Green Bay Packers: Forget playoffs, time to prepare for offseason

The Green Bay Packers have been eliminated from playoff contention in 2018. It’s time to start preparing for the offseason.

The Green Bay Packers‘ 2018 season may as well be over after being eliminated from playoff contention on Sunday in Week 15. The Packers lost 24-17 to the Chicago Bears, falling to a 5-8-1 record, which sees them with back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 1990-91.

Green Bay will be missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season, as well, a feat many fans, analysts, and players themselves likely weren’t expecting at the beginning of the year. In fact, the Packers were picked to win the Super Bowl by many, including four of seven CBS Sports NFL analysts.

Now, the Packers await their fate in determining their draft positioning, the only thing giving fans any sort of hope for the future.

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Green Bay currently holds the 11th, 32nd (New Orleans Saints’ first-round pick) and 43rd overall selections in the top 50 selections of the 2019 NFL Draft. The Packers are all but guaranteed three picks in the top 50 by the end of the season. So what and who should they be targeting this offseason.

For starters, general manager Brian Gutekunst has shown a willingness to be aggressive in free agency, and the Packers are scheduled to have roughly $40 million in cap space to start 2019, according to Spotrac.

Each of Randall Cobb and Clay Matthews have expiring contracts after the 2018 season. Candidates to be released include Nick Perry (post-June 1), Mason Crosby, Jason Spriggs and Bryan Bulaga, all of whom have minimal dead cap ramifications. When it’s all said and done, the Packers could have well over $50 million to play with.

Based on what we saw in 2018, it became pretty clear that Green Bay needs a consistent edge defender and ball hawk safety on the back end. On offense, right guard and right tackle will likely be up for grabs. A veteran wide receiver could go a long way, as well.

Intriguing free agents include Earl Thomas, Landon Collins, Jadeveon Clowney, Frank Clark and Demarcus Lawrence. Additionally, other less-flashy names include right tackle Daryl Williams, safety Lamarcus Joyner, and pass rushers like Shane Ray and Za’Darius Smith.

It won’t be surprising to see the Packers target marquee free agents, but the mini-rebuild won’t be complete without a stellar draft. It is absolutely critical that Gutekunst and the front office hit on multiple picks in the upcoming 2019 draft. If they do, we could see a turn-around similar to the Saints in 2017.

Some names to watch in the first couple of rounds include Florida’s Jachai Polite, Florida State’s Brian Burns, Clemson’s Clelin Ferrell, and Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat, all of whom are considered to be elite pass rushers. Anyone after that is a complete guessing game (assuming Green Bay elects to go with an edge rusher with their first pick).

The 2019 offseason will be one of the most important offseasons in recent memory. Aaron Rodgers exits the 2018 season at 35 years-old, the Packers will hire a new coach, and arguably one-third of the roster needs a complete rebuild. All hope isn’t lost, but to return to the playoffs next season, Green Bay needs to make smart moves this offseason.