Packers' Position Battles to Watch Ahead of 2023 NFL Season

The Green Bay Packers are about halfway through their allotment of OTA practices. With the team set to take the field for further practice on Wednesday, early competition for spots is just starting.

There are no pads on yet. These practices are more about installation, communication and setting the foundation for that work later in the season.

However, it's still a good time to take stock of the roster and see where the actual battles for playing time are going to be.

Aaron Rodgers is gone, but there's still a lot of talent on the roster. Whether the Packers can still win the NFC North likely comes down to how well Jordan Love plays and some key positions stepping up and playing over expectations.

Here are three positions where the Packers have to find out who is going to step into the role at OTAs and into training camp.

Safety

AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Green Bay Packers safety Rudy Ford in action during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

There's a reason the Packers didn't bring back Adrian Amos. The veteran safety gave up a 107.7 passer rating and three touchdowns in coverage, continuing his struggles from the previous years.

This still feels like a place where a veteran could be brought in, and John Johnson III is still looking for a home.

For now, the Packers appear content to foster a competition between young players who could fill the void. Rudy Ford has the advantage of being familiar with the system. He made six starts last season and was on the field for 43 percent of the defensive snaps, although he gave up a 106.7 passer rating.

Jonathan Owens played the most last season. He started 17 games with the Texans and had 125 tackles but was even worse in coverage.

Tarvarius Moore rounds out the free-agent options. He played sparingly in the Niners secondary, but he'll have a bigger opportunity in Green Bay.

Anthony Johnson is the dark-horse option as a seventh-round pick. Many times a seventh-rounder is just trying to make the roster, but this is a competition that doesn't have a lot of standout talent.

Right Tackle

AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr

Green Bay Packers guard Zach Tom (50) blocks during an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Sunday, October 23, 2022 in Landover. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)

The Packers offensive line is always interesting because the coaching staff has shown a willingness to play the five best players and figure out positions later. A lot of teams will say that, but Green Bay has proved it.

For instance, Elgton Jenkins started the season out at right tackle, but when it proved to be less than optimal, they moved him to left guard. Zach Tom made appearances at both guard and tackle in his rookie season. Yosh Njiman played both left and right tackle at different points in the season.

While it's hard to nail down all of the options the Packers will have, the right tackle position battle likely comes down to Tom vs. Nijman.

From a roster-building standpoint, Tom should be the preferred option. He has three years left on his rookie deal and will not make more than $1.2 million in any of those seasons. If he turns out to be a starting-caliber right tackle, that's obviously a massive value.

Nijman signed a restricted free-agent tender this offseason, so he's on a one-year, $4.3 million contract. If he ends up playing well, he could price himself out of Green Bay's budget next offseason.

The Packers are going to play the best five regardless of their contracts. Tom allowed just one sack and earned a PFF grade of 68.3 on 489 snaps last season, so he has the potential to take the job.

Tight End

AP Photo/Morry Gash

TE Luke Musgrave

This might be the most intriguing of the three. With Jordan Love taking the reins at quarterback, it's imperative the Packers have as good a supporting cast around him as possible.

That means a young player is going to have to step up at tight end.

Robert Tonyan Jr. was not an elite option, but he was a veteran with proven production. Now that he's in Chicago, the Packers' tight end room is defined by potential.

Josiah Deguara has been with the team since 2020, but he's been an H-back with no more than 25 receptions in a season. At 6'2", 238 pounds, it's hard to see him breaking out of that role.

That leaves rookies Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft to fill out the tight end snaps.

Musgrave was chosen earlier in the draft, but he only played two games in his final season with Utah due to injury. That could open the door for Kraft to play a bigger role than expected.

If this trio doesn't look good in OTAs, it will be interesting to see if Green Bay decides to add more competition via trade or free agency.