Three position battles that will define the Packers' training camp in 2024
The Green Bay Packers' training camp is getting closer. While most of the attention has been paid to Jordan Love's contract situation, the roster itself has several interesting projections for the next two months. There will be many battles for snaps and roles, but three of them are particularly interesting because they are for real […]
The Green Bay Packers' training camp is getting closer. While most of the attention has been paid to Jordan Love's contract situation, the roster itself has several interesting projections for the next two months.
There will be many battles for snaps and roles, but three of them are particularly interesting because they are for real starting jobs. Let's dive into them, and why they are important for the 2024 season.
Offensive line
The Packers are pretty much set at three offensive line spots. Left tackle Rasheed Walker was second in pass block win rate in 2023, only behind Trent Williams, right tackle Zach Tom is the most valuable piece of the unit, and Elgton Jenkins is a high-level, versatile piece.
That leaves two spots open for three players to battle. Right now, the projected starters are center Josh Myers and right guard Sean Rhyan, but that can change with a strong camp from rookie first-rounder Jordan Morgan.
More than the player himself, it will be intriguing to see how the Packers build their best five. It could be a simple change, replacing Rhyan with Morgan. But it can be a more significant sequence, moving Jenkins to center and putting Morgan at left guard, with Myers going to the bench.
But after all, it will be an important moment for Morgan to prove he can be an immediate starter over what the Packers already have as a projection — and if he shows the potential to be a long-term option at tackle.
Second starting safety
During OTAs, the starting duo had Xavier McKinney at strong safety and second-year player Anthony Johnson Jr. deep as a free safety.
However, the Packers drafted three players at the position — Javon Bullard, Evan Williams, and Kitan Oladapo. They are all going to fight for reps and roles. Bullard and Williams can also play in the slot, while Oladapo is a dime linebacker type of player as well.
More than any individual performance, there will also be questions about how new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley will deploy his safeties.
Based on what he showed at Boston College, it will be a single high-heavy defense. On the other hand, Robert Saleh with the New York Jets and the San Francisco 49ers evolved their schemes from the same coaching tree, betting on quarters coverages more frequently to adapt to the style of offense that Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVay, and even Matt LaFleur run.
Kicker
The kicking battle will be an unusual three-headed competition. The favorite to win the job is incumbent Anders Carlson, a sixth-round pick last year who struggled as a rookie. Those struggles opened the door for general manager Brian Gutekunst to look for other options.
He signed Jack Podlesny, who has already been cut, and tried to add UFL star Jake Bates. Now, the roster has veteran Greg Joseph, who started the last three seasons for the Minnesota Vikings, and undrafted rookie James Turner, who had a strong offseason program with the Detroit Lions and ended up cut just because they signed Bates.
The young players offer a cheaper contract situation and higher upside, so they will certainly have a tie-breaker going into training camp. However, Joseph's experience in the NFL is a plus, and the Packers have indicated the veteran has a real shot to make the team as well.
Packers capitalize on NFC North rival’s mistake
Green Bay claimed kicker the Lions had waived
