5 Packers to watch at start of Organized Team Activities (OTAs)
We are another step closer to football, as the Green Bay Packers kick off their Organized Team Activities (OTAs) this week.
Although these practices are optional, I’m expecting to see most of the team in participation. Green Bay has fully embraced the youth movement this offseason and the young guys will need to get their feet wet ahead of the 2023 campaign.
With the attention turning back to the football field, here are five Packers to keep an eye on at the beginning of OTAs.
Keep a close eye on these five players on the Green Bay Packers as the team begins their Organized Team Activities (OTAs) this week.
Anders Carlson
Anytime a team uses a draft pick on a kicker, that guy must show up and show out. Green Bay drafted Anders Carlson with the 207th selection in the sixth round, and he’s the favorite to win the starting kicker job this season.
Carlson didn’t progress much during his collegiate career, struggling to make kicks from the intermediate and long ranges. He only made 71.8 percent of his collegiate kicks and must drastically improve that number in the pros. The good news is special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia sees something in him.
Jordan Love
Duh.
Christian Watson
When Aaron Rodgers took over as the starting quarterback, he had proven veterans in Greg Jennings and Donald Driver to throw to. Love doesn’t have that luxury, but he does have several intriguing young receivers on the roster.
If the Packers want to exceed expectations this season, Christian Watson will need to be the playmaker everyone thinks he is. He missed too much practice time last year due to injuries. Health will be imperative this offseason, allowing him to go to work on the field.
Tight ends
Both rookie tight ends will have a chance to earn a starting spot in 2023. Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft have different skills they bring to the table, but it’s important they bring them. Love will need to find a security blanket somewhere, and it could easily be one of the big rookie draft picks. There’s a lot to learn in the offense as a tight end–Musgrave and Kraft must hit the ground running, as there’s no backup option.
Next. 3 Packers who could become surprise starters. dark
The defense
Green Bay’s defense received much praise last offseason for dominating the offense every practice. Unfortunately, that didn’t translate into game results. Defensive coordinator Joe Barry is under a ton of pressure to succeed this season. The front office continues to pile first-round draft picks onto this side of the ball, and they are too talented to be a middle-of-the-road unit once again. They should have no problem dominating a young offense in practices.