Ranking Green Bay Packers Positions of Need Prior to Draft
By Paul Bretl
Green Bay Packers positions of need ranked
7. Interior Offensive Line
The Green Bay Packers likely have their starting three interior offensive linemen already on the roster in Jon Runyan, Josh Myers, and Royce Newman—a very capable trio. However, last season we all saw how important offensive line depth can be, and the overall depth of this unit doesn’t appear to be as strong as it was a season ago—especially if the plan is to move Elgton Jenkins to tackle when he’s healthy.
Backup options currently include Cole Van Lanen, who was primarily a practice squad player in 2021, along with Jake Hanson and Michal Menet, who are both late-round picks with very little NFL experience.
Brian Gutekunst has spent six draft picks on the offensive line over the last two drafts — all of whom were primarily interior linemen — and I expect him to add to this unit once again. But my guess is that those selections take place on Day 3 and not within the top-100.
6. Safety
Safety might be the sneakiest need on this Green Bay Packers team. The Packers are heading into the season with Darnell Savage and Adrian Amos but the third safety spot, which was on the field for almost 300 snaps in 2021, is wide open. That role did belong to Henry Black, but he was not re-signed, and the other on the roster options have only 90 career combined snaps.
In addition to the immediate need for a third safety, the draft is about planning ahead, and right now, Vernon Scott is the only safety under contract in 2023. There are some talented early-round options in this draft class, including Daxton Hill, Lewis Cine, and Jaquan Brisker, which could result in the Packers spending a first or second-round pick on the position.
Whether it be Savage or Amos, I do feel like at least one of them will be back in 2023.