Green Bay Packers: Ranking biggest team needs in 2019 NFL Draft
By Joe Kipp
3. Inside Linebacker
Don’t get it twisted, Blake Martinez is a solid player. But the Packers need more than just solid, and with Martinez entering a contract year, Green Bay will have a tough decision to make next offseason. Depending on how he performs next season, Martinez could price himself out of Green Bay.
That leaves Oren Burks and James Crawford as the only two players behind Martinez currently on the roster. Burks had a disappointing campaign in 2018, while Crawford was exclusively a special teams contributor. Both were rookies last season. Meanwhile, the Packers elected to let Jake Ryan sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason after missing 2018 with a torn ACL.
Even if Green Bay does elect to re-sign Martinez in the future, the depth behind him is less than ideal. Targeting a potential replacement should be high on the list of draft needs this April. Unfortunately, this year’s draft class is barren with linebacker talent outside of the top prospects.
The two biggest headliners, Michigan’s Devin Bush and LSU’s Devin White, both figure to go in the first half of the first round. If Green Bay wants to grab an inside linebacker, they may have to use the 12th overall pick. Other potential suitors in Rounds 2-3 include Mack Wilson, Germaine Pratt, David Long and Te’Von Coney.