The Green Bay Packers are coming off a season where they let down the hopes of many loyal Green Bay Packer fans. After going 13-4 in the regular season behind quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver Davante Adams, the Packers could not win even one postseason game. They lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round after only scoring 10 points throughout regulation. Whether you had considered a money’s opportunity on this game or you visited the best online casino because of the game, the outcome of this game was horrid and unexpected. Let’s take a look at the Packers offseason and see where to expect the team to land ahead of week one.
2022 Packers Offseason and NFL Draft
Weeks after their Divisional loss against the 49ers, Aaron Rodgers’ future remained uncertain where he would play next year, if anywhere. There were talks of him going to Denver to throw for their young and developing squad. And there were rumors he may end up in Pittsburgh to take over as a Steelers quarterback option with Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement. Despite the rumors and the uncertainty Rodgers posed, he eventually signed a new contract with the Packers giving him $151 million over the next three, $42 million in 2022, $60 million in 2023, and $49 million in 2024. This deal continued Rodgers’ position as the highest-paid QB in the league.
Despite re-signing their franchise quarterback, the Packers had a very weak off-season. They lost Davante Adams who ranked 2nd in franchise history in receptions (669) and receiving touchdowns (73) and also 4th in receiving yards (8,121) to the Las Vegas Raiders. Not only does Davante Adams hold those accolades, but he also holds the Packers’ single-season record for catches, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns.
We can all agree that losing Adams was a big hit to the Packers and we would have expected a big punch from the Packers in terms of wide-receiver acquisitions. However, the only “big name” receiver the Packers acquired through the free agency or trade was Sammy Watkins on April 9th, 2022. The Packers depth chart currently has Allen Lazard as the Packers’ WR1. What a downgrade from Davante Adams!
However, the Packers did acquire Christian Watson with the 34th pick in the second round. Christian Watson is a 23-year-old receiver out of North Dakota State who gives the Packers a swiss army knife type receiver. Watson can stretch the field with his speed, catch contested balls, and run great routes. The majority of the Packers fanbase felt satisfied with this pick as a replacement at receiver was necessary.
Another big name extension came from Jaire Alexander, cornerback of the Packers. Jaire was a premier lock-down cornerback through the majority of last season when he was healthy. Resigning Jaire Alexander was big considering their defense had taken a big hit after the release of linebacker Za’Darius Smith. The Packers also brought back cornerback Rasul Douglas who played CB1 for a large portion of last season when Jaire was out injured.
Next Season Prognosis
The Packers start next season in Minnesota on September 11th, 2022. They face the Vikings, headed by Justin Jefferson, Dalvin Cook, and Kirk Cousins. To the benefit of the Packers, they have a lower strength of schedule than most teams in the NFL. They rank 23rd in the strength of schedule with a .478 score.
The Green Bay Packers are not the number one to win in the 2023 season, even after they had won 13 games last season. In this moment they are ranking third, only behind the Buffalo Bills and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Furthermore, the Packers are considered closer to win their division which presents a positive sign to nervous GB fans.
Furthermore, star quarterback Aaron Rodgers is tied for 3rd as the Most Valuable Player award, only behind Josh Allen, and Patrick Mahomes. Aaron Rodgers is also ranked 9th in passing yards, behind big names like Herbert, Brady, Mahomes, Stafford, and others. And the Packers had receiver Allen Lazard who ranks at 46th for most regular-season receiving yards.
Despite the loss of Davante Adams, they are still projected to have a great regular season and also have a shot at winning the Super Bowl. We also learn that Rodgers looks to have a big season, as usual, and the Packers do not have a clear-cut WR1 whether it be Watson, Watkins, or Lazard. Training camp and OTAs will help the Packers fill in the gaps in their troubles and they look to come back for vengeance!
It’s been an interesting Packers offseason, and we expect more of the same leading to week one.
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