The Green Bay Packers have a lot of work to do this offseason. There are plenty of positions on both sides of the ball that are in desperate need of upgrades. On offense, wide receiver and tight end are perhaps the two most noteworthy positions of need. However, Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine warns that the team would do well to stay away from one premier free agent at each position.
Wide Receiver Jarvis Landry Is Not Worth the Risk for the Green Bay Packers
One of the biggest names on the free agent market at wide receiver is Jarvis Landry. The former Pro Bowl wide receiver is coming off of a one-year contract with the New Orleans Saints. In 2022, he played in just nine games, catching 25 passes for 272 yards and one touchdown.
Of the possibility of the Packers being interested in Landry, Ballentine wrote:
“Landry was underwhelming in his final year with the Cleveland Browns in 2021. He posted 52 catches for 570 yards and two touchdowns. A fresh start with the New Orleans Saints didn’t help him rebound.
“He only played in nine games because of injuries and ended the season on the injured reserve because of his ankle. When he was on the field, he was averaging a career-low 2.8 catches and 30.2 yards per game.
“At this point, Landry’s name value is much higher than his actual contributions on the field. Signing him won’t do much to make the receiver room better.”
The Packers learned the hard way that taking a shot with a low-risk high-reward free agent can end dismally. Last offseason, they signed Sammy Watkins to a one-year deal, and contract that Watkins could not stay on the team long enough to fulfill. It would seem that Ballentine believes that Landry would just be another Watkins on the Packers’ roster.
Tight End Mike Gesicki Would Not Fit the Green Bay Packers Scheme
The only tight end with any NFL game experience currently on the Packers’ roster is Josiah Deguara. Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis are both free agents and may not return. Undoubtedly, Green Bay will be looking at tight ends in both the draft and free agency. While Mike Gesicki may be an attractive name on the market, but Ballentine argues that his game is too one-dimensional for Green Bay.
“Mike Gesicki would undoubtedly improve the weaponry for whoever is throwing passes for the Packers next season. There’s no denying that. The 6’6”, 250-pound tight end is a legitimate red-zone threat with the athleticism to catch balls down the seam and make big plays.
“But Gesicki is far from a true tight end. In reality, he’s a big slot receiver who doesn’t bring much to the table as a blocker.”
From 2020-2021, Gesicki averaged 63 receptions, 741 yards, and four touchdowns per season. He played 62% of Miami’s offensive snaps in 2020 and 72% in 2021. However, Mike McDaniel, the Dolphins’ head coach who runs a similar offense to Matt LaFleur’s, only played a healthy Gesicki in 45% of Miami’s offensive plays in 2022. The reason? He is a horrific blocker. While Gesicki would be a fun name for fans to fawn over and would be a big target for either Aaron Rodgers or Jordan Love, his lack of blocking ability would do more harm than his receiving skills would do good for the Packers’ offense.
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FAQs
Will the Green Bay Packers Make the 2023 NFL Playoffs?
According to sportsbooks, the Green Bay Packers are currently ninth overall (+3000) to win the 2024 Super Bowl. This is the highest among 2022 non-playoff teams, signaling they’ll be playoff-bound.
Who Do the Green Bay Packers Play in 2023?
Aside from their divisional opponents (Vikings, Lions, and Bears), whom they place twice, the Packers play the Saints, Buccaneers, Chiefs, Chargers, and Rams at home in 2023. They’ll travel on the road to face the Falcons, Panthers, Broncos, Raiders, Giants, and Steelers.
Who Owns the Green Bay Packers?
The team is owned by Green Bay Packers, Inc., a publicly owned and traded non-profit. There are currently over 360,000 stockholders. Mark Murphy currently holds the role of Packers president and CEO, with plans to retire in 2025.
How Many Super Bowls Have the Packers Won?
The Packers have won four Super Bowls. These victories include Super Bowl 1 and Super Bowl 2 after the 1966 and 1967 seasons. Their next title came in Super Bowl 31, following the 1996 season. Their most recent championship was Super Bowl 45, crowning them the winners of the 2010 season.
