GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Green Bay Packers open their 2021 training camp Wednesday at team headquarters in Green Bay. Here’s a close look at a few storylines:
Now that it appears Aaron Rodgers will be back for at least one more year, how successful would a last-dance season be?
That all depends on how Rodgers is received. Surely, coach Matt LaFleur and his offensive staff, who were put in the unenviable position of trying to develop Jordan Love while hoping for a Rodgers return, will be thrilled. But what about the players? Will there be any locker-room backlash from other players who might feel like Rodgers has put himself above the team? And given Rodgers’ read-between-the-lines comments this offseason, it became fairly clear his beef was with upper management. So what happens when Rodgers passes general manager Brian Gutekunst in the hallway or bumps into team president Mark Murphy while boarding the team charter for a road game? At best, it’s an awkward situation. At worst, it creates an uneasiness throughout the team. If all of that can be blocked out, then there’s no reason to think the Packers can’t make one more run at it with Rodgers.
Will this year’s draft class contribute more than last year’s?
It would be difficult to make less of a contribution than last year’s class. Krys Barnes, an undrafted linebacker, played the most snaps (506) of any Packers rookie in 2020. Only three draft picks played more than 100 snaps, including playoffs: fourth-round linebacker Kamal Martin (208), sixth-round guard Jon Runyan (160) and second-round running back AJ Dillon (122). At least four draft picks from this year’s class look like significant 2021 contributors: first-round pick Eric Stokes could edge out Kevin King to start at cornerback; second-round center Josh Myers looks like an immediate replacement for Corey Linsley; third-rounder Amari Rodgers appears to be the slot receiver/kick returner they’ve been missing; and fourth-round tackle Royce Newman could fill in on the line until David Bakhtiari is ready to return from his torn ACL.
Is the third time the charm after two straight NFC title games in LaFleur’s first two years?
It’s one of the reasons LaFleur moved on from defensive coordinator Mike Pettine and special teams coordinator Shawn Mennenga. How many teams coming off back-to-back 13-3 seasons that ended a game short of the Super Bowl change two of their three coordinators? If Joe Barry (defense) and Maurice Drayton (special teams) can stabilize those units and if Rodgers returns and smooths things over, then this could be their year. Also, general manager Brian Gutekunst worked the salary cap in such a way that he’s loaded up for one more run with this group before he might have to dismantle significant parts of the roster in 2022.