Packers’ special teams has plenty of questions heading into free agency
Right when it seemed that the Green Bay Packers’ special teams couldn’t get any lower, the disastrous 2021 season happened that saw myriad of missed field goals, blocked kicks, and long returns given up. It all culminated with a horrid postseason performance that saw a blocked punt for a touchdown and numerous other miscues that cost the Packers a playoff game.
Head coach Matt LaFleur promptly responded by firing special teams coordinator Mo Drayton after just one season and replacing him with the highly regarded Rich Bisaccia. Bisaccia came over from the Las Vegas Raiders where he was their special team’s coordinator and then interim head coach after they fired Jon Gruden last season. He’s highly respected by his players and comes with a very good reputation.
Unfortunately for Green Bay, it’s going to take much more than a new coordinator to positively impact the worst unit in the NFL a season ago.
The Green Bay Packers have a lot of work to do if they want to revamp their putrid special teams’ unit during free agency.
It appears they’re keeping Mason Crosby–at least for now–as he wasn’t announced as one of their cuts before Wednesday’s deadline to get under the 2022 salary cap. Crosby is coming off one of his worst seasons and has clearly lost leg strength as he’s gotten older. However, it’s not clear just how many of their kicking problems from 2021 were due to Crosby or the number of other issues Green Bay had.
Speaking of other problems, the Packers need to figure out both their long-snapper situation and the blocking upfront on kicks. It will be interesting to see how they approach that throughout free agency and the rest of the offseason.
Another major question mark the Packers have is what to do with punter Corey Bojorquez. It doesn’t appear as if Bojorquez will be returning to the Packers in 2022 so they’re forced to start over at punter as well.
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With limited financial resources already, it’s difficult to imagine Green Bay spending big on a free agent punter, long-snapper, or key special teamers in free agency. Instead, they’re going to have to work with what they have internally and hope a different scheme will be enough to lift them from the special team’s basement. Still, keep your eye on the front office this offseason to see if they adjust their approach to special teams in any way.