The front office of the Green Bay Packers has been hard at work getting under the salary cap thus far this offseason. They have certainly accomplished that goal, as Green Bay is reportedly approaching $30 million under the cap. Seeing as they were $22 million over entering the offseason, that is quite a feat.
The next order of business for the Packers is figuring out what to do with the quarterback position. Aaron Rodgers has to decide if he wants to return for another season and the Packers have to figure out if they even want him back. If not, figuring out a trade centered around him will start to get worked on.
Regardless of who is under center for Green Bay in 2023, this is a roster that could use some tweaks. They entered 2022 with Super Bowl aspirations after winning 13 games in each of Matt LaFleur’s first three seasons with the team. But, an 8-9 season kept them from even qualifying for the playoffs.
With some wiggle room under the salary cap, the Packers can now be more aggressive in free agency. One player that they could try and target is Allen Lazard. Losing Lazard would be a tough blow to overcome after Davante Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling both moved on last offseason.
Regardless of what happens with Lazard, the team needs to add more weapons on offense. Jakobi Meyers of the New England Patriots would be a nice addition to their passing offense that will revolve around second-year players Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs.
A void could exist at tight end as well. Robert Tonyan, Marcedes Lewis and Tyler Davis are all free agents. If they strike out on the wide receiver market, someone such as Mike Gesicki would make for an ideal target. What Gesicki lacks as a blocker he more than makes up for as a receiver.
Defensively, the Packers could use a boost to their pass rush. Rashan Gary suffered a torn ACL last season, leaving Preston Smith as the only pass-rushing threat. Jadeveon Clowney could fill that role while also providing an elite edge-setter in the run game. Green Bay was steamrolled by opponents regularly on the ground in 2022.
If the Packers want to take a shot on a veteran to bounce back, Robert Quinn is an affordable option. He didn’t make much of an impact with the Philadelphia Eagles after being traded there by the Chicago Bears but is only one season removed from an 18.5 sack campaign.
