The Green Bay Packers did not end the 2022 season the way that they had planned. Going into the season, the team was expected to be a serious contender to the Super Bowl, especially in a weak NFC. Unfortunately, that did not happen. Instead, the Packers finished 8-9, missed the playoffs entirely for the first time under Matt LaFleur, and now face serious questions about the future makeup of their roster. Fans of the Green Bay Packers are known for their fierce loyalty to players, especially those that stick around for a long time. However, the time may have come for the organization and the fans to bid adieu to some of their veterans.
1. Aaron Rodgers
The Packers have been fortunate to have had 30 years of Hall of Fame play at the quarterback position. Whether or not that will continue in 2023 remains to be seen. Aaron Rodgers has not made a decision on if he even wants to play next season. If he does want to play, there are numerous rumors regarding the front office wanting to trade him. There are also a list of teams, including one recent surprise AFC team, that have been linked to the future Hall-of-Famer. In any case, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler stated that the possibility that Rodgers gets traded is higher now more than ever.
2. Mason Crosby
The franchise’s all-time leading scorer and the kicker on the Super Bowl XLV team, Mason Crosby, has had a long and successful career. However, age seemed to be getting the better of him as he struggled to get his kickoffs into opposing end zones for touchbacks. Crosby was just 1/4 on field goals of 50+ yards, though his 56-yard field goal against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 17 was the stuff of legend. He is an unrestricted free agent this offseason and the Packers do already have a kicker on their roster for 2023 (Parker White).
3. Randall Cobb
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Another unrestricted free agent, Randall Cobb‘s future in Green Bay may be tied to that of Aaron Rodgers. One would assume that, given how the front office went out and traded for Cobb to appease Rodgers, if the future Hall of Fame quarterback decides to come back, and if the Packers do not trade him, that Cobb will be back as well. As mentioned, though, it seems as if Rodgers will likely be traded this offseason, which would all but put an end to Cobb’s tenure in Green Bay (again). He did not have a bad season (34 receptions for 417 yards), but he is an aging receiver that has a bad recent injury history.
4. Adrian Amos
Part of the fantastic free agent spending spree of 2019, Adrian Amos has become a fan-favorite in Green Bay for his hard-nosed style of play. Unfortunately, Amos had one of the worst seasons of his career in 2022, the last year of the four-year deal he signed with the Packers. While he did record 102 tackles last season, he also gave up a passer rating of 107.7 when targeted and consistently was not playing where he should have been. Perhaps Jerry Gray’s deviation from Joe Barry’s scheme had something to do with that. Regardless, the Packers will likely be looking elsewhere for safety help in 2023.
5. Dean Lowry
It is time for the Dean Lowry experiment in Green Bay to come to an end. Even though the Packers’ defense has struggled against the run for the last few years, the team has not moved on from Lowry, who is consistently one of the poorest-graded run defenders on the team. What’s more, the team has continued to start him on a regular basis when he’s healthy. Lowry’s saving grace was that he was a decent (not great) pass rusher. However, in 2022 he only had six pressures and 0.5 sacks. Both numbers were the second-lowest of his career. The fact of the matter is that if he cannot even bring the pass rush, the Packers would be better off finding someone else.
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