Green Bay Packers: Top 5 Breakout candidates for 2020 season

By Joe Kipp | Jun 13, 2020

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 19: Aaron Rodgers #12 and Jace Sternberger #87 of the Green Bay Packers celebrate after a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in the second half of the NFC Championship game at Levi's Stadium on January 19, 2020 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

4 of 6

Green Bay Packers, Kingsley Keke (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

3. Kingsley Keke, DT

The Packers run defense was atrocious in 2019, highlighted by their performance against the 49ers in the NFC Championship. The Packers allowed an average of 128.7 rushing yards per game last season, good for 26th in the entire league. A huge reason for Green Bay’s struggles against the run was due to the lack of depth along the defensive line.

Enter Kingsley Keke, who was a fifth-round rookie last season. Keke played just 94 defensive snaps in 14 appearances, but he showed plenty of promise in his limited action. He finished with just 10 total tackles (three solo) but never played more than 15 snaps in any single game.

Don’t let the stats (or lack thereof) fool you, though. Keke was productive down the stretch last season. He was more effective against the run than rushing the passer, which is something the Packers need help at anyways, but his upside is limitless.

The Packers’ coaching staff appears excited about Keke’s potential as a rotational defensive lineman, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him take on a more prominent role in 2020. If Green Bay’s run defense wants to be better this coming season, Keke will need to take a Year 2 leap.

Home/Green Bay Packers