Filling Green Bay Packers’ Five Biggest Needs for 2024
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers' season is over.
Much like Bill Murray used to say in Groundhog's Day, they lost to the San Francisco 49ers.
Again.
This loss is different than the previous four with Aaron Rodgers at the helm. With Rodgers, each postseason failure felt like the clock was ticking toward its expiration.
With Jordan Love's emergence and the youngest team in the NFL, the Packers now feel like they're just getting started toward another run of greatness.
The roster is set up well, but not perfect. There are holes that seem obvious now, and others will emerge as free agency and cap casualties take their toll in Green Bay.
Here is our first look at the team's five biggest needs with a potential draft and free agency solution at each of those positions.
Cornerback
Jaire Alexander finished the 2023 season strong, but getting there was bizarre, to say the very least.
He missed time with two separate injuries and a suspension for conduct detrimental to the team.
Eric Stokes was placed on injured reserve twice after recovering from a season-ending foot injury sustained in Detroit in 2022. Anything they get from him is considered a bonus.
The rest of the room is rounded out by Carrington Valentine, who was up-and-down during the year, and Keisean Nixon and Corey Ballentine, who are free agents. The Packers probably need guys at both the boundary and nickel spots.
Draft Prospect: Mike Sainristil, Michigan
A former wide receiver that changed to cornerback before the 2022 season became one of the stars of the best defense in college football.
Sainristil is not likely to meet Green Bay's preferred thresholds, but perhaps they'd be willing to bend on those since the expectation would be for Sainristil to play only in the slot.
Sainristil is fearless as a run defender and has a nose for the football. Sainristil had six interceptions in his final season in Ann Arbor. Once the ball is in his hands, he has a nose for the end zone. Two of his six picks were returned for touchdowns.
Free Agent: Kendall Fuller, Washington
Fuller has had a solid start to his career and could fill one of the biggest needs in Green Bay's secondary as a playmaker. Fuller has a nose for the football with 16 career interceptions.
He only had two a season ago, but that would have tied for the team lead with Rudy Ford.
Jaire Alexander and Rudy Ford vs. the Cowboys in 2022.
Photo by Mike De Sisti/USA Today Sports Images
If the Packers can make the money make sense, Fuller would be an immense upgrade as the other boundary corner across from Jaire Alexander.
Safety
The safety position might be the weakest group on the team going into the offseason. Their only players with a contract for 2024 are rookie seventh-round pick Anthony Johnson Jr. and undrafted rookie Benny Sapp.
We ranked the position as the 11th out of 11 coming into training camp, and this group lived up to that billing.
Darnell Savage was in and out of the lineup with injuries and was inconsistent as he has been during the entirety of his Packers tenure.
The rest of the group is highlighted by journeymen or special teams players that were likely overexposed on defense.
Draft Prospect: Cooper DeJean, CB/S, Iowa
The Packers' first-round pick a season ago came from Iowa when they tabbed Lukas Van Ness as the 13th overall pick.
They could go back to the well with Cooper DeJean.
DeJean has the positional versatility to play deep and in the slot. That's something they liked about Savage when they took him in the first round five years ago.
DeJean could also contribute in the return game, which is something they may need with Keisean Nixon set to be a free agent and Jayden Reed becoming a focal point of their offense.
Free Agent: Xavier McKinney, S, New York Giants
McKinney is an attractive player regardless of who Green Bay has as their defensive coordinator.
One potential candidate, should they decide to move on from Joe Barry, is Don "Wink" Martindale, who coached McKinney in New York.
McKinney would not come cheap, but the Packers need more from their safety group, especially with Ford, Savage and Jonathan Owens set to become free agents.
Outside Linebacker
Yes, the Packers used a first-round pick on this position last year. Yes, they gave Rashan Gary a contract extension during the season.
Yes, Preston Smith put together another solid season.
And yes, there is no such thing as too many pass rushers.
With Kingsley Enagbare suffering an injury that could affect his availability to start 2024, the Packers need more help on the edge.
Draft Prospect: Laiatu Latu, UCLA
Latu is an interesting prospect, and would probably require Green Bay to use their first-round pick on him.
Latu is listed at 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds, which is around the size that Gutekunst has typically valued with his pass rushers. He could be in a rotation with Van Ness, Gary, and Smith as a rookie before taking over for Smith full time in 2025.
Free Agent: Derek Barnett, Houston
The idea here is to find a bargain in free agency. With Gary, Van Ness and Preston Smith in tow, any free-agent signing is unlikely to start.
A first-round pick by the Eagles in 2017, Derek Barnett never found his footing in Philadelphia but had a solid stretch in Houston under DeMeco Ryans. Brian Gutekunst loves draft pedigree as much as any general manager, and Barnett will turn 28 before training camp.
Perhaps Barnett would want a short-term deal to try and have a big season in Green Bay and cash in a year later.
Running Back
Aaron Jones' contract will likely require an adjustment. AJ Dillon is a free agent whose status is unclear. Patrick Taylor and Emanuel Wilson both saw time this year, as well.
Jones' explosiveness is missed when he is out of the lineup. The Packers have liked to limit his usage throughout his career in order to keep him fresh.
With Jones on his last legs, the Packers need another back with his ability to stretch a defense.
Packers RB Aaron Jones at the 49ers
Photo by Dan Powers/USA Today Sports Images
Draft Prospect: Bucky Irving, Oregon
Irving would be the -pass-catching back the Packers have not had since the days of Tony Fisher.
Irving is small but explosive. He caught 56 passes for the Ducks in 2023, and totaled more than 800 receiving yards in his three years at Oregon.
That explosiveness is a trait that is clearly missing when Jones is out of the lineup. The Packers could stand to add more playmaking from their running back group.
Free Agent: None
The Packers' free agent "acquisition" at running back needs to be Jones. He took a pay cut to stay in Green Bay next year. They'll likely need to adjust his contract again this year.
Regardless of how it happens, he's their best player and should be in Green Bay next year.
Offensive Line
Draft Prospect: Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
Fautanu was the best offensive lineman in a group that won the Joe Moore Award for the best offensive line in the country. It was also a group that Washington rode to the national championship game.
Fautanu fits just about every mold that the Packers value in their offensive lineman. He's an offensive tackle who has protected the quarterback's blind side but also has the versatility to kick inside to guard.
Fautanu could play either tackle spot for the Packers, or they could find him a home on the interior.
Either way, Brian Gutekunst has valued depth and talent on the offensive line,
Free Agent: Dalton Risner, G, Minnesota
How many times have we seen a pending Packers free agent sign in Minnesota? From Ryan Longwell all the way to Dean Lowry, the Vikings have grabbed a lot of former Packers in the last 20 years.
Perhaps the Packers could pull a reversal of that trend with Dalton Risner. Risner has the ability to move along the interior and even play tackle in a pinch. He'd at minimum be an upgrade over Royce Newman, and perhaps start over Sean Rhyan at guard.
The Packers have options at offensive tackle, but not as many on the interior. Risner could be an upgrade there.
