How many people would have predicted the Packers to win 13 games in 2021 while missing stars Jaire Alexander, Za'Darius Smith and David Bakhtiari for virtually the entire season?
And, crazy to think, those vacancies were just the tip of the iceberg for the Packers' health problems in 2021. They overshadow long stretches of games played without TE Robert Tonyan, C Josh Myers, OL Elgton Jenkins, WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling and OL Billy Turner last season.
The Packers' phenomenal roster depth - paired with a "next man up" attitude - vaulted them into the NFC's 1-seed for what should have been a Super Bowl run. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call the 2021 Packers one of their most talent-rich teams in franchise history.
But, after a busy offseason, Green Bay is poised to head into the 2022 season without 2021 starters Smith, Turner, Valdes-Scantling, Davante Adams and Lucas Patrick, along with injury-induced absences from Tonyan and Jenkins that will extend deep into the regular season.
So now, it's on a class of youth to supply what used to be bountiful depth on the roster. While the Packers' roster still remains one of the most versatile in the league (consider the fact that three of their five starting O-lineman can play anywhere on the line), they head into 2022 razor thin at several positions.
This begins with the defensive front seven.
One injury to NT Kenny Clark and it could be a disaster for the defensive front three, on which Joe Barry's defense relies so heavily for pass rush. While the Packers added talented Georgia DT Devonte Wyatt in the first round of April's draft, their D-line has suspect talent after Clark. Not helping matters in that same respect is the loss of Smith on the EDGE, which puts heightened pressure on starters Rashan Gary and Preston Smith to stay healthy.
In the secondary, the Packers have decorated names at all four starting positions - plus a capable third cornerback in Rasul Douglas - but reliably is quickly lost after that. With safety Henry Black departing to New York this spring, the Packers have few proven options at DB behind the every-down players. They'll look to second-year corner Shermar Jean-Charles to fill the avoid in the slot and a mash of street free agents to supply depth behind Darnell Savage and Adrian Amos at safety.
Shifting to the offensive side of the ball, a lot of attention has been given to a sudden talent gap at wide receiver. However, it's tight end where they could feel real pain if the platoon of Marcedes Lewis and Josiah Deguara can't get the job done. Until Tonyan returns some time early to mid season, the Packers effectively have no true tight end on the roster, other than the inexperienced Tyler Davis, which could come back to bite them when facing physical defenses like Tampa Bay.
The Green Bay front office rarely gambles when it comes to entering a full season deeply vulnerable at certain positions (one such anomaly is the Allen Barbre experiment at right tackle in 2009). If training camp reveals legitimate exposure in certain areas of the roster, there are usually plenty of veteran free agents available to fill a hole, just as the addition of Dennis Kelly accomplished last year.
The Packers found a way to win games without some of their biggest stars last year. Should the same thing happen this year, the results on gameday may be much less certain.
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