Three Biggest Needs for Green Bay Packers in 2024
The Green Bay Packers entered the 2023 season with an eye on 2024.
General manager Brian Gutekunst would never fully admit that, but essentially said as much in a press conference before the season began.
"The goal here is to win a championship," Gutekunst said.
"And sometimes you have to create room to get better. You can't get better without playing. It's not easy – growing pains are never easy – but if we're going to win a championship, we have to get better. We weren't good enough last year; we have to get better. And sometimes you have to create opportunities for that to happen."
There is no greater example of creating opportunities than the Packers leaning into a youth movement in the passing game.
Could they have used a veteran receiver? Sure.
A veteran tight end? Absolutely.
They didn't do those things because 2023 is about 2024.
In a similar vein, Pro Football Focus began looking at 2024 with a needs assessment for each team.
The premise is simple. What is the biggest need at this point for the team in question going into 2024.
They also matched a potential free agent and draft target at that position.
With that same premise, here's a look at the top three needs that have emerged for the Packers during their 2-3 start.
If the season were to end today, the Packers would be picking ninth.
1. Offensive Tackle
The David Bakhtiari injury was devastating for a litany of reasons. First and foremost, Bakhtiari's road to get to this point. By the time his final surgery is done, he'll have had a five surgeries trying to get past an injury that occurred on the final day of 2020.
Rasheed Walker has filled in admirably but is a former seventh-round pick. He's not going to be guaranteed anything. If there's anything we know, it's Gutekunst places a premium on the offensive line.
If Zach Tom is viewed as a tackle, it means Green Bay only needs to find one starter across from him. If they want to move Tom inside, they'll need two.
Draft Prospect: Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
Joe Alt is a mountain of a man, standing 6-foot-8 and 322 pounds. He has a physical background, playing at the University of Notre Dame.
That fits the description of the "big and intimidating offensive line" that Gutekunst stated he wanted to build when he selected center Josh Myers out of Ohio State two seasons ago.
Alt would be a plug-and-play starter at left tackle.
Free Agent: Jonah Williams, Cincinnati Bengals
Williams has been rock solid since coming to Cincinnati. He's played most of this season at right tackle to help protect Joe Burrow.
After mostly sitting out of free agency this past offseason, the Packers could be positioned to spend a little this year. With Williams' injury history, his asking price may not be as high as it normally would be. Signing Williams could allow them to move Tom to left tackle or center, depending how they feel about the rest of the offensive line.
2. Interior Offensive Line
Of the Packers' starters on the interior offensive line, only left guard Elgton Jenkins feels like a lock to be a starter in 2024.
Right guard Jon Runyan will be an unrestricted free agent. Myers has been underwhelming and could be replaced by Tom in 2024, depending how the offensive tackle situation shakes out. Gutekunst has said he believes his best position is center.
Either way, the entire offensive line looks like it could be undergoing an overhaul going into 2024.
Draft Prospect: Zak Zinter, OG, Michigan
One of the Packers' strategies along their offensive line is picking players who played offensive tackle before moving them inside.
They've had a lot of success with that model in the past, with Josh Sitton, T.J. Lang and Jenkins among the wildly successful converts.
That has left them lacking, however, in the run game. That is especially true recently.
Runyan has been good enough as a pass blocker but is not moving anyone with consistency in the run game. Ditto for Myers.
What the Packers' interior could use is a true enforcer.
Michigan's offensive line could be in line for a three-peat for the Joe Moore Award, which is given to the best offensive line in college football. Zinter has a mean streak and could give the Packers an edge they've been missing up front.
Elgton Jenkins will start next season, but who will be with him?
Photo by Mark Hoffman/USA Today Sports Images
Free Agent: Connor Williams, C/G, Miami Dolphins
Pro Football Focus mentioned Williams as a potential target in its article.
This pairing could be a match made in heaven. Williams has played guard and center. He's a veteran, which the Packers could be in the market for should they decide to move on from Runyan.
Williams is a run-blocking savant, which the Packers lack at center and right guard.
3. Wide Receiver
Yes, the Packers could use more receivers. All of the young guys have had various opportunities this year, and most of them have been underwhelming.
Christian Watson has been injured, a problem in 2022 that has carried over into 2023. Romeo Doubs has been the team's most reliable receiver but struggles to separate from defenders. Jayden Reed has had some nice moments, as well, but is a rookie.
The rest of their receivers were Day 3 picks.
The Packers could probably use one more guy to give Jordan Love, or whoever becomes the quarterback of the future, a full arsenal of weapons.
Draft Prospect: Keon Coleman, Florida State
Coleman is having a huge year after transferring from Michigan State to play for the Seminoles.
The above reception is one of the highlights of the college football season.
Coleman fits the Packers' size preferences, measuring in at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds before the season.
It will be interesting to see how he tests at the NFL Combine, but the play on the field is eye-popping.
Coleman is being mocked in the first round. The last time the Packers took a receiver in the first round, he was from Florida State, with Javon Walker in 2002. Perhaps they could go to that well again with Coleman.
Free Agent: Michael Pittman Jr.
Pittman was a popular name for the Packers during the 2020 draft cycle.
Instead, the Packers took Love.
Pittman is a big-bodied receiver that plays like one. The Packers are lacking that type of player with their current corps. His play style, in theory, meshes well with Watson, who the Packers are likely to build their passing game around. After catching 99 passes in 2022, he's on pace for 113 this season.
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