After taking a look at what the Green Bay Packers starting offense could look like, today I switch over to the defense. The scheme of this group should look different this year under first year defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. The Green Bay Packers invested high draft picks this year on this side as well. Will that make a defense in this new base 4-3 defense? Here is how I see the starting defense looking right now.
Green Bay Packers Defensive Line: Kenny Clark and Devonte Wyatt
This will be no surprise as as Clark and Wyatt are the two best interior defensive linemen on the Green Bay Packers roster. Clark has been dominant for most of his career and commands double teams consistently.
I thought Devonte Wyatt had a better second year, but this is a player that needs to take that third year leap. After this year, Brian Gutekunst has a tough decision to make whether to pick up the fifth year option on the former first round pick.
Edge Rushers: Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness
I think we will see Preston Smith be more of a defensive end in this new scheme. That leaves more opportunities for Gary and Van Ness to be more pure pass rushers.
Like Wyatt, I am interested to see the kind of jump Lukas Van Ness will make. He had a raw talent coming out of Iowa last year, but had some nice moments in limited playing time. I expect more reps given to the second year player this season.
Linebackers: Quay Walker and Edgerrin Cooper
This is an important year for Quay Walker as he is the leader of this group now in his third year. With the departure of former first team all pro De’Vondre Campbell, Walker will be leaned one to be productive every week. His overall awareness needs to improve. He has the size and athleticism to be a very good linebacker in this defense.
The Green Bay Packers spent a second round pick on Edgerrin Cooper. He isn’t sitting. Cooper was drafted to be a day one starter. I fully expect that to be the case when OTA’s begin May 20. He has the range to run all directions and sniff out ball carriers. Cooper should compliment Walker very well.
Corners: Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, Keisean Nixon
No surprise here with Alexander and Nixon. Jaire is one of the best corners in football. On the other hand, Nixon was given a contract extension so I don’t expect him to just return punts.
Likely one of the bigger story-lines this off-season for the Green Bay Packers was not picking up the fifth year option on Eric Stokes. It comes as no surprise as he has hardly played the last two seasons because of injury. The Packers made a mistake picking up the fifth year option on Darnell Savage last year. They were likely hesitant to do the same with Stokes. Carrington Valentine could challenge Stokes in training camp, but I’ll give the slight edge to Stokes as Matt LaFleur has said he’s looked impressive early on.
Safeties: Xavier McKinney and Javon Bullard
No surprises here. The Green Bay Packers were able to land the best safety in the free agent class in McKinney. At only 24 years old, there is still elite football ahead of him.
Like Cooper, the Packers took Bullard with their other second round pick. Bullard will not sit either. He is a day one starter as well. I like his ability to even play some slot as well.
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