Following a dull free agency that saw several starters leave in March, the Green Bay Packers are expected to see many rookies start or play meaningful reps this season. One NFL writer thinks a Packers veteran defender is on the hot seat this offseason and could lose his job to a first year player.
Most of the Packers rookies that will see the most action are on the offensive side of the ball. Wide receiver Jayden Reed should grab a starting spot after Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb left for the New York Jets. Tight ends Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft will battle for Robert Tonyan’s and Marcedes Lewis’ spots on the roster.
A Green Bay Packers veteran is on the hot seat
Zack Kruse with Packers Wire recently wrote about which Packers veteran on the roster could lose their job this offseason. Kruse thinks most of the rookies who will start in Green Bay in 2023 will be the ones replacing veterans who left in free agency. But he did name one position battle on the defense to keep an eye on before training camp, safety Rudy Ford:
“This is actually a tough one. The Packers could have several rookies starting in 2023, but most (if not all) would be taking over for departing veterans. Think Luke Musgrave or Tucker Kraft at tight end for Robert Tonyan. Or Jayden Reed at slot receiver for Randall Cobb. Or Anders Carlson at kicker for Mason Crosby. Or even Anthony Johnson Jr. at safety for Adrian Amos.
Lukas Van Ness could be an early starter, but only if Rashan Gary isn’t fully healthy to start the season. The Packers made 13 draft picks in 2023, but I’m not sure a veteran currently on the roster is going to lose a job to one of the 13 rookies. The best guess might be Johnson Jr. eventually starting next to Darnell Savage at safety, displacing Rudy Ford at a competitive position group.”
Johnson, a seventh-round pick in April’s draft, would have to have one great summer to challenge for the starting spot. The Packers recently signed veteran safety Jonathan Owens to add depth to the roster. Owens’ skillset is similar to Amos, and one would assume he’d have a better chance to take Ford’s spot than Johnson this season.
Either way, Ford must compete for his starting spot in training camp. And he’s the most likely candidate to be demoted from the current projected starting lineup for the Packers. Defensive coordinator Joe Barry said before the team’s OTA practices that he had no idea who would start alongside Savage at safety.
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