I won't be surprised.
But they should.
I'd draft at least 2.
Will they- No
But they should.

Salary cap. Patrick Queen likely isn't going anywhere but his asking price will be too high.

I've fallen out of love with free agency. When a team bombs on a rookie it's relatively inexpensive. When a team bombs on a free agent you have a much tougher scenario.

Just because a player excelled in one defensive system does not mean that player will excel in another. A couple of young players from the draft will be much better long term. A trade is a possibility. I would dangle Christian Watson in exchange for a young safety or linebacker.

Need those guys and a couple more. Can't play hurt and still try to protect the middle of the field. Maybe they can get some overlap with some of the outside LBs, but I don't know which ones or if there's even one on the roster.

All I know for sure is, that I hope with the new DC, guys like P. Smith aren't covering guys like Jefferson anymore.

Yup, there isn't enough to warrant giving up on Walker and Campbell. Both showed they have enough talent. If you are correct, that diagnostics is their weakness, then coaches make their money by working with each player's strength, and shoring up weaknesses. That either coach that skill up, or they bring in a 3rd LB that serves the role of field general. The team (and fans) already conceded that Barry was the prime culprit of poor defensive performance, so once that decision to bring in a coaching coach, let him work with your existing talent and give it a shot. As Gute seems to do, he doubles down on a position: draft at least one LB in the top 3 rounds, and bring in a modest price FA if they are very good at diagnosis; bring back Blake Martinez for example to organize Campbell and Walker.

I suppose the linebackers were one of the worst performing positions on the team, but kind of like the safeties, they weren't horrible. Let's remember that this defense played pretty darn well in the last four games, including in the playoffs against two high-powered offenses. I actually thought Campbell played well at the end of the season, though he may not be worth bringing back because of age and injury risk. Walker might do better in a new scheme, and McDuffie could be a pretty good starter. So if the base defense is 4-3, they probably need at least one more quality linebacker just to fill the other starting position, and at least one more solid backup or developmental player. None of the OLBs project as 4-3 linebackers, so there's no help there.

It's hard to tell what this is going to look like with the new DC. There will probably be at least one new linebacker (by free agency or the draft) and maybe two. But I agree with the author that we won't see an overhaul of the position.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Packers invest a day two pick and a day three pick on linebackers. Campbell is getting older and the player group is a bit thin, so reinforcements should be coming soon. That said, I expect the first game starters to be Walker and Campbell.

Despite Barry's shortcomings as a DC, he is supposedly a pretty good linebacker's coach. Which makes Walker's limited diagnostic skills a bit concerning. He should have progressed more rapidly with good coaching. We will see what season three brings.

Hopefully the light comes on for Walker in 2024. I'm STOKED about this new Defensive Coaching staff the Packers are putting together and I think some of the changes to coaches who stayed and then some of the new hires, will make BIG differences in not just Walkers progress but Wyatt and others too.

They have 5 picks in the 1st 100. I think you have to address the LB position, CB, and Safety for sure, depending what they do in FA. Hopefully they can add a Safety in FA and then use one of their first three picks to draft one too.

I can't wait until the combine, draft, free agency, AND September of 2024.

GPG!

Campbell remains a savvy vet; he looked physically slow after his injuries, but I think Walker played better when Campbell was paired with him. IF he is mended AND not a distraction in the locker room AND he doesn't demand too much $, then I think they should re-sign Campbell.

It will be Walker's third year; that's usually a big one for LB improvement (or NOT).

I've picked ILB Payton Wilson at 88 in most of my mock drafts, but he could easily go before that. I've also taken S/LB James Williams at that slot when Wilson is gone, because those are the two dynamic athletes that I think fit best in this new defense. Williams played safety at Miami, and at 6'5" 215 ran a 4.45 40, but he has been putting on weight to switch to LB in the pros. I think he has some poor-man's Brian Urlacher to him; Urlacher played rover safety/LB in college as well.

Grading the ILBs based on playing in Joe Barry's off ball prevent (the win D where they are in zone most of the time covering 4.4 WRs) is like grading the 101st Airborne on its performance based on the first week of the Battle of the Bulge.

Hafley's 4-3 will finally deploy Walker's tremendous athleticism the way he was used at Georgia. He was deployed all over the front and was a frequent blitzer.

Interestingly, when Barry made a rare blitz call for Walker...he was effective. He has great speed and strength.

I also see McDuffie getting more playing time with Hafley, who was coached by him at BC and played well.

Packers will need a few more actual backers like Walker and McDuffie...guys who can attack the ball vs waiting for it to come to them.

Campbell might play better next season with health and the new system too...but he is at the age where LBs decline quickly.

I see two LBs selected in the draft. Going to need more numbers because the OLB/edge guys will be in the DL room as DEs.

The team knows how significant Campbell’s health issues were and will have an idea of if they were misfortune or likely to recur. That assessment will drive whether he’s a part of the plan or a source of cap. In turn that will drive draft priorities at the position.

We should in any case be looking to add potential behind, especially if the scheme does in fact require more off the ball types. How early we do that will depend on who falls but also on how the team view Campbell going forward and what Hafley will be looking for from that group.

This is not a strong ILB draft class. I wouldn’t expect big changes. Reinforcing the safety position will help the overall play of the middle of the field.

I want to add this: Never count out the bottom-of-the-roster guys who you don't know much about. Think about how Rasheed Walker "came out of nowhere" this year.

On our roster in addition to Walker, Campbell, MacDuffie at ILB:

Eric Wilson: age 29, 6'1" 230# 4.55 40, Lots of NFL experience (Vikings, Eagles, Texans)

Kristian Welch: age 25, 6'3" 240# best 3-cone of LBs in his draft class, played for Ferentz at Iowa, and is a local boy from Iola in Central Wisconsin.

Aaron Mosby: age 24, 6'3" 250# 4.7 40, Lots of TFLs and forced fumbles at Fresno State

Christian Young: age 23, 6'1" 221#, 4.6 40, played safety at U of Arizona, great athlete

The Packers were able to sign free agent Campbell because no other teams seemed that interested. His first few years in the NFL he was certainly not pro bowl caliber. With GB he had an extraordinary first year. The Packers assumed he would continue to play at that level. They were wrong. He has returned to normal. Why would anyone have assumed that he would return to the high level he played in his first year here? let's face it, last year he was a major disappointment and part of the reason teams were able to run the ball over the defense. You can't blame the secondary for that. It is a reality that the great defenses have great linebackers. Look at the Bears when they lost Roquan Smith. Their defense collapsed. And, whose defense improved? It was the Ravens with Queen and Smith as the LB duo. Together the Ravens have the top defense in the league,. It is not just coincidental that the Ravens have the best duo of linebackers in the middle. This is why I think the Packers should make a strong push to sign Queen in the free agency period. Then use the draft accordingly.

Here is what I'm not understanding.

Our DC was so bad he had to be fired. Savage sucked. Campbell had a bad year. Stokes missed most of the season, Alexander missed about half of it.

How did this defense end up #10 in scoring defense? How did it go into Dallas and crush a top offense in the playoffs.?

The injury bug bit us bigtime on defense with the CBs and ILB/Campbell.

The Patriots made a living knowing when to keep players as well as not hanging on too long until they were worth nothing. Campbell, if in fact we can save $10 million by moving him after June 1st, he needs to go. Thats move #2 after ending Bahks's run in GB and saving $20 million. as well.

Yes, Barry did suck and needed to go. You upgrade players all the time, coaches should be no different if they are just so-so. It was time and I think he was holding the defense back. Giving up 30 to Carolina and making Baker Mayfield and Bryce Young look like Pro Bowlers was the last straw for him.

We have a new DC who is a DB savant, so maybe he can salvage and turnaround Savages career. And he probably won't be expensive. I still think we should sign a good FA Safety and Jeremy Chinn would be my choice to really make an impact on GBs defense.

Make small but significant FA signings @ ILB and S. Sign Josey Jewel-Broncos and Jeremy Chinn-Panthers and GB has significantly upgraded their defense for under $15 million.

Cut/Trade D Campbell after June 1st and save $10 million. Almost a wash.

Draft a LB and develop for future- Wilson, Colson, and Gray should be available 3rd round.

If CBs Wilson, Mitchell, or DeJean are available @ #25-run the pick up to the podium. If none are there, trade back to early 2nd round for more picks including another 2nd or high 3rd/plus another mid rounder. The second tier of CBs are close to the first tier anyway. And the best Safeties won't go in the first round either. The RBs we want will go in 3rd and 4th rounds.

Here is my dream start to the draft after a trade back:
first 2nd rounder-CB-Tampa-Ia State, Jackson-Oregon-Haddin-Tenn.
2nd pick OG-Cooper Beebe or ?
3rd pick Safety- Kinchens or Nubin
4th pick-RB- Braelon Allen, Bucky Irving, Marshawn Lloyd, Will Shipley
5th pick-LB-Wilson, Colson, Gray
WILDCARD if we get a tradeback and another 2nd or 3rd- best available Edge, OT, DT or a double @ S-RB-O-line

I think they should cut Campbell. He's 31 is signed for 3 more years. He hasn't played well the last 2 years being banged up and had some issues with the Packers last year. They save 10.5 mil on his remaining contract if they cut him. Get some new blood in the LB room with a new scheme. Bertrand from ND looked good in the senior bowl.

I think Campbell is as good as gone. Production is falling and injuries have taken their toll. He's no longer worth the money he's scheduled to be paid. I would expect the Packers to either sign a free agent and draft another or pick one on day 2 and again on day 3. This is a position that needs re-inforcement and will require a rangy and instinctive player to man the MLB position.

I think Campbell is gone. He had his say and became a thorn in the side of the coaches. They will draft or free agent someone to replace him. I think we all agree an O linemen, running back possibly, safeties, maybe two and a line backer. Everything else is gravy so to speak. If they dump Stokes we need a corner.

One option for Campbell is to restructure his contract. He probably would return at a reduced price.

Savage according to NFL scouts excels playing up near the line as he did in college one scout said he was being used wrong in the defensive scheme of Barry .

I’m not sure where a lot of Quay hate is coming from..he can cover and tackle and rush. I think the rest is on Barry. But Quay can do every bit of sideline to sideline, rush and cover. Since they’ll possibly be going 4-3…no doubt they’ll be drafting. They might need to figure out who plays WILL, MIKE and SAM lb. As far as Outside they’ve been trending bigger anyway…Gary, VanNess, Preston, Enegbare etc…all 260+ lbs so might as well say we have edge or what’s called DE in a 4-3. People seem to be confused here…It’s a 3-4 when you need a massive NT that eats 2 blockers not in a 4-3.

In terms of needs and in no particular order…

OG…right guard specifically
DL
RB
S
LB
and possibly CB
I’d say LB , Saftey and RB should be prioritized along with a OL.

In limited action in pre season I was impressed with Benny Sapp…seemed to pass the eye test on covering and tackling.

If Enegbare isn't ready to start the year, then we at least should get a good chance to see what Cox can do. Don't forget he is a hell of an athlete and was productive in college when his head didn't get in the way. Maybe he has grown up now that he gets paid to play. If the light goes on for him he could be the steal of 2023 UFDAs. We probably add one later in draft. Austin Booker-Kansas is talented and probably a 5th rounder. Braiden McGregor-Michigan has untapped talent and will test good at the combine. They are both 6'6 260.

How about we sign Bobby Wagner-Seahawks and draft one of Wilson, Colson, or Cedric Gray. Any of those 3 could start next year. Bring in Wagner to teach Walker and the new draftee how to play ILB. He "ONLY" had 183 tackles last year @ 34 years old!!! Wagner is not slowing down much. Shockingly he only made $4.5 million last year. He was the bargain of all bargains.
He is projected to make $5 million per year. Giving him a 2 year deal would be the deal of the century and think how much it could help Walker to learn from the best. And our run defense could not help but get better. We could draft another LB next year too. We won't have a ton of draft needs next year. D-line and Oline for sure. Maybe another CB.

Campbell was playing hurt and his mobility was limited. Walker would not excel in a 4-3 as it would require more te chnical sakills that he has yet to exhibit. Van Ness is a possibility if Preston returns.

Sign Bobby Wagner-Seahawks and watch our run defense get better fast. He played last year for $4.5 million and had 183 tackles. Thats right 1 8 3!!!!