With rookie minicamps starting around the league, the Green Bay Packers are flipping the page from the offseason to making preparations for the 2017 season. As such, it's time to take a look back and see how the Packers did this offseason. Here's a review of every move Green Bay made from free agency to the draft, and how Chat Sports grades those moves:
Free Agency: F
Key Additions/Re-Signings:
TE Martellus Bennett, TE Lance Kendricks, CB Davon House, DT Ricky Jean Francois
Key Losses/Cuts:
OL T.J. Lang (Lions), RB Eddie Lacy (Seahawks), TE Jared Cook (Raiders), S Micah Hyde (Bills), OLB/DE Julius Peppers (Panthers)
Bennett was the first true unrestricted free agent that the Packers signed since 2012, and he's definitely an upgrade at the tight end position. Kendricks also gives them another pass catcher at the position and the ability to run some two tight end sets. House was signed after being cut the Jaguars, and he won't provide the Packers with anymore more than depth. Ricky Jean Francois will help against the run, but he's not a gamechanger, either.
As for their loss, all of them hurt. The Packers have no obvious choice to replace Lang. Lacy was the team's starting running back is being replaced by a stable of young running backs. Same goes for Hyde. And Peppers, while he is getting older, did finish second on the team in sacks last year.
Adding Bennett was a major plus and will give Aaron Rodgers another dangerous threat in the passing game. But you absolutely can not lose that many starters and not have players ready to replace them. They will likely be counting on rookies and unproven players to fill major roles - not exactly ideal.
NFL Draft: B-
Kevin King, CB, Washington (Rd. 2, Pick 33)
Josh Jones, S, NC State (Rd. 2, Pick 61)
Montravius Adams, DT, Auburn (Rd. 3, Pick 93)
Vince Biegel, LB, Wisconsin (Rd. 4, Pick 108)
Jamaal Williams, RB, BYU (Rd. 4, Pick 134)
DeAngelo Yancey, WR, Purdue (Rd. 5, Pick 175)
Aaron Jones, RB, UTEP (Rd. 5, Pick 182)
Kofi Amichia, OT, USF (Rd. 6, Pick 212)
Devante Mays, RB (Utah State) (Rd, 7, Pick 238)
Malachi Dupre, WR (LSU) (Rd. 7, Pick 247)
Neither King or Jones were slam dunk picks, but they fit the mold the Packers tend to like and it was the right range for them. Adams is a high-upside pick, Biegel should be a good fit in Green Bay and they got great value with Jamaal Williams. However, after the fourth round, the Packers got a little weird. Amichia probably won't make the roster and ended up with three running backs. Malachi Dupre was a nice pick and I think he'll actually contribute right away. There's nothing to really hate about this draft, but also nothing to fall in love with. It's just a solid draft.
Complete Offseason Grade: C-
Instead of getting better and trying to strengthen the roster for a Super Bowl push, Green Bay let a lot of quality players walk when spending the money to re-sign them would have been a much better option. That said, I'm intrigued by what the Aaron Rodgers-Martellus Bennett combination will look like. The Packers also chose to address their secondary needs in the draft instead of via free agency, so King and Jones will likely be the final factor in determining how successful this offseason was.
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