Boat is Rocking at Green Bay
It is extremely rare to see an NFL consensus on a single topic or player. However, most the experts agree this year’s NFL Draft seemed like a general success for most teams, an average performance to some and disappointment to a few. And then there is Green Bay Packers.
After reaching the NFC championship last season and putting up a decent fight against Super Bowl runner-ups San Francisco 49ers, being banged up for most of the season, Packers seemed like a true contender with Aaron Rodgers at helm and a couple of must-have offseason additions on their radar and sights. Packer fans were hoping this year’s draft would land them one of the top NFL picks, and Aaron Rodgers even publicly stated he hoped the Packers would draft a skill position in the 1st round for the first time in 15 years. However, the draft seemed to bring only more misery to the unprotected and weaponless Rodgers, who still has a couple of top-years in him and would most likely be able to carry the team to Super Bowl contest – but not for long.
While there seems to be some logic in Packers moves in the offseason and the draft, the timing is just wrong. Moving up in the draft to pick unquestionably talented but extremely high-risk quarterback Jordan Love out of Utah State was an intentional slap on Aaron Rodgers face. The quarterback had more or less single handedly allowed Green Bay to stay competitive with limited arsenal of offensive weapons and rather questionable defense. The defense has now gotten stronger, but the offensive options for a passing QB are getting thinner and thinner. In the 2020 draft there was a plethora of available receivers, certain performers on the NFL stage, if not superstars in the making – but Green Bay passed every single one of them. Nine picks, no wide receivers, in a draft class described as one of the best of all-time for wideouts.
The logic? Turning the team into run-first, defensive team and chasing Rodgers out? In any case, it looks like the team has no faith in repeating their last season’s heroics, for whatever reason. For a small market team such as Packers, it is understandable to look a bit further into the future, but squandering Rodgers’ final years seems like too much of a waste even then. While the Packers seem to be looking out for their future success this year’s draft haul is not going to help Green Bay and Aaron Rodgers cover any point spreads this upcoming season.
On the second round GB picked a crushing running back A.J.Dillon on 62nd, a solid power runner complimenting Aaron Jones nicely. On the third round they did answer the need for receiver – partly. Picking up a fullback-tight end Josiah Degura in top 100 raised some eyebrows (like mostly everything Packers did at the draft), but considering the problems in that position, it’s likely that Degura will slot right in. If it’s an upgrade or not, remains to be seen. Packers did add some depth to their offensive line in the later rounds and got intriguing edge rusher Jonathan Garvin as their last pick – but it’s too little too late and nothing was done to help Aaron Rodgers, making the draft an utter failure by the Packers.
Keep your eye on the Packers NFL over under win total for the upcoming season. This could be an easy win for bettors if the line is advantageous. The Packers front office made little to none “win now moves” in the offseason and they could run into big issues during the season. If you are going to try and take advantage betting on the Packers future wins take a look at these sportsbook promos so you can place your bet with free money.
