The Green Bay Packers enter the 2024 offseason in a much better position than they found themselves in a year ago. They know they have a young franchise quarterback to build around and the roster is young and considered on the upswing. They have a new defensive coordinator and talent on both sides of the football. But there are some needs the team needs to address to build upon their unexpected success in 2023. Here are three positions the Packers and general manager Brian Gutekunst will definitely address in the 2024 NFL Draft. They may not address these positions in the first round, but they will be priorities for the team this season.
Third Position the Packers Will Address in the 2024 NFL Draft: Running Back
The Packers remain unsettled at running back. Starter Aaron Jones had his season interrupted by injuries and managed to play just 11 games and was fully healthy for a little more than half of those.
Jones gained 656 yards on the season, his lowest total since his rookie campaign back in 2017. But when he finally was healthy late in the season, Jones became the catalyst for the Green Bay offense. He gained 100 or more yards in the final three regular-season games and both playoff contests. Not surprisingly, the Packers went 4-1 in those games.
Jones has two things working against him right now. He will turn 30 in December which is ancient for an NFL running back, and he carries a $17 million cap hit on his current deal. The Packers will look for a way to lower that cap hit over the offseason.
Backup A.J. Dillon will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason and isn’t expected back. Emanuel Wilson showed some promise but has only 14 career NFL carries.
Even if Jones returns in 2024, the Packers need to add his successor. Gutekunst will add at least one and possibly two running backs in this year’s draft to improve the depth and talent at this position and set the team up for the future.
Second Position: Offensive Line
Like the rest of the offense, the line got off to a shaky start this season and improved in the second half of the campaign.
The big questions surrounding the offensive line include the expected departure of two starters. David Bakhtiari carries a very large cap hit and has only played 13 games total over the last three seasons.
The only way Bakhtiari can stay is to restructure his contract and take a large pay cut for 2024 with incentives. He is more likely to be traded or released before the season starts.
Swing tackle Yosh Nijman will be a free agent and is also unlikely to be back. Nijman will likely want to play where he can have a better chance to start. Another team will likely offer him more money than the Packers will.
Inside, starting right guard Jon Runyan will be become a free agent next month and center Josh Myers has never lived up to his status as a second-round draft pick. While Myers will be in the final year of his contract, the Packers need depth and may look for an upgrade at the position.
The result, the Packers will need to add depth and possibly seek out a starter for right now or the future in this year’s draft along the offensive line.
First Position the Packers Will Address in the 2024 NFL Draft: Defensive Back
The Packers top three safeties on the 2023 depth chart are all scheduled to be free agents in March. The Packers did not re-sign Darnell Savage before his void years converted to dead cap money, so he is unlikely to be back. Even if Rudy Ford or Jonathan Owens do return, the Packers will be looking for an upgrade at the safety position.
At cornerback, Gutekunst didn’t sign slot corner Keisean Nixon before his void years kicked in. Eric Stokes is coming off two injury plagued years and Jaire Alexander only played seven games due to an assortment of injuries in 2023.
The Packers will need to add depth, a slot corner, and a potential starter opposite Alexander if Stokes isn’t able to return to form.
Both offensive tackle and cornerback are considered premium positions and Gutekunst usually drafts at least one player there each year. Safety and running back are just major needs based on the current roster situation. Look for the Packers to add at least one player at these positions in the 2024 NFL Draft.
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