Packers' Biggest Weaknesses Ahead of 2023 NFL Training Camp

The Green Bay Packers can still contend for the NFC North title this season, but the margin for error is thinner than it's been in a long time.

That's the impact of having more uncertainty at the quarterback position than they have had for over a decade. Jordan Love will take over for Aaron Rodgers, and it's a good reminder that it takes a strong roster from top to bottom if you want to make the playoffs and succeed there.

The Packers still have plenty of strength that should allow them to be a factor in the playoff race this season. However, it will be their ability to hide or develop their deficiencies that determines the ceiling of the team.

Looking across their roster, these areas are the biggest perceived weaknesses relative to the rest of the roster. Consider these spots where they either need someone to step up or they may have to find outside help.

Safety

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Packers safety Rudy Ford

This isn't a secret for anyone who watched the defense last season. Both safety spots were a problem last season, and they remain a concern going into 2023.

Last year, the Packers relied on Adrian Amos and Darnell Savage to man the back of the defense. The once-trusted duo fell well short of expectations.

Amos gave up a passer rating of 107.7 when targeted. He was directly responsible for three touchdowns and quarterbacks had a 70 percent completion percentage when throwing his way. That forced the Packers to find other options as he has signed with the New York Jets.

Rudy Ford is a potential replacement, but he also gave up three touchdowns and an inflated passer rating.

Savage appears to be returning as a starter, but he gave up a passer rating of 114.2 and 10.1 yards per target making him a liability in coverage as well.

The team didn't do much in the way of bringing in external free agents. It's telling that Tarvarius Moore and Jonathan Owens—both safeties—were two of the few free agents they brought in during the offseason.

Owens is the only one with starting experience. He made 125 tackles while starting all 17 games for the Texans but wasn't great in coverage, giving up a passer rating of 128.5.

Tight End

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Packers tight end Luke Musgrave

Tight end can be a difficult position for rookies to master right away in the NFL. Effective TEs have to walk in the two worlds of being a blocker and receiver.

That means a learning curve that covers learning how to be a part-time offensive lineman and part-time wide receiver in an NFL offense. It's no wonder that it takes many tight ends two-three years before enjoying a breakout season.

So, when you consider that the Packers are going to be relying heavily on two rookies—Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft—to be productive tight ends right away, it becomes clear that the position is a weakness heading into the season.

The Packers are set up for the long term at the position. Kraft and Musgrave are both high ceiling prospects at the position and should become favorite targets for Jordan Love.

But there are going to be growing pains. Josiah Deguara is more of an H-Back than a true tight end. That leaves a large burden on two rookies to be near full-time players right away.

Ultimately, this might be a spot where the Packers want to look at trade options or keep an eye on the waiver wire just to get more experience in the room after losing Robert Tonyan in free agency.

Defensive-Line Depth

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Packers defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt

When the Packers let Dean Lowry and Jarran Reed walk in free agency, they vacated 1,187 snaps on the interior. The team did not sign any external free agents to take on any of them.

As it stands, Green Bay will rely on players such as Devonte Wyatt and Tedarrell Slaton to take on much bigger roles.

On one hand, a change makes sense. Lowry and Reed were mainstays on a defensive line that struggled to stop the run and gave up 5.0 yards per carry. It made sense to let them walk.

However, it's important to have a plan in place to replace that kind of snap count. So far, the Packers only appear to be leaning on development of younger players to fill the void.

Even if that works, they are just one injury away from being in the scary position of relying on even more unproven options to slide in and take on important snaps.

The defense has to be better against the run and someone other than Kenny Clark has to help improve the pass rush on the inside. Wyatt and rookie Lukas Van Ness should theoretically address the issue, but they are still thin at a position that usually utilizes a heavy rotation.