Green Bay Packers: Don’t expect major impact from rookies in 2020
By Joe Kipp
The Green Bay Packers rookies will likely have a minimal impact in 2020.
The Green Bay Packers may not be able to rely on their incoming rookie class to be key contributors in 2020, a group that consists of nine draft picks and 15 undrafted free agents.
For starters, a lack of cohesion is to be expected. Typically, rookies attend a three-day minicamp at the beginning of May, followed by a mandatory team minicamp in June. Neither of those events were permitted to take place due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
In the meantime, players have been permitted to engage with teammates and coaches virtually. Learning the playbook can easily be accomplished virtually, but there’s something to be said about forming relationships and being together as a team.
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Training camp is scheduled to begin on July 28, with rookies set to report one week earlier on July 21 — the first time rookies will have been with each of their teammates and coaches in person. Additionally, the NFL has already eliminated two of the Packers’ four preseason games, and it looks increasingly likely that the entire preseason could be eliminated.
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No preseason means less experience for rookies in a game-like setting. It also means undrafted free agents will lose the chance to shine and earn a roster spot. The Packers will have to do some serious self-scouting to realize which players are most worthy of a final roster spot in September.
The players themselves could limit the Green Bay Packers rookie impact.
Then there’s the fact that many of Green Bay’s rookies were drafted — at least, perceivably — to be depth pieces. Every player drafted has a presumed starter ahead of him. Add in the fact that the Packers’ rookie class is already behind in terms of a typical NFL offseason, there could be a steep learning curve for many of Green Bay’s first-year players.
The Packers spent their first-round pick this past April on quarterback Jordan Love, who figures to be Aaron Rodgers‘ replacement in the near future. Obviously, Love won’t have an immediate impact in 2020 (barring injury to Rodgers), so he can also be safely scratched off the list of rookies who could be early contributors.
Perhaps the player with the greatest chance of having an early impact is running back A.J. Dillon. Drafted in the second round, Dillon (6-0, 247 pounds) is a bulldozing runner who figures to spell starter Aaron Jones and backup Jamaal Williams. It wouldn’t be too surprising to see Dillon take on a heavier role in the back half of the season.
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None of this is to say the Packers didn’t draft players who could be potential contributors in the future. Rather, it’s reasonable to believe that it’s highly unlikely Green Bay’s rookies will have a major impact in 2020 due to a variety of factors.