The future of the Green Bay Packers is certainly hanging in the balance following the 2021 season. While Aaron Rodgers has decided to return for another season, there’s a good chance that this year is his final one with the Packers.
Rodgers reworked his contract with Green Bay this offseason to give him more control over where he plays after the 2021 season and all signs point toward him ending his career elsewhere.
Given the likeliness of Rodgers being traded next offseason, Jordan Love could very well be the starting quarterback of the Packers in 2022. Surrounding Love with more weapons and improving the defense will be vital in making sure he’s in the best position to succeed moving forward.
Even with the Packers being contenders in 2021, here are three star players that the organization should target within the next year or so.
Davante Adams, Wide Receiver
Amid the turmoil between Rodgers and the Packers, Davante Adams has been one of the players affected the most. Adams is entering a contract year and if Rodgers wasn’t disgruntled with his situation, Adams likely would have already inked an extension with Green Bay. However, Adams has put off an extension as it appears he’ll wait to mull over his options next offseason.
Even if Rodgers is traded, the Packers should do everything in their power to re-sign Adams, especially with Love expected to replace Rodgers at quarterback. The last thing Green Bay needs after moving on from Rodgers is to lose their best wide receiver in a receiving corps that isn’t great outside of the All-Pro wideout.
Zach Cunningham, Linebacker
The inside linebacker position has been a massive need for the Packers in recent seasons. Green Bay tried to replace Blake Martinez with Christian Kirksey last season, but Kirksey failed to live up to expectations in his lone season with the franchise. As for this offseason, the Packers brought in De’Vondre Campbell on a cheap one-year deal in hopes he could fill the void at inside linebacker.
Even with Campbell slated to start at inside linebacker, Green Bay should consider inquiring about Zach Cunningham of the Houston Texans. Cunningham may not be a star player to some, but he has logged 306 total tackles in the past two seasons, and he’s decent enough in coverage to be an upgrade for the Packers. While Green Bay has a formidable defensive front, adding Cunningham would shore up the middle of their defense.
Brandin Cooks, Wide Receiver
When Rodgers returned to the Packers, one of his requests was for the Packers to trade for Randall Cobb. Green Bay didn’t waste any time in obliging his request, reuniting Cobb with his former quarterback as he likely plays one final year at Lambeau Field. Despite already doing business with the Texans for a wide receiver, if the Packers are in win-now mode with Rodgers, Brandin Cooks would be a valuable addition.
Cooks is no stranger to being traded as he’s recorded 1,000+ yards on four different teams in his career. Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes-Scantling are expected to compete for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart, but neither of them has shown enough consistency to feel confident in them going forward.
While Cooks would be a win-now piece, he is under contract through the 2022 season, meaning that he could be a contingency plan in case Adams departs in free agency next offseason.
