GREEN BAY, Wis. — A year ago, the question was whether the Green Bay Packers would be better, worse or the same on offense after trading All-Pro receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders.
The answer became obvious as the Packers struggled through an 8-9 season.
“I feel like losing Davante was obviously a big thing, but we didn’t fill that void,” quarterback Aaron Rodgers said after the season before being traded to the New York Jets. “Nobody can. He’s superhuman. He’s phenomenal. There was hope for certain things to fill that void. In the end, it just didn’t happen. The things we were capable of, I think, may have been taken for granted given at times because we were able to create so many different things in the moment over the years and especially the last few years because not much changed other than his absence from the lineup.”
Now take Rodgers out of the mix and it seems inconceivable that the Packers could even match their production from 2022, where they finished 17th in the league in total offense.
But this much is known: The offense will be different with Jordan Love as the starter. Perhaps the sum could be greater than the parts, so it’s worth looking at each position group to determine if it’s better, worse or the same.
Quarterbacks
Recurring: Jordan Love, Danny Etling
Loss: Aaron Rodgers
Additions: Sean Clifford
Better, worse or the same? Worse
Even GM Brian Gutekunst admitted after last season that Rodgers currently gave the Packers a better chance to win. “I mean, you’re talking about a four-time MVP, right?” Gutekunst said in January. “So we’re very excited about Jordan and where he’s at, there’s no doubt about it, but Jordan has never played a 16-, 17-game season and gone through all of this.” At one point, Gutekunst & Co. however, find out what they have in Love. A losing season without a playoff spot proved to be the perfect excuse to do it ASAP. Love looks solid in the pocket, but he’s struggled as the play breaks down and he has to throw on the fly. Clifford, a fifth-round pick, may have the edge on Etling for the backup spot heading into training camp.
Recipients
Recurring: Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, Samori Toure, Bo Melton, Jeff Cotton
Loss: Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard
Additions: Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, Grant DuBose, Malik Heath, Duece Watts, Jadakis Bonds
Better, worse or the same? Better
While losing veterans Cobb and Lazard means there is no one with more than a year of NFL experience, it should allow Doubs and Watson to become stars. And their respective advantages are greater than where Cobb and Lazard are at this point in their careers. What’s more, Doubs and Watson should finally see more action this season after each dealt with injuries as rookies. Toure has received rave reviews from the coaching staff for reshaping his body during the offseason, while the addition of Reed in the second round gives the Packers another potential star in this group.
Running backs
Recurring: Aaron Jones, AJ Dillon, Patrick Taylor, Tyler Goodson
Loss: None
Additions: Lew Nichols III, Emanuel Wilson, Henry Pearson
Better, worse or the same? Better
Dillon has all kinds of motivation: He wants to bounce back from an offseason and he’s in a contract year. He has also shown significant improvement as a receiver. Jones doesn’t seem to have lost anything during Year 7 at a position where players often wear out. And they’re deeper behind the top two with an experienced Taylor, an improved Goodson and a seventh-round pick in Nichols.
Tight ends
Recurring: Josiah Deguara, Tyler Davis, Austin Allen
Loss: Robert Tonyan, Marcedes Lewis
Additions: Luke Musgrave, Tucker Kraft, Camren McDonald
Better, worse or the same? Better
Coach Matt LaFleur and the offensive coaches want Lewis, who is currently a free agent, back for his leadership and blocking, but Gutekunst hasn’t budged on his desire to get younger and more productive at this spot. While the loss of Tonyan and his career-high 53 catches from last season hurts, the Packers now have two highly drafted prospects in Musgrave (Round 2) and Kraft (Round 3) who bring an impressive combination of size and athleticism. Some in the organization believe Musgrave has star potential.
Offensive line
Recurring: David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins, Josh Myers, Jon Runyan, Zach Tom, Yosh Nijman, Royce Newman, Caleb Jones, Sean Rhyan, Rasheed Walker, Jake Hanson, Luke Tenuta, Jean Delance
Loss: None
Additions: Chuck Filiaga, DJ Scaife Jr., Kadeem Telfort
Better, worse or the same? Better
Bakhtiari and Jenkins are another year removed due to their respective ACL injuries, and Tom’s 489 snaps last year as a rookie set him up for a full-time starting job at center or right tackle. He looks to be an upgrade from Newman, who played more than 1,500 snaps the previous two seasons.