The off-season is in full force for the Green Bay Packers. After a 24-21 heart-breaking loss in the NFC Divisional round to the San Francisco 49ers, the Packers will have the 25th pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft in April.
While the Super Bowl and free agency still occurs before the draft, it’s never too early to think about what the Green Bay Packers needs to be successful in the 2024-2025 season. Based on who is currently slated to be a free agent in March, here are my three biggest draft needs for the Green Bay Packers.
Safety
The safety class in free agency and draft was not great a season ago. It was also a position the Green Bay Packers needed to address. They did pick up the fifth year option on Darnell Savage and drafted Anthony Johnson Jr in the seventh round of the NFL Draft. The Packers also had Rudy Ford and brought in Jonathan Owens.
Overall, this group was not great, but they held their own for the most part. There’s no doubt Green Bay needs to get a safety in the first or second round. Johnson Jr is the only safety on contract for next season. I could see the Packers signing Savage back on a small deal and potentially bringing back Owens.
Three names stick out to me in the NFL Draft the Packers could use. They are Kameron Kinchens of Miami (FL), Tyler Nubin of Minnesota, and Callen Bullock of USC. They have enough draft capital to move up to get the safety they want too.
Interior Offensive Line
Outside of Elgton Jenkins, the interior offensive line was poor most of the season. Jon Ruyan Jr took another step back after two great seasons and a down 2022 season. Josh Myers struggled again and Royce Newman was’t great either. On the plus side, Sean Rhyan had flashes of excellence. Right guard should be his spot going into next season.
I said after the 2023 Draft the Green Bay Packers made a mistake not adding any offensive linemen in the draft, especially interior. Myers and Newman both have three years in and I am confident saying right now neither will get a second contract. I also don’t see a way Runyan Jr comes back either as he is a free agent.
With five top 100 pick in the NFL Draft, I think Green Bay needs to get two interior offensive linemen. Some names at center include Zach Frazier of West Virginia and Sedrick Van Pran out of Georgia. Look for a guard like Graham Barton out of Duke as a fit too.
Corner
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When you look at the current room for corners, it doesn’t seem like a need. However Kesisean Nixon is a pending free agent and the Green Bay Packers have to decide whether to pick up the fifth year option on Eric Stokes.
Right now, I think Packers do pick up the extra year on Stokes and there’s a possibility they could bring Nixon back, but he might look for a multi year deal. I like what Carrington Valentine did as a rookie, but there’s also room to improve that position. With a new defensive coordinator coming in, don’t be surprised if the Packers get a corner with one of their top 100 picks.
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