Projecting Green Bay Packers' Depth Chart After Peak of Free Agency
The Green Bay Packers were characteristically quiet in free agency, which means there will be plenty of competition to go around for starting jobs come training camp.
While Green Bay locked down starters like Randall Cobb and Bryan Bulaga this offseason, multiple positions are still a question mark and may not be decided until final cuts. For some positions, such as inside linebacker, there may not even be a player on the roster who could start on opening day.
For others, such as cornerback, a rookie could compete with a veteran for the job.
In this predicted depth chart, I've tried to be as complete as possible, which means some players are listed at multiple positions as starters and backups at others. I've also indicated areas in which a rookie could come into training camp and compete for a position.
The Packers roster is well-built enough to reach January, but it will need some bolstering through the draft to make it past the NFC Championship Game. Let's take a look at what the depth chart looks like currently.
Quarterback
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Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers, Scott Tolzien
The Green Bay Packers signed Scott Tolzien to a one-year prove-it deal, bumping him up to the No. 2 spot behind Aaron Rodgers. They demonstrated their faith in him to take over should he need to by letting former backup Matt Flynn walk in free agency.
However, while it would be useful to see what Tolzien is capable of in a game setting instead of merely with the second-team offense, Packers fans hope that he never has to start in 2014. Though Rodgers did not miss any games last season after missing seven in 2013, he was listed on the Packers' injury report four times for a hamstring injury (Week 10) and a calf injury (Week 17, divisional round and conference championship).
Rodgers, provided he can stay healthy, is only getting better. His five interceptions in 2014 were the fewest in any season of his career as a starter, and his 38 touchdowns were his third most.
Running Back
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Running Back: Eddie Lacy, James Starks
The emergence of Eddie Lacy has given the Packers a diversity in offensive weapons that has improved both the passing and rushing offense. Lacy averaged 4.6 yards per attempt 2014, an increase from 4.1 in 2013.
However, expect Mike McCarthy to keep a close eye on Lacy's carries in 2015. Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wrote, "McCarthy said he's not concerned with changing Lacy's willingness to run over people instead of around them, and that the best way to preserve him is to limit his touches."
Lacy's attempts per game decreased in 2014 to 15.4, from 18.9 in 2013. The Packers benefit from having a talented back in James Starks behind him, who can sub in on an entire series rather than play-to-play.
However, the Packers would also reap rewards by adding a complementary running back with pass-catching skills out of the backfield. Don't be surprised if they add a running back to the roster in the middle rounds of the NFL draft, especially after letting DuJuan Harris walk in free agency. Texas' Malcolm Brown could be an intriguing rotational prospect.
Wide Receiver
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Wide Receiver: Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Davante Adams
Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb had 2,806 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns between them during the 2014 regular season.
Their 25 regular-season touchdowns set a new franchise record, breaking the record of 24 touchdowns previously set by Nelson and Greg Jennings in 2011.
Losing Cobb in free agency this offseason could have severely limited the Packers' effectiveness on the offense, as both Nelson and Cobb have the production that draws double-teams in the NFL. However, Cobb and Nelson will remain with Rodgers through at least 2018 and can continue to be the league's most productive tandem.
Davante Adams had a standout rookie year, with three touchdowns over 38 receptions and 446 yards. He has proved himself to be a productive No. 3 receiver and should claim that role in training camp.
Jared Abbrederis is returning from injury this year and will give the Packers a potentially potent fourth weapon, and Jeff Janis can compete with him for that spot when the Packers run four-wide receiver sets. If they both look sharp in training camp, look for the Packers to even utilize the five-receiver set that increased in use during the Super Bowl-winning 2010 season.
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Tight End
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Tight End: Richard Rodgers, Andrew Quarless/Rookie
Based on the improvement in his play over the second half of the 2014 season, Richard Rodgers appears to be in the best position to win the starting tight end job in camp. However, if the Packers target a playmaking tight end with excellent blocking skills in the early-to-middle rounds of the draft, that player could compete with Rodgers and Andrew Quarless for snaps in 2015.
In the second half of the season, Rodgers played 277 snaps and totaled 114 yards over 13 receptions for two touchdowns.
If he can improve in run-blocking, where he graded out 56th of 67 tight ends in 2014 by Pro Football Focus, Rodgers could be a solid starter for Green Bay in 2015. Because of his fast development, many don't feel that tight end is a position the Packers should address in the early rounds of the draft.
However, adding another weapon, especially someone skilled as an inline blocker (such as Ohio State's Jeff Heuerman) would allow the Packers to diversify their offensive attack with two-tight end sets and increase their red-zone effectiveness.
Offensive Line
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Left Tackle: David Bakhtiari, J.C. Tretter
Left Guard: Josh Sitton, Garth Gerhart
Center: Corey Linsley, J.C. Tretter
Right Guard: T.J. Lang, Lane Taylor
Right Tackle: Bryan Bulaga, Don Barclay
Depth has been an issue for the Packers offensive line in recent seasons, but the unit is in great shape heading into 2015.
The starting five are all under contract until 2017, which means the next two years of offensive line play could be the best of the Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy era.
Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang graded in the top five guards in the league last season, per Pro Football Focus, giving up three and zero sacks, respectively. Corey Linsley was strong in his first year at center, ranked No. 5 in the league, per Pro Football Focus.
Having Don Barclay healthy again will give the Packers insurance behind Bryan Bulaga, and with the quality of depth behind the rest of the line, should a starter become injured in 2015, Green Bay can continue to put up quality play on the line.
Defensive Line
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End: Datone Jones, Josh Boyd/Rookie
Nose Tackle: B.J. Raji, Letroy Guion, Mike Pennel
End: Mike Daniels, Josh Boyd
The Packers shored up the nose tackle position twofold on Monday, when they re-signed both B.J. Raji and Letroy Guion to one-year deals.
It's still a good year to draft a developmental prospect, in case the Packers only want to bring one (or neither) of the veterans back after the 2015 season, but Green Bay can now wait to address the position until the middle rounds of the draft or later.
In the base 3-4, Jones and Daniels should step back into their starting roles at end. Daniels has become one of the most effective defensive ends in the league. Per Pro Football Focus, he was No. 8 among 3-4 defensive ends in 2014, with six sacks, 11 hits and 24 hurries.
In 2014, Jones played 323 snaps per Pro Football Focus, compared to 263 in 2013, with three starts. However, he was still used primarily in pass-rushing situations. Josh Boyd is currently listed as the backup to both Jones and Daniels, and the Packers could benefit from selecting another defensive end to add depth to the line mid-to-late in the draft. Stanford's Henry Anderson would be a nice fit.
Linebacker
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Left Outside Linebacker: Clay Matthews, Mike Neal
Left Inside Linebacker: Carl Bradford/Rookie, Clay Matthews
Middle Linebacker: Sam Barrington
Right Outside Linebacker: Julius Peppers, Nick Perry
Clay Matthews will likely still start outside in the base 3-4, but he'll continue to play inside in 2015 as the Packers develop the rookie inside linebacker prospect(s) they draft. Matthews is still best used inside on third downs, and the Packers need a run-stopper on first and second downs to pair with Sam Barrington, who earned a starting job last season as Brad Jones and A.J. Hawk saw their snaps steadily decrease.
Expect the Packers to have UCLA's Eric Kendricks and Clemson's Stephone Anthony rated highest on their draft board at the position. Those two inside 'backers are the most complete and can make plays against the run as well as in coverage.
Julius Peppers had one of the most efficient seasons of his career in 2014, grading out as the No. 7 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus. He had seven sacks, 11 passes defensed and two interceptions returned for touchdowns.
The productive play of Peppers, as well as the efforts of Mike Neal and Nick Perry, is what will allow the Packers to continue to move Matthews inside. Neal had 654 snaps last season, while Perry had 367, per Pro Football Focus. Defensive coordinator Dom Capers will be able to continue to run the five-linebacker NASCAR package in 2015 to get Green Bay's best players on the field as much as possible.
Cornerback
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Right Cornerback: Sam Shields
Slot: Micah Hyde/Casey Hayward
Left Cornerback: Casey Hayward/Rookie
Casey Hayward is slotted into the starting outside spot opposite Sam Shields for now, but that could change by September if the Packers draft a solid cover corner in the draft, and he develops at a quick pace.
However, Thompson has never taken a cornerback in Round 1 and has had success with late-round picks and undrafted free agents, including Tramon Williams. The general manager could find starting-caliber talent in prospects such as Connecticut's Byron Jones or LSU's Jalen Collins in Round 2.
Hayward, a second-round selection, played 225 of 470 possible snaps (or 48 percent) in the slot in 2014, per Pro Football Focus, but with three interceptions—the same number Williams had in 1,158 total snaps.
Hayward is a playmaker, but the question will be whether he's solid enough in coverage to start.
Shields allowed opposing receivers a catch rate of just 51.9 percent last season, one of the lowest in the league among all cornerbacks, per Pro Football Focus.
If Hayward moves outside full-time, expect Micah Hyde to take over as the nickel corner.
Safety
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Strong Safety: Morgan Burnett, Sean Richardson, Chris Banjo
Free Safety: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Micah Hyde
The secondary is a true unit, and decisions the Packers make in regard to the cornerback group will affect the safeties.
For example, if the Packers start Casey Hayward outside in 2015 and Micah Hyde takes over as the slot cornerback, Green Bay could be in trouble if starting free safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix gets injured. Hyde would presumably move back to safety to replace him, leaving the slot weakened.
In the same way, however, drafting a starting-caliber outside corner would allow Hayward to continue to play the slot, giving Hyde more flexibility as a defensive back in Dom Capers' scheme.
Morgan Burnett and Clinton-Dix each had one interception in 2014, while Hyde had two. Burnett's performance also improved greatly from 2013; he had 130 combined tackles (a career high), 1.5 sacks and four passes defended. Pro Football Focus graded him the No. 16 safety in the league.
In his rookie season, Clinton-Dix proved to be valuable in the postseason. In the conference championship game against the Seattle Seahawks, he had two interceptions of Russell Wilson and three passes defended.
Special Teams
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Kicker: Mason Crosby
Punter: Tim Masthay
Holder: Tim Masthay
Punt Returner: Randall Cobb/Rookie, Micah Hyde
Kick Returner: Rookie/Micah Hyde
Long Snapper: Brett Goode
Mason Crosby put together one of his best recent seasons in 2014, making 81.8 percent of his field goals. That's his third-highest percentage in his eight-season career.
Tim Masthay could see some competition at punter in camp after putting together the worst season of his career in 2014. The Packers made it clear his job isn't being held for him by signing Cody Mandell, a former Alabama punter, in January to give him competition in camp. Expect Masthay to get the hint and step it up.
Starters will be more involved in special teams this season—even Randall Cobb.
The unit was ranked last in the league in The Dallas Morning News' special teams rankings. The Packers allowed the most blocked kicks, with seven, per the rankings.
"I think we need to adjust our special teams philosophy," McCarthy said during the combine, via ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky. "We had starters play more on special teams [last] year than we had in the past, and that will continue to increase. Special teams needs to be an asset, not something that we use as a steppingstone to offense or defense."
That could lead to players like Cobb and Hyde playing bigger roles, but Green Bay could also look to add a return specialist in the mid-to-late rounds of the draft. Stanford's Ty Montgomery could be a solid pickup in Round 5.
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