Graphic reveals exactly why the Packers are on the verge of a special era for the franchise
The Green Bay Packers are good, third in DVOA for the season and first since Week 11. But more than that, they are young. ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell shared a graphic of snap-weighted age through the first 16 weeks of the season, and the Packers are by far the youngest team in the NFL. Green […]
The Green Bay Packers are good, third in DVOA for the season and first since Week 11. But more than that, they are young. ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell shared a graphic of snap-weighted age through the first 16 weeks of the season, and the Packers are by far the youngest team in the NFL.
Green Bay has the youngest offense and the second youngest defense in football, with the youngest average for the entire roster based on the snaps played. The difference between the Packers and the New York Giants, the second youngest team, is as big as the difference between the Giants and the Houston Texans and Denver Broncos, who are 21st and 22nd on the list.
The Packers have 25.7 years of age on average on the roster. In comparison, the other teams in the division are clearly much older. Despite a so-called competitive rebuild, the Minnesota Vikings are the oldest team in football (28.3), and the Detroit Lions are 12th on the list (27.2). The Chicago Bears are 19th (27.0).
How they've done it
The Packers have created a scenario where the volume of picks is impressive, and that's what allowed the roster to be young and good at the same time. Since 2020, the Packers have drafted 53 players, an average of 10.6 players per year. The ability to accumulate picks is the big reason why the Packers have been so strong in terms of depth.
There have been mistakes, obviously, but when you have so many chances with a good scouting department, good things will inevitably happen.
That quality is especially evident in the seventh round. Green Bay has acquired good contributors so late, like left tackle Rasheed Walker and cornerback Carrington Valentine.
The plan included trading some expendable players for late-round draft picks and multiple trades down during drafts. In the second round of last year, for example, general manager Brian Gutekunst traded down twice, from 45 to 50, still getting Jayden Reed, and the extra picks allowed him to select fellow wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks and defensive tackle Karl Brooks.
Eventually, those draft picks will be finishing out their rookie contracts and the Packers will have to make tough decisions. That's why it's important to keep drafting at a high volume. For now, though, the future seems bright, and the new Super Bowl window is just getting open.