Green Bay Packers: 3 Early breakout candidates for 2019 season

The Green Bay Packers hope to find their way back into the playoffs in 2019 and these three players breaking out would help pave the road.

Much has been made of the fact that the Green Bay Packers have missed out on the postseason in each of the past two years, the first time that’s happened in consecutive seasons since 2005-06. However, the more telling state of affairs is that these past two years have been the first time Green Bay has finished with back-to-back sub-.500 records since 1990-91.

There’s no debate that the Aaron Rodgers injury completely derailed the 2017 season for the Packers. However, there’s also no question that the ancillary parts in Green Bay — particularly on defense — have not given Rodgers or his backups slotted in to replace him much help at all over the past two seasons.

General manager Brian Gutekunst clearly has noticed this, as has ownership, bringing in big-time changes to this team entering the 2019 NFL season. Mike McCarthy is officially gone as head coach and Matt LaFleur now takes the reins. Moreover, the team was aggressive in free agency in the draft, particularly on defense, adding Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith and Adrian Amos to hefty free-agent contracts and using first-round picks on Rashan Gary and Darnell Savage.

With these improvements, a fresh mind running the show from the sidelines and a healthy Rodgers, the hope is that the Packers can get above .500 comfortably and find their way into the playoffs. To make that, happen, though, the team not only needs to stay healthy but they also need key players to step up and contribute above where they have.

Looking at needs, opportunities and the players on the Green Bay Packers roster, these three players stand out as potential breakout candidates for this group in the 2019 season. We start on the defensive side of the ball.