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)
Green Bay Packers Position of Need: Interior Defensive Line
This is another position that I feel like we talk about annually as fans clamor for the Green Bay Packers front office to get Kenny Clark some help.
While I do believe that Clark did receive more help in 2021 behind a career year from Dean Lowry along with flashes from TJ Slaton and Tyler Lancaster, the Green Bay run defense was actually quite similar to that of the 2020 unit–in fact, it was a little worse.
In terms of yards per rush given up, the Packers allowed 4.7 yards per carry in 2021 compared to 4.5 yards in 2020. By Football Outsiders’ rush DVOA metric, Green Bay ranked 28th this past season compared to 18th in 2020.
So certainly, there is room for improvement. But on top of that, this is just another position with very few on the roster. The only players under contract for the 2022 season are Clark, Lowry, Slaton, and Jack Heflin.
Sure, Slaton and Heflin both showed some promise in 2021 — although Heflin saw very little regular-season action — but relying heavily on a second-year fifth-round pick and a second-year UDFA is a very risky move.
Not only do the Green Bay Packers simply need more players on the roster, but they need to either spend some free agent dollars or a quality draft pick on the position as well, as they search for upgrades. In Joe Barry’s defense, where the goal is to stop the passing game, this group may never be dominant, but they can still be better.