Packers’ defensive line competition heats up as surprising depth emerges from perceived weakness
Head coach Matt LaFleur admitted that the battles along the defensive front have been impressive in training camp and preseason.
The Green Bay Packers entered the offseason with their interior defensive line perceived as a roster weakness. Over the past two years, the Packers traded away Kenny Clark and Colby Wooden while also losing T.J. Slaton in free agency last year. That left a gap that general manager Brian Gutekunst needed to address. The front office responded by signing veteran Javon Hargrave in free agency, but the real story of the preseason has been the young players stepping up and creating legitimate competition for roster spots along the defensive interior.
Preseason performance stands out
Green Bay’s 33-13 win over the Denver Broncos on Friday night showcased the depth pieces competing for jobs. Anthony Campbell led the way with three pressures and a sack, while Jonathan Ford also generated three pressures. Third-round rookie Chris McClellan and Jaden Crumedy each added one pressure of their own.
The run defense was equally encouraging. Campbell graded out as the best run defender at 71.6, Ford posted a 65.1 grade, and McClellan recorded three stops. Even head coach Matt LaFleur looks surprised by the outcome of the roster battles.
“It’s a heck of a competition there in that room, not only to make the roster but also to earn snaps during the regular season,” LaFleur said. “I think that’s one of our deepest spots right now, and those guys are playing really hard and physical.”
Run defense particularly matters in Gannon’s scheme
The Packers need this kind of production because the defensive line became a problem last season, particularly after Devonte Wyatt suffered an ankle injury. Green Bay already has players like Wyatt, Karl Brooks, and Hargrave who profile as interior pass rushers but struggle against the run. The fact that Campbell and McClellan are proving capable in run defense carries extra significance.
New defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon runs a structure that asks the interior linemen to handle run-game responsibilities so the scheme can free up edge defenders, off-ball linebackers, and even defensive backs to generate pressure against the passer. If the defensive tackles can disrupt at the line of scrimmage while also holding up against the run, that combination would be massive for a defense that desperately needs the talent infusion.
Roster math gets complicated
The big question now is how many defensive linemen the Packers will keep on the 53-man roster. Hargrave, Wyatt, and McClellan are roster locks. Karl Brooks is probably close to a lock as well. After that, Ford, Warren Brinson, Campbell, and Nazir Stackhouse are all fighting for what could be one or two remaining spots.
The final preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals on Friday and the joint practice expected on Wednesday will give the coaching staff a final look at the group. For a position that looked thin on paper entering the offseason, the Packers’ interior defensive line has quietly become one of the more compelling competitions on the roster.
