbacks under contract in 2022 are Shemar Jean- Charles, Kiondre Thomas, and Kabion Ento. During each of their respective careers, the trio has only 38 combined defensive snaps–and all of them belong to Jean-Charles. Maybe someone like Jean-Charles can take on a larger role in the slot, but that’s also a risky assumption to make.
While Alexander and Stokes present a very good one-two punch at cornerback, we saw a season ago how important depth is at this position. The Green Bay Packers don’t only need bodies at the position, but they need to invest premium capital in either free agency or the draft.