Analyzing the opponent: Green Bay Packers offseason

How did the Green Bay Packers shape their roster to maintain dominance in the NFC North

The Packers were the division champions and fell one game short of the Super Bowl. Unlike the Bears, the Packers are in win now mode. Here are the free agents Green Bay brought in to help secure another division title.

Martellus Bennett, Tight End
Lance Kendricks, Tight End
Davon House, Cornerback
Jahri Evans, Guard

And their draftees:

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Kevin King, Cornerback
Josh Jones, Safety
Montravius Adams, Defensive Tackle
Vince Biegel, Linebacker
Jamaal Williams, Running back
DeAngelo Yancey, Wide Receiver
Aaron Jones, Running back
Kofi Amichia, Center
Devante Mays, Running back
Malachi Dupre, Wide Receiver

The Packers are usually quiet during free agency, but they did make a splash move. The team added Martellus Bennett, a former Bears tight end to the passing attack. Many Bears fans know the talent of Bennett, and with a quarterback such as Aaron Rodgers, the duo could be a nightmare for Chicago. They spent the rest of their free agency adding depth. Kendrick is depth at tight end, a position that was bare after the loss of Jared Cook. They added depth at guard after losing Josh Sitton last season and T.J. Lang this season to division rivals. Then, they added Davon House, who hopes to play a Micah Hyde role, as Hyde has moved on to Buffalo.

In the draft, the focus was impact players on defense, depth players on offense. They hit the defense hard early with their first four picks being on that side of the ball. The Packers have spent a plethora of resources on cornerback, and still, do not have an answer. Kevin King has a lot of upside, but is still raw and has a floor similar to Quentin Rollins and Damarious Randall. Jones may take some of the Hyde role away from Evans and he may end up a future Morgan Burnett replacement. However, he has also done drills with linebackers and may be the team’s future money-backer who deals with tight ends and running backs. Biegel is a rotational pass rusher who should see snaps as a rookie, and Adams will rotate on the defensive line behind last year’s first-round pick Kenny Clark.

Next: Analyzing the Minnesota Vikings

The Packers added two field stretchers at wide receiver, which makes sense given that Davante Adams and Randall Cobb are better working underneath. They also drafted three running backs, who could all see the field given where the Packers depth chart is at that position. Watch for Jamaal Williams, the power back to have a major impact, especially as the weather turns cold. Ty Montgomery is not a power back, and in those snow games, Williams should shine the brightest.

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