Packers' Biggest Weaknesses Ahead of 2022 NFL Training Camp
The Green Bay Packers come into the 2022 season with high expectations, but no team is without its faults.
The return of Aaron Rodgers and a defense that can be elite when healthy makes the Packers the definitive favorite in the NFC North and a Super Bowl contender.
However, no team is perfect. The Packers, just like everyone else, have some areas that aren't quite up to par with the rest of the team.
These may or may not be fatal flaws if the Packers don't either develop them into strengths or make a move at some point to bolster the roster.
Wide Receiver
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We'll start with the most obvious: The departure of Davante Adams has left a massive hole in the middle of the passing game.
Adams is a top-five talent at receiver, and he's vacating 169 targets. Only Cooper Kupp had a larger share of targets last season. Then there's the additional 55 looks that Marquez Valdes-Scantling got.
So that's 224 targets that will now be distributed to the new-look wide receiver room. PFF recently ranked the Packers' group of receivers as the 31st unit in the league.
As PFF noted, the only receiver in the group who has gained more than 750 yards in a season over the last five years is Randall Cobb in 2019. The veteran will be 32 years old when the season starts.
That means the Packers are going to be relying on a mixture of veterans who have been in supporting roles (Sammy Watkins, Allen Lazard), unproven young players (Amari Rodgers, Juwann Winfree) and rookies (Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs).
Aaron Rodgers might just be good enough to make it all work. He's the reigning MVP after all, but he has his work cut out for him.
Tight End
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Some teams with a weak receiving corps at least have an elite tight end to make up for it. Mark Andrews, for instance, bolsters Lamar Jackson's receiving weapons in Baltimore.
The Packers are pairing a weak receiving corps with little help from the tight end position, though.
Last season, the Packers did not get 250 yards out of any of their tight ends. Robert Tonyan only played in eight games before suffering a torn ACL that ended his season, but Josiah Deguara and Marcedes Lewis weren't difference-makers in his absence.
Tonyan should be back. Rob Demovsky of ESPN reported that Week 1 is a realistic return date for the tight end. That would mean he's going to miss all of training camp, so a slow start to the season could be in store for him.
That's not reassuring for a player who only has one season with more than 500 yards receiving.
Deguara is entering his third season, so it's possible he's ready for a bigger role. As it stands, tight end is an area of concern.
Secondary Depth
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If the Packers are to win the Super Bowl in 2022 it's likely going to be against a top-tier quarterback. The AFC has Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen and Russell Wilson all vying for the championship.
Then there's Tom Brady to deal with in the NFC.
No matter how you slice it, an elite secondary is a requirement for taking home the Lombardi.
As far as starters go, the Packers have what it takes. A healthy Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes and Rasul Douglas is a strong trio at corner. Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage are good enough at safety.
After those five, things get a little more sketchy. The loss of Chandon Sullivan, who allowed a 65.7 completion percentage while playing primarily in the slot gives them one less experienced defensive back.
The Packers used 11 picks in the draft but didn't add a defensive back with any of them. The lone outside free agent they brought in was Keisean Nixon, who played about seven percent of the snaps for the Raiders last season.
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