Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you sign up through BetMGM. 21+ only. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
The Green Bay Packers entered the season with Super Bowl aspirations. Matt LaFleur’s team had a stacked roster on both sides of the field.
However, they also knew that this would be a pivotal season for years to come, as they would have several big-name free agents in the offseason, so they needed to make the most of this window while it was still open. Now, given the way the team has fared this season, Aaron Schatz of ESPN pointed out two big areas of need they will have to address at the end of the campaign:
“Linebacker and cornerback. The Packers declined the fifth-year option on Quay Walker, which might put a hole in the middle of their defense next to Edgerrin Cooper. And cornerback is not a free agency issue but a position at which they could use some improvement, especially given how much Nate Hobbs has struggled in his first year with the team,” Schatz wrote.
The Packers’ defense has taken a big leap under defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, but they still need to bolster some spots. Nate Hobbs has proven to be a major liability, and adding a true shutdown cornerback should be at the top of this team’s priority list.
Still, the team could go through some major changes in the offseason. Some believe that Matt LaFleur could be coaching for his job after a disappointing string of events, and Hafley is also expected to draw plenty of interest as a potential head coaching candidate. That will ultimately have a big impact on the type of players GM Brian Gutekunst might pursue.
The Packers haven’t been as consistent as they hoped this season, and you never know what version of them you’re going to get. Even so, they still have a chance to close out the year on a high note and go back to the mountaintop.
NEXT: Stats Show How Micah Parsons Keeps Producing Elite Disruption