Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round of the 2021 NFL Playoffs. The Packers would be fortunate to make it that far in the upcoming 2022 season.
The Green Bay Packers had a tumultuous offseason, to say the least. Coming off a disappointing early exit in the 2021 playoffs to the 49ers (again), the Packers lost several key players in free agency that they had to work to replace.
Two leaders of their team, wide receiver Davante Adams and outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith, left Green Bay for the Raiders and Vikings respectfully but left gaping holes on both sides of the ball.
The Packers addressed the defensive issues in the draft and free agency but the offense is a different story after losing one of the best receivers in the league in Adams.
The Packers were expected to sign a top wide receiver prospect either in free agency or by trading up in the draft. They did neither.
The Packers essentially replaced Davante Adams, one of the most accomplished receivers in team history, with rookie Christian Watson from North Dakota State and free agent receiver Sammy Watkins from Baltimore.
While the Green Bay Packers remained stagnant, several NFC North rivals have been building their offensive arsenal with the Lions drafting Alabama receiver Jameson Williams and the Vikings are already set with a dangerous duo in Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson.
It should be noted that Jefferson was a receiver Rodgers favored in the 2020 NFL Draft and apparently Rodgers was also high on Arkansas receiver Treylon Burks in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Burks was drafted at pick #18 by the Tennessee Titans while the Packers remained stagnant at pick #22 and went with linebacker Quay Walker.
The bottom line is the Packers have one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time in Aaron Rodgers and they did not do an adequate job of stacking his offensive weapons in the offseason.
During the 2021 Divisional Round loss to the 49ers, there was a myriad of issues that contributed to the loss but the glaring one was a lack of separation from Rodgers receivers.
The offense could not put points on the board, and while the 49ers couldn’t either, the Packers’ offense should have produced more.
Davante Adams and running back Aaron Jones were the receiving leaders that game with 90 and 129 yards respectively, but with zero touchdowns. The next leading receiver was Allen Lazard with 6 yards. SIX.
So remove Davante Adams from the conversation and you have Rodgers having to rely on Lazard without Adams and now Marquez Valdez-Scantling has also left the team.
Will rookie Christian Watson and Sammy Watkins (who started in 9 games in 2021 for less than 400 receiving yards) fill the void? No. They won’t.
Rodgers needs a high-powered offense and replacing Davante Adams with a raw developmental rookie receiver and an injury-prone (11 missed games since 2020) veteran receiver will not foot the bill. Others within the NFL community feel similarly.
"I don't think [the Packers] are any closer to winning the Super Bowl than I did when you started this draft!"
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) May 2, 2022
—@danorlovsky7 pic.twitter.com/3ttYxANMek
The Green Bay Packers did hit on some defensive talent in the draft however the defense was not the primary area of concern when the big moments came for the Packers, it was the offense (and special teams).
Points on the board could have negated many of the errors made by the special teams unit however it does not appear the Packers have done enough in the off season to change that.
The Packers may be building up the defense and slowly adding pieces to a now struggling offensive unit but it will not be fixed in time for the upcoming season.
The Green Bay faithful can fight it all they want but Aaron Rodgers will not be playing in the Super Bowl in 2022 and the blame rests on the front office.