Packers' "youth movement" isn't really what it seems to be
Even with a 38-year-old Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, the Green Bay Packers were in NFL's top half when talking about the average age of 2022's roster. Per Spotrac, the Packers' roster averaged 26.13 years per player, which ranked 13th overall. As expected, 2023's roster is even younger now that Rodgers is gone. The Packers also […]
Even with a 38-year-old Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, the Green Bay Packers were in NFL's top half when talking about the average age of 2022's roster. Per Spotrac, the Packers' roster averaged 26.13 years per player, which ranked 13th overall.
As expected, 2023's roster is even younger now that Rodgers is gone. The Packers also have 13 draft picks and around 16 UDFAs in the mix. Therefore, the Packers currently have the NFL's second-youngest roster at 25.62 years per player.
It's the franchise's youngest roster since 2018 and it's easily the youngest roster since Matt LaFleur took over as head coach in 2019.
In fact, LaFleur can't remember another time when he was a part of such a young roster.
"Really not that I can remember," LaFleur told reporters earlier in the week. "But it's fun. It's exciting. There's talented guys. And, you know, it's our job to try to coach them."
He's not the only one the team who notices the depth of the youth, so to speak, either.
"College, I think. College [or] high school," star running back Aaron Jones said when he was asked to remember the last time he was on a team this young. "This is the youngest group that I've been a part of since being in the league. But like I said, I feel like we have all the pieces. Some of these young guys who were rookies last year stepped up and showed that they can play. So, we're just we're just here, ready to play getting ready and you know, gonna make the most of every opportunity. I think we're gonna surprise a lot of people."
Sure, the Packers are a very young team, but it's not your typical NFL youth. Jordan Love, while he doesn't have much playing time on his résumé, has been in LaFleur's system his entire career and he got to learn from Rodgers, a future Hall of Famer. Love has also led all offseason workouts except mandatory minicamp and training camp since he came into the league because Rodgers never showed up for offseason activities unless he had to.
Six of the eight picks from the 2022 draft class also received significant playing time. The sextet of Quay Walker, Devonte Wyatt, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Zach Tom, and Kingsley Enagbare all played 224 snaps or more, which obviously helps speed up the learning curve. All of them flashed the ability to provide quality snaps on several ocassions, as well. It wasn't like they were just bodies filling in for a certain circumstance.
Add in the fact the Packers have good, experienced veterans at key positions like left tackle, running back, defensive tackle, EDGE, inside linebacker, and corner and it's easy to see why this isn't your typical "youth movement".
Still, though, even the rookies are fully aware of how young this team is. It's nothing they're even remotely concerned with, however. They're here to compete and to help the Packers continue their winning ways. Not including last season, of course.
"It's just like coming into college. We all have the same goal and we want to work together and grow together," rookie wideout Dontayvion Wicks told reporters. "… It's not normal going in so young, I know it's normal in the league to have so many young guys that you're counting on.
"But we are ready to step up."
