The Packers, and Brian Gutekunst, took a massive swing last summer to improve the defense by prying All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons in a blockbuster trade with the Cowboys that sent Dallas two first-round picks in the NFL Draft.
While Parsons’ impact was unmistakable through two-thirds of last season, as was his absence after tearing his ACL against the Denver Broncos back in December, new coordinator Jonathan Gannon and the Packers’ defense could use an infusion of playmaking difference makers if Green Bay is going to close the gap on the Chicago bears in the NFC North or make a legitimate Super Bowl charge.
Could Packers prioritize the defense in the NFL Draft?
Over at AtoZ Sports, analyst Wendell Ferreira predicts that the Packers will make adding defensive talent, especially in the secondary, a top priority.
“With a new coordinator in Jonathan Gannon,” Ferreira writes for AtoZ. “The Packers need more high-end talent on the defense — and there’s a reasonable argument to add players to almost every defensive position, outside of safety. Cornerback, defensive tackle, and edge defender are particularly pressing needs, and it’s much harder to find prospects with a high upside at these positions later in the process.”
Gutekunst and Green Bay may focus on taking the best player available, when the Packers finally go on the clock with the No. 52 overall selection, but that decision could be skewed heavily to the defensive side of the ball, especially given the need for help in the secondary and how last season ended.