The Cheeseheads have spoken on a trade pitch that would ship a popular lineman out of town, though that doesn’t mean the Green Bay Packers are going to listen.

Justis Mosqueda of SB Nation’s Acme Packing Co. floated the idea of the franchise potentially trading starting right tackle Yosuah Nijman if he happens to get beat out for that spot by second-year up-and-comer Zach Tom who saw some run at the position during minicamp.

“Tom … played well in five starts as a fourth-round rookie last season,” Mosqueda wrote on Thursday, June 22. “Tom hasn’t been able to crack the ‘starting’ lineup at right guard or center, the two other positions where he’s been practicing at so far this offseason.”

Green Bay is limited in the moves it can make ahead of September to free up more salary cap space. The franchise had around $16.5 million in cap room remaining for 2023 as of June 25.

“If Tom does end up winning the starting right tackle job, what do you do with Nijman who signed a $4.3 million second-round tender as a restricted free agent this spring?” Mosqueda continued. “Moving Nijman’s contract would give the Packers some much-needed cap relief, as it wouldn’t create any dead cap on the team’s books.”

Mosqueda offered the pitch up as the subject of a fan poll, asking for input on whether the move is something Packers Nation at large would support. The results came back an overwhelming “NO,” as just 26% of those who cast ballots got behind the notion of trading Nijman should he fall out of the starting lineup.

Yosh Nijman Offers Packers Insurance Against Further Injury to David Bakhtiari

GettyOffensive lineman Yosh Nijman of the Green Bay Packers will be an important piece in 2023, even if he doesn’t start in Week 1.

One of the stronger arguments against dealing Nijman, even if Tom steals his job, is that offensive line depth is going to be particularly important for the Packers this year.

Five-time All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari hasn’t played a full season since 2019 and will turn 32 years old early in the upcoming campaign. Any injury to Bakhtiari in 2023 is likely to prove catastrophic to Green Bay’s postseason chances, with first-year starter Jordan Love leading one of the youngest groups of offensive skill position players in the entire league. Keeping at least one bonafide starting-caliber lineman in reserve is an insurance policy that feels better than well-bought at $4.3 million.

If Nijman does win the starting job at right tackle in training camp, then the question is rendered null and void, as the Packers aren’t going to deal their starter in what is probably the second-most important position on the offensive line — especially when the ratio of how much Nijman is being paid to how much value he’s providing on Sundays leans so favorably in the team’s direction in that scenario.

Packers Will Struggle to Sign Yosh Nijman to Long-Term Deal Next Offseason

GettyOffensive lineman Yosh Nijman (right) of the Green Bay Packers blocks defensive lineman Sheldon Day (left) of the Cleveland Browns during an NFL game in December 2021.

The strongest argument for Green Bay dealing Nijman is something that Mosqueda hit on when he published the poll results Sunday.

Keeping Nijman this season, even as a backup, is the better decision in the immediate. However, he’s a reasonably valuable asset who could walk out the door as an unrestricted free agent next March, and there may be nothing the Packers can do about it.

“Nijman is good insurance for the Packers at a premium position … but I’m unsure if the team will be able to extend him to a long-term contract with their 2024 cap situation,” Mosqueda wrote. “If the team has any doubt about left tackle David Bakhtiari’s health, though, I would also understand wanting to keep Nijman in the mix.”

David DeChant of The Athletic suggested on April 6 that Nijman could earn upwards of $20 million annually on his next contract, which would make it exceedingly difficult for Green Bay to retain him.

“Nijman is far from a household name, but he’s played left tackle (782 snaps) and right tackle (528) since 2020 at an above-average level. Those guys get paid, and paid big,” DeChant wrote. “He’s been best on the left, allowing three sacks and a 2.94 percent pressure rate, compared to five [sacks] and 4.36 [percent rate], respectively, on the right. … He could push for $17 million or more annually on his next deal.”

The Green Bay Packers lay claim to a young and exciting wide receiver group that is entirely devoid of experience and could desperately use a veteran presence.

Field Yates of ESPN suggested on Wednesday, June 21, that the franchise supplement its corps of youthful wideout talent with free agent Jarvis Landry, most recently of the New Orleans Saints.

“The Jordan Love and youth movements are on in Green Bay in the post-[Aaron] Rodgers era, with the team investing five draft picks on wide receivers and tight ends in April. I’m already getting excited about this offense’s potential,” Yates wrote. “I understand that very few veteran pass-catchers available right now have a chance to be a major impact player on the field, but I do think there is a spot for a player who brings leadership qualities to make his mark. As an example, while the team might want as many snaps for the youngsters who can play in the slot as possible, I do think Jarvis Landry’s presence would bring instant lessons in preparation that would pay off.”

Past His Prime, Jarvis Landry Can Still Offer Needed Elements to Packers Offense

GettyWide receiver Jarvis Landry, formerly of the Cleveland Browns, celebrates after a reception during an NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals in January 2022.

A Pro Bowler in five consecutive seasons during a run split between the Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns, the 30-year-old Landry is no longer the go-to option he once was. That said, he’s a sure-handed leader who can still be counted on to make plays in big spots — say, for instance, on 3rd-down with five yards to gain while lined up on the 50-yard line of the Minnesota Vikings‘ U.S. Bank Stadium come Week 17 this December.

More importantly, though, Landry can prepare a player like rookie Jayden Reed to make that same play in that same big spot through year of expert tutelage. And it won’t just be the wide receivers who need a little guidance of the sort which Landry is capable of providing.

Love is entering his fourth NFL season in 2023, but he’s started all of one game in his career (a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs back in 2021 when Rodgers was forced out due to the league’s COVID-19 protocols) and played meaningful minutes in just one half of football last year (against the Philadelphia Eagles in November when Rodgers exited during the third quarter due to a rib injury).

Landry has played with a host of quarterbacks during his nine-year professional tenure, most of whom rated somewhere between average and subpar. Love will be both one of the least experienced and potentially most talented members of that group. Currently absent a veteran wide receiver for Love to lean on during the inevitable growing pains to come, a player like Landry may prove as important to the Packers during practice and in the locker room setting as he can on the field on Sundays.

Jarvis Landry Offers Packers Quality Slot Complement to Big-Play Wideout Christian Watson

GettyWide receiver Christian Watson of the Green Bay Packers runs with the football during an NFL game against the Minnesota Vikings in 2022.

Should Reed get injured or prove less than ready to hop into a starting role as his rookie season commences, Landry remains a viable option alongside projected starters Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs.

Landry caught 39 passes for 272 yards and one touchdown in 2022, per Pro Football Reference, but was limited to just nine games played. He made 52 grabs for 570 yards in 12 contests the year prior and hauled in 72 passes for 840 yards in across 15 games two seasons past. Landry was a Pro-Bowl selection in every campaign that came before, save for his rookie year in 2014.

If healthy, Landry has plenty to offer Love on the field. That will be doubly true if Watson continues to draw the kind of attention he did as a rookie and duplicates the success he had despite all the tight coverage.

Jim Wyman of Pro Football Focus on May 30 identified Watson as the second-best receiver in the NFL in the category of contested catch rate, after the wideout hauled in 9-of-12 passes thrown his way that qualified as contested targets.

“The youngest receivers placed quite highly on this list, as three rookies cracked the top 10,” Wyman wrote. “Christian Watson, George Pickens and Jahan Dotson were all 2022 draftees who made defenders think twice with the ball in the air.”

Considering everything Landry can offer Green Bay, and what the Packers can offer him in return, a union ahead of this season makes sense. Landry played last year in New Orleans on a one-year deal worth $3 million and can likely be acquired for a similar price in 2023.

The Packers had nearly $16.6 million in available cap space as of June 21, and an investment of less than 20% of that to add a meaningful player to a young offense in need of a veteran appears more than worth the cost.

The Green Bay Packers have a handful of established veterans heading into the 2023 season, but one new starter has been named to the NFLPA’s Rising Stars list in a group of impressive up-and-coming playmakers.

The NFLPA releases a yearly Rising Stars list highlighting the top rookies and veterans set to have breakout seasons. Indianapolis Colts first-round pick Anthony Richardson led the group of rookies, while San Francisco 49ers breakout star Brock Purdy was No. 1 on the list for veterans.

Only one other quarterback was listed on the group of veterans, with Packers QB Jordan Love coming in at the No. 10 spot. Other veterans to make the list included exciting wideouts like George Pickens and Chris Olave along with some flashy running backs in Tony Pollard and Breece Hall.

While Love is the most unproven veteran on the list with just one career start, the NFLPA still has high hopes for Green Bay’s former first-round pick.

A Busy Offseason for Jordan Love

While the Packers are still mulling options for potential backup quarterbacks, this offseason has shown that the team is all in on Love taking over as the starting QB in 2023.

The 24-year-old quarterback has already earned the support of some of the team’s top veterans like running back Aaron Jones. Earlier this offseason, the Pro Bowl running back shared his thoughts on how Love has handled the transition from backup to starter.

“He did it the right way, he waited his time and you never heard one peep or complaint out of him,” Jones told reporters. “We all love Jordan here, and he has everyone’s full respect and we’re all going to go lay it out on the line for him.”

Head coach Matt LaFleur has praised Love for the progress he’s made during offseason workouts, and now the new Packers starting quarterback is enjoying his time off. The 24-year-old joined rival quarterback Justin Fields for a quarterback camp in Paris, allowing him to work on his game while enjoying a trip overseas.

Love will return shortly after his trip to France to get back to work with the Packers, but right now the 24-year-old is busy experiencing what it’s like to be a starting quarterback in the NFL.

Aaron Rodgers Continues Making News

Despite Love taking over in Green Bay, national media outlets continue to heavily focus on Rodgers and his new team in the New York Jets.

A recent report from FS1’s Craig Carthon suggested that the New England Patriots had attempted to trade for Rodgers prior to his move to their AFC East rival. However, Rodgers’ agent let the Patriots know that the Jets were the only team he was interested in being traded to this offseason.

Meanwhile, another former Packers starter is reuniting with Rodgers in the Big Apple. After multiple former Green Bay veterans signed on with New York, former Packers safety Adrian Amos is the latest to sign with the Jets, landing a one-year deal with the AFC contender.

Although Packers fans are ready to move on and usher in the Jordan Love era, Rodgers will continue to attract attention by media outlets for as long as he’s still playing in the NFL.

The Green Bay Packers face a somewhat difficult decision on one of their top performers, though a deal should get done if he can demonstrate adequate health over the coming months.

Edge rusher Rashan Gary numbers among the unfortunate test cases that explain why stars holdout for multiyear deals and loathe the franchise tag, as essentially nothing is fully-guaranteed in the NFL, including lucrative contracts even after they are signed.

Rob Demovsky of ESPN on Thursday, June 15, reported that Gary remains in line for a massive extension from the Packers, but only if he can prove he has bounced back after suffering a devastating mid-season knee injury against the Detroit Lions in 2022.

Gary was looking at a massive payday before he tore the ACL in his right knee [November] 9 at Detroit. That’s now on hold until the Packers are sure Gary can come back as the same player who ranked among the top 10 linebackers in sacks, quarterback hits and pressures through the first nine games last season.

The Packers wouldn’t mind lowering his $10.892 million cap number based on his fifth-year option, and a contract extension would do that. Don’t be surprised if that gets done as soon as the Packers know he has recovered from his knee injury, possibly by the start of the regular season.

Green Bay picked up Gary’s fifth-year option ahead of the 2022 season, which NFL teams are allowed to do with former first-round picks. The Packers edge rusher played out the fourth and final year of his initial $15.9 million rookie contract last season.

Rashan Gary Crucial to Packers’ Pass Rush This Season

GettyLinebacker Rashan Gary of the Green Bay Packers participates in an OTA practice session in May 2023.

Gary’s trajectory has been beyond encouraging, as he has steadily improved on the stat sheet with each passing year.

The outside linebacker tallied 47 quarterback pressures, 28 quarterback hits, 9.5 sacks and two forced fumbles during his third professional campaign in 2021, per Pro Football Reference. Through eight games and change in 2022, Gary had already amassed 17 pressures, 12 QB hits and six sacks.

Then the knee injury hit.

As impressive as the edge rusher has been on the field, perhaps even more evidence of how crucial Gary is to Green Bay’s defense came by way of his absence during the second half of last season. The Packers finished tied with the Cleveland Browns for 27th in the league in total sacks in 2022, tallying just 34 as a team.

Packers’ First-Round Pick Lukas Van Ness Should Add Sacks in 2023

GettyDefensive lineman Lukas Van Ness of the Green Bay Packers participates in an OTA practice session in May 2023.

Gary still finished second on the roster in total sacks, despite missing the latter half of the 2022 campaign. The only player to out-do him in that category was fellow outside linebacker Preston Smith, who produced 8.5 sacks on the year.

The Packers wasted literally no time adding help in that regard during the 2023 NFL Draft, selecting edge rusher Lukas Van Ness out of the University of Iowa with the No. 13 overall pick. Van Ness tallied 19 tackles for loss and 13 sacks across 26 games for the Hawkeyes over the previous two years, per Football Reference.

A versatile defender, Van Ness is expected to make an immediate impact on a pricey Green Bay defense that may need to carry the load for a team with an inexperienced set of skill players projected to line up at several key positions on the offensive side of the football in 2023.

The Green Bay Packers eventually traded Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets after weeks of drama, but now it is being reported that a second team was interested in trading for the future Hall of Fame quarterback.

FS1’s Craig Carton said on the June 14 episode of “The Carton Show” that the New England Patriots were another team attempting to trade for Rodgers during the early weeks of the NFL offseason. Carton reported that Rodgers’ agent told the team that he didn’t want to play for New England.

Rodgers’ announced on March 15 on “The Pat McAfee Show” that he intended to play for the Jets, the two sides spent weeks negotiating before agreeing to a trade that sent multiple draft picks to Green Bay.

The Patriots have had issues finding a long-term quarterback since Tom Brady left after the 2019 season, and although third-year quarterback Mac Jones showed flashes as a rookie in 2021, he didn’t look like the same player in 2022. Rodgers would have instantly made New England a much more interesting contender, but he said he was more interested in playing for their AFC East rival.

Latest on Aaron Rodgers

While Rodgers is out on the town, attending New York Knicks games and Taylor Swift concerts, the superstar quarterback is also in the spotlight out on the football field.

Unlike in recent years with the Packers, Rodgers has been present for offeseason workouts with the Jets as he familiarizes himself with his new teammates. However, some of his “new” teammates are actually former ones in Green Bay, most notably Allen Lazard, who signed a $44 million contract before Rodgers was officially traded to New York.

Rodgers did have a slight injury scare early in OTAs, tweaking his calf during one day of practice. However, the tweak didn’t impact his availability, and he eventually returned to the field.

Despite leaving Green Bay, the former Packers quarterback still took some time to send a message to rookie QB Sean Clifford. The fifth-round pick by the Packers received a video message from the four-time MVP to welcome him to Green Bay, with Rodgers even poking fun at him for taking his locker.

It will still take some time for Packers fans to adjust to football without Rodgers under center, but it seems Rodgers harbors little ill will toward Green Bay fans or the organization.

Is Jordan Love Ready to Take Over?

No player in Green Bay has more pressure on them heading into 2023 than Jordan Love, but so far it appears that his teammates have the utmost confidence in the 24-year-old quarterback.

Earlier in the offseason, running back Aaron Jones praised Love for how he’s presented himself and worked to get to this point as the expected Week 1 starter.

“He did it the right way. He waited his time, and you never heard one peep or complaint out of him,” Jones told reporters on June 16. “We all love Jordan here, and he has everyone’s full respect and we’re all going to go lay it out on the line for him.”

The teammates seem to support Love, and after a brief stint against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 12 of last season, he has likely gained some confidence, completing 6 of 9 passes for 113 yard and a touchdown.

Rashan Gary was forced to watch the Green Bay Packers from the sidelines for the back half of the 2022 season after tearing his ACL in Week 9, but the manner in which he has responded to his adversity — and where his priorities have lied — exemplifies how worthy he is of “Carrying the G” for the Packers.

Following June 14’s veteran minicamp practice, Gary spoke with reporters for the first time since suffering his November 6 injury and shed some light on the challenges that have come with spending so much time in recovery. While the 25-year-old said his support staff helped him take things “day-by-day” and avoid getting down on himself, he did get a little emotional when asked about how difficult it was to stay off the field.

“It really wasn’t that hard, man,” Gary said Thursday. “Like, once I got hurt, my focus, it really wasn’t on me, it wasn’t about what I was doing, it was really on this team. We had young guys, JJ [Kingsley Enagbare], he was able to get some experience, but that’s what I was thinking about, man. I wasn’t thinking about what I was going through.

Gary then choked up a bit as he added: “I was really just thinking about just letting down this team, bro, you feel me? I love these guys, love the organization, love the opportunity [and] chances that they gave me. But when I get here, I wasn’t thinking about me. I was thinking about how to help this team from where I can and what I can do.”

Rashan Gary: ‘I’ll Be Ready When I’ll Be Ready’

Gary is now a little more than seven months down the road to recovery from his ACL injury, but as far as when the Packers can expect him back on the field and if he will be ready to go for Week 1 in Chicago, the former first-rounder repeated the same answer.

“I’ll be ready when I’ll be ready,” Gary said multiple times after Thursday’s practice.

The good news is Gary is making progress. He wouldn’t say whether he is able to make cuts with his knee yet, but he did say he’s “moving around.” The most emotional part of the process, he said, was when he was able to ditch the crutches and take about three steps on his own from the treatment facility to his car with his mom, who shed a tear with him over the milestone. Now, it is just about making sure he continues to make steady progress, day-by-day, giving his all, until he is ready to return to the field.

Lukas Van Ness Already Impressing Packers Veterans

There is little question that Gary will reclaim his role as the Packers’ most fearsome pass rusher once he returns to the field this season, but he isn’t the only force off the edge that has been generating buzz throughout on-field offseason workouts.

Lukas Van Ness, the Packers’ No. 13 overall pick in the 2023 draft, has been working with the second-team defense throughout OTAs and minicamp as he continues to work on transitioning from a college defensive end into an NFL outside linebacker. The power and athleticism he has displayed in his early showings, though, has some of his veteran teammates thinking he will be a problem for opposing offenses in 2023.

“He has a lot of power to his game [and] I think him playing inside in college really helped him out with that,” Clark said on May 23 in the midst of OTAs. “He’s a really good athlete and he can get around the edge. But his power game is going going to be good for him. I believe his speed-to-power and all that kind of stuff — once he starts, unlocking those tools and starts understanding it, he’s going to be a problem.”

The Green Bay Packers owned the Chicago Bears during QB Aaron Rodgers‘ 15-year run, and one Bears’ defender has a lot to say about that, as well as Packers fans.

Defensive tackle Justin Jones joined Chicago last season after four years with the Los Angeles Chargers. He was introduced to the rivalry in Week 2 when the Bears visited Green Bay. Jones and company left Lambeau Field carrying wounds sustained on the business end of a 27-10 loss.

Jones was asked about how the complexities of the rivalry have changed since Rodgers’ departure to the New York Jets during a press conference on Tuesday, June 13. During his answer, the Bears defensive tackle said he wished the four-time MVP hadn’t split for the AFC East Division and took a shot at Green Bay fans in the process.

“I wish he was playing one more year with Green Bay, honestly. We went up there and we played a pretty good game, you know, but they got away from us at the end, obviously. And they won, but their fans are really sh***y,” Jones said, per a tweet from FOX NFL reporter Carmen Vitali. “I want to play them, and I want to beat them. I want him to be there so he can see it. But the fact that he’s gone now, you know, I mean, it’s cool. I guess it’s better for him not to be here. But yeah, I’m ready to take it over. I mean, it’s a good time to be a Bear fan. I’m not gonna lie to you.”

Packers, Bears Rivalry to Begin New Chapter Next Season Under QB Jordan Love

GettyQuarterback Aaron Rodgers, formerly of the Green Bay Packers, is pursued by defensive tackle Justin Jones of the Chicago Bears during a game in September 2022.

Green Bay also bested Chicago at Soldier Field in December by a score of 29-18, during which Rodgers infamously trolled Bears fans by yelling, “I still own you!” after completing a two-point conversion following a game-winning touchdown that capped a 13-point comeback.

Jones won’t be able to exact any revenge on Rodgers, who will play next season, and presumably the remainder of his career, in a different shade of green in New York. How the Bears defense will matchup against new Packers starting quarterback Jordan Love, however, will be an interesting storyline in 2023.

Love has started just one game over the course of his career, though he looked beyond competent playing on the fly in the second half against the eventual NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles on the road last November after Rodgers left the game with an injury to his rib cage.

Fans on both sides of the Packers/Bears rivalry won’t have to wait long to find out, as Love and company open the season in Chicago on Sunday, September 10.

Packers Will Field Young, Dynamic Offense Week 1 Against Bears

GettyWide receiver Christian Watson of the Green Bay Packers attempts to catch a pass over cornerback Jaylon Jones of the Chicago Bears during a game in December 2022.

What the Packers offense lacks in experience, it should make up for in dynamic playmaking. Love will undoubtedly suffer through a learning curve, though his talent is evident, as is the talent around him.

Wide receiver Christian Watson emerged as one of the NFL’s most dangerous big-play threats in his rookie season in 2022, scoring nine times including a three-touchdown performance in a must-win game against the Dallas Cowboys. Starting wideout Romeo Doubs began his career in quality fashion before suffering an ankle injury that cost him four games and has emerged as Love’s favorite target early in OTAs.

Green Bay also used much of its high-end draft capital this year to add tight end Luke Musgrave (No. 42 overall) and wide receiver Jayden Reed (No. 50 overall) in the second round, as well as tight end Tucker Kraft (No. 78) in round three.

All five pass-catchers the Packers have selected in rounds two, three and four over the last two drafts are expected to play significant roles in the team’s passing attack in 2023, with three, or potentially even four, earning starting roles by the time the Packers kick off the season at Soldier Field less than three months from now.

The Green Bay Packers have seen several of their former starters join superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers in New York, and now another key starter from the past few seasons is signing with the Jets.

There had been little news about what the future held for veteran safety Adrian Amos, who was still a free agent heading into June. While there had been expectations that the Packers would bring back their former starter, the team didn’t end up making a move.

Ian Rapoport with NFL Network tweeted on Tuesday, June 13 that the Jets were signing Amos to a one-year deal worth $4 million.

The Packers ended up going in a different direction at safety this offseason. Along with taking Iowa State’s Anthony Johnson Jr. in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Packers also took a flier on former San Francisco 49ers safety Tarvarius Moore, who signed a one-year deal earlier in free agency.

Now, Amos will get an opportunity to carve out a role for himself  in New York’s defense while looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2022 season.

Other Former Packers In New York

Amos is the latest former Packers player to sign in New York, but he’s far from the first over the past few months.

Aaron Rodgers took center stage this offseason with weeks of trade rumors surrounding himself and the Jets. Before he was officially traded, the 39-year-old quarterback was actively recruiting players to join him in the Big Apple. Allen Lazard was the first to bolt to New York, signing a $44 million contract before a Rodgers trade was even finalized.

Randall Cobb, a longtime friend of Rodgers, also switched allegiances. The free agent wide receiver signed a one-year deal with the Jets rather than retire or play elsewhere for another year.

Even former starting offensive lineman Billy Turner, who played most recently with the Denver Broncos, decided to play again with his old friend. After a strong workout with the Jets, general manager Joe Douglas decided to take a flier on the veteran offensive tackle by giving him a one-year deal.

With so many former teammates of Rodgers in Green Bay now playing for the Jets, it will be interesting to see what kind of roles these veterans will have with a new team and a new coaching staff.

Who Will Start At Safety for Green Bay?

With Amos now no longer an option, the Packers will have to figure out who can be a starting-caliber safety with the options currently on their roster.

Darnell Savage held one of those roles for a few seasons, but the former first-round pick was demoted into a rotational role later in the season. That, along with the fact that he’s on the final year of his rookie deal, could play a factor into whether or not he’s a starter.

Rudy Ford showed real flashes as a safety last season, but will need a strong training camp to keep a starting job in 2023. Moore and Johnson Jr. are threats to compete, as is newly-acquired safety Jonathan Owens.

The Packers signed Owens in free agency, with the former undrafted free agent coming off the best season of his career with the Houston Texans. The 27-year-old started all 17 games, racking up 125 combined tackles with four pass breakups and a sack.

Although there aren’t any stars at the position in Green Bay, the Packers have a handful of options that will be competing for starting jobs heading into training camp.

Tariq Carpenter is embracing his position change with the Green Bay Packers heading into the 2023 season, but the former seventh-round pick is still trying to find his way in the inside linebacker room as offseason workouts wind down.

Carpenter announced earlier in the offseason that the Packers would be moving him from safety — where he played three games as a rookie in 2022 — to inside linebacker for the upcoming season due to his hybrid skill set as a defender. So far, though, he says he still feels “like a fish out of water” learning a new side of the defensive playbook as well as the responsibilities that come with playing at the inside linebacker spot.

“Still feeling like a fish out of water,” Carpenter said after June 6’s OTA practice, via Packers Central. “It’s on me. I’ve got to spend my time in the playbook. It’s a whole new language. Me coming from playing safety, I didn’t need to know what the D-line is doing and what gap I’ve got to fit and get the defensive linemen set and know what the back-end coverage is, as well. So, there’s a lot more to it.

“I’m not going to quit, I’m going to go out there and try to learn from my mistakes and get better.”

Packers Experimented With Tariq Carpenter in 2022

Carpenter’s career with the Packers up to this point has been in a bit of a positional flux. He was drafted in the seventh round last spring out of Georgia Tech, where he started 41 games at safety, but his size (6-foot-3, 230 pounds) and power as a run-stopper suggested he would play more of a hybrid linebacker role at the NFL level.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur even indicated a move away from safety would be in Carpenter’s future following the draft, telling Larry McCarren of Packers.com that the team would be moving him to “the inside linebacker room” for his 2022 rookie season.

Instead, though, Carpenter ended up beginning the season at safety after all, earning his keep on special teams with few defensive reps coming his way. The Packers briefly experimented with moving him to outside linebacker in December to help with their banged-up edge-rushing group, but he flipped back to safety before the end of the year and played some rotational snaps (16) in the secondary down the stretch.

Now, the plan is clear for Carpenter heading into Year 2: Learn the inside linebacker position and become a contributor for the middle of the Packers’ defense in 2023 while continuing to bring value to their special teams unit as a hard-hitting cover guy.

The Green Bay Packers have one glaring hole in their secondary and three quality options to fill it.

With more than $16.5 million in salary cap space, Green Bay’s options include trading with the Arizona Cardinals for five-time Pro Bowler Budda Baker, bringing back four-year starter Adrian Amos or signing John Johnson III, most recently of the Cleveland Browns.

Of the three, Johnson to the Packers is the move that has drawn the least attention and speculation. Though, for a variety of reasons, the sleeper candidate may actually make the most sense. Green Bay won’t have to surrender an asset to add either Johnson or Amos to the roster in 2023, and Matt Bowen of ESPN contended on Friday, June 9, that Johnson is the best safety still available in free agency.

“The on-the-ball production dipped last season for Johnson in Cleveland, as he finished with one interception and four pass breakups,” Bowen wrote. “The veteran safety still has the range from the post and split-field alignments, though, and that will open some doors for him on the market.”

John Johnson III Offers Packers Better Value Than Adrian Amos

GettyGreen Bay Packers safeties Adrian Amos (left) and Darnell Savage (right) celebrate a play during an NFL game.

Amos is obviously more familiar with how the Packers play defense after spending the last four seasons with the team. However, adapting wouldn’t likely prove difficult for Johnson in a talented secondary that includes cornerbacks Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes and Rasul Douglas.

While Johnson’s performance dipped last season, Amos’ fell off a cliff.

“Amos had long been one of the most reliable safeties across the NFL, allowing an explosive reception on just 1% of coverage snaps over five seasons from 2017-2021 and forcing an incompletion on 17.3% of targets into his coverage over the span, which ranked tied for 21st,” Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus wrote on May 2. “He took a step back in 2022, earning a 54.2 grade — a career-low mark by more than 15 grading points.”

Johnson, meanwhile, produced a PFF player grade of 62.8 last season, more than 8.5 points higher than Amos. The question between the two, then, is likely to come down to contract value. Johnson made $11.25 million annually with the Browns after signing a three-year deal worth $33.75 million with the team in 2021.

Amos made $9 million per season over the last four campaigns after signing a four-year deal worth $36 million in Green Bay in 2019. Spotrac projects Amos’ market value at $6.8 million annually over a three-year contract.

Budda Baker’s Contract Wishes May Price Packers Out of Trade

GettySafety Budda Baker of the Arizona Cardinals gestures during warmups prior to a game against the Los Angeles Rams in November 2022.

The Packers will likely have to invest a couple million more per season to land Johnson than Amos, should the team decide to go with one of those two players at the position. Johnson is also three years younger than Amos and will play next season at 27, while Amos will play at 30.

Either scenario is more likely than Green Bay trading for Baker, who demanded this offseason that the Cardinals make him the highest-paid safety in football or deal him to a new franchise. Baker signed a four-year deal worth $59 million with Arizona in 2020 and carries a 2023 cap hit of nearly $16.9 million.

Baker is the same age as Johnson and is clearly the most talented of the three safeties, earning three All-Pro nods (two first-team and one second-team) across his six-year NFL career. However, he would eat up all of Green Bay’s cap space in 2023, while signing Johnson or Amos would leave the Packers with more financial flexibility.

There is a new man in charge at QB for the Green Bay Packers in Jordan Love, and it looks like he already has his own ideas about the hierarchy at wide receiver.

The Packers have selected three wideouts in the top four rounds of the last two NFL drafts. Christian Watson and Jayden Reed were second-round selections in 2022 and 2023, respectively, but it’s 2022 fourth-round pick Romeo Doubs who has seized the coveted role as Love’s top target early in OTAs.

Rob Demovsky of ESPN reported the development on Wednesday, June 7.

“Not that the dynamic, deep threat of Christian Watson won’t have as big an impact — or perhaps bigger — on the new-look offense in the post-Aaron Rodgers era, but if anything can be gleaned from the three OTA practices that have been open for viewing this spring, it’s that Love believes he can rely on Doubs,” Demovsky wrote.

“Doubs has been on the receiving end of target after target,” he continued. “Last week, Love completed seven passes during the two-minute drive, and four of them (for 45 yards) went to Doubs.”

Jordan Love Raves About His Confidence in Wideout Romeo Doubs

GettyWide receiver Romeo Doubs of the Green Bay Packers is developing an early connection with quarterback Jordan Love during 2023 OTAs.

Love spoke to media members on Tuesday about the fast-developing connection between himself and Doubs, and the mutual confidence that has come along with it.

“When in doubt, you can throw it out there and you know he’s going to make a play,” Love said, per Demovsky. “He’s made some really tough catches, and it kind of just builds everybody’s confidence. It builds my confidence in him.”

Doubs was also one of Rodgers’ favorite targets early in the 2022 campaign before he suffered an ankle injury that somewhat derailed his rookie season. All told, Doubs hauled in 42 catches for 425 yards and three touchdowns across 13 games played, which included seven starts, per Pro Football Reference.

Those numbers figure to go up in Doubs’ second season if he can remain healthy, after Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb both followed Rodgers to the New York Jets this offseason. Doubs also spoke to reporters Tuesday and offered his thoughts on his role in the Packers offense in 2023

“I just know that coming into this year, I will have a huge role in this room, whether it’s … clicking with Jordan or having some of the rookie receivers that I’ll have to guide through, as well,” Doubs said, per Demovsky’s report.

Packers May Still Add Veteran Wide Receiver to Roster

GettyThe Green Bay Packers may still add another wide receiver alongside Christian Watson and the rest of the team’s group of young pass-catchers.

While the beginning of 2022 belonged to Doubs, it was Watson who took over as the top young option in Green Bay by the time mid-season rolled around.

Once acclimated to the pro game and healthy, Watson was electric in green and gold. The wideout finished the year with 41 catches for 611 yards and seven touchdowns, as well as seven rushing attempts for 80 yards and two scores. He put up those numbers across 14 games played, which included 11 starts.

Both Watson and Doubs are likely to increase their outputs in 2023, and Reed offers Love a promising option who could potentially start in the slot. Beyond that, the Packers drafted rookie tight ends Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft in the second and third rounds, respectively, back in April.

While the talent across the two positions is almost as plentiful as the youth, there remains a void on the offense that could be adequately filled by the addition of a veteran wide receiver. Green Bay probably isn’t looking to break the bank on any such player, but a wideout like Hunter Renfrow of the Las Vegas Raiders would be a viable option for the Packers should he end up available via the trade market.

The Green Bay Packers have loaded up at outside linebacker this offseason, and that could mean that general manager Brian Gutekunst is ready to trade away the team’s most established veteran at the position.

On Monday, June 5, Kristopher Knox with Bleacher Report released a list of players that NFL teams should consider trading before the start of the 2023 season. The list included some established players around the league, including veteran EDGE Preston Smith with Green Bay.

“By trading Smith, the Packers could get a look at what they have in the tandem of Gary and rookie first-round pick Lukas Van Ness,” Knox wrote. “Plus, as a still-productive pass-rusher, Smith would likely bring back valuable compensation in a trade that could be used to further build around Love and the new-look Packers offense.”

While a trade could give the Packers some more draft capital, the team already restructured Smith’s contract earlier this offseason. Additionally, the team would take an $18 million dead cap  hit by moving him as opposed to his cap hold of just $6.3 million for this upcoming season.

The Packers could decide to get younger across the board to work on building the team back up, but this a move that would be tough to work out financially.

The Packers Finally Have Depth at EDGE

For the first time in what feels like years, the Packers may have legitimate depth at outside linebacker to continually roll out fresh starting-caliber talent at EDGE for the 2023 season.

Assuming that the Packers hold onto Smith, the likely starting duo will include him and Rashan Gary once the former first-round pick recovers from a torn ACL he suffered in November of last season.

Even if Gary isn’t ready for Week 1, the Packers have plenty of other options. Kinglsey “JJ” Enagbare showed real flashes in his rookie season despite being a Day 3 pick, and could prove himself worthy of a starting role during training camp. This year’s first-round pick in Lukas Van Ness out of Iowa could also compete for that starting job.

Beyond those two, the Packers also have more depth options heading into training camp. The team brought back Justin Hollins, who flashed as a late-season acquisition last year, on a one-year deal. The Packers also drafted a pair of hybrid defensive linemen/outside linebackers in Day 3 of this year’s draft, taking Colby Wooden out of Auburn and Karl Brooks from Bowling Green.

With so many options to choose from, the Packers may finally have enough depth at the position to rotate two (or even three) pairs of players throughout a game in 2023.

Could The Packers Part Ways With Preston Smith?

Even if it’s unlikely that the Packers trade Smith away before this season, the veteran outside linebacker’s days in Green Bay could be numbered.

After restructuring Smith’s deal, the Packers have a potential out in 2024 or 2025. The Packers could save about $2.5 million in cap space by parting ways with the veteran after this upcoming season, or more than $7.5 million before 2025.

That being said, Smith has been a reliable and stable presence during his time in Green Bay. The 30-year-old has racked up 33.5 sacks in four seasons with the Packers, but has also been a reliable edge setter against the run.

Unless Smith takes a big step backwards in 2023, the Packers would be wise to hold onto the veteran outside linebacker.

The NFL coaching carousel never really stops, meaning coaches are interviewing for positions in one way or another long before they ever open.

That appeared to be the scenario this week with the Green Bay Packers, when the team hosted former Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier for a couple of days following the league’s Accelerator Program, which is meant to provide leadership development and networking opportunities for female and minority coaches.

“After attending the NFL’s recent Accelerator Program in Minneapolis, former #Bills [assistant head coach] & [defensive coordinator] Leslie Frazier spent two days with the #Packers, is currently spending two days with the #Commanders, and is scheduled to spend two days with the #Giants after that to maintain dialogue,” Josina Anderson of CBS Sports tweeted on Thursday, June 1.

Leslie Frazier Could Replace Joe Barry as Packers Defensive Coordinator

GettyFormer Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier looks on prior to an NFL game at Highmark Stadium in October 2022.

That Frazier was in Green Bay does not mean he will be hired by the organization, but it is an indicator that he will be considered for one of the team’s top positions should one open up.

Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry found himself in the hot seat after his high-priced defense underperformed last season, particularly against opposing rushing attacks. Barry actually went so far as to admit earlier this offseason that he didn’t expect to be back in the job in 2023.

Justis Mosqueda of SB Nation’s Acme Packing Co. on Thursday outlined a scenario in which Frazier, who has aspirations of becoming a head coach again, ends up running the Packers defense in 2024.

Beyond Frazier’s head coaching ambitions, though, the elephant in the room is that the Packers might be in the mix for a new defensive coordinator next January, a role that Frazier could fill if things don’t pan out for him on the head coaching front. As we’ve all noticed over the years, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur typically brings in coaches he has ties to in some way, and now Frazier has been added to the list.

If [Green Bay moves on from] Barry after the 2023 season, don’t be surprised if Frazier ends up on a short list of names that are candidates to be the next Packers defensive coordinator. If trends continue, LaFleur will want someone familiar in the foxhole with him, and Frazier’s short visit to Green Bay could have provided some answers to questions he had.

Leslie Frazier Has Long History of Success as NFL Defensive Coordinator

GettyFormer Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier walks on the field ahead of an NFL game.

Frazier has all the chops, and more, that any team could want in a head coach, let alone a defensive coordinator.

He stepped into the Vikings top job for the final six games of 2010 and held the position of head coach in Minnesota through the 2013 season. The team produced a win/loss record of 21-32-1 during Frazier’s tenure, including a 10-6 campaign in 2012 that ended in a Wild Card Weekend loss to the Packers.

Frazier was the defensive coordinator in Minnesota for three and a half seasons before assuming the role of head coach. He also served as DC of the Cincinnati Bengals in 2003 and 2004. After the Vikings dismissed Frazier, he went on to run defenses for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2014-15) and the Buffalo Bills (2017-22).

Buffalo did not fire Frazier during the offseason, as he stepped away of his own accord. Now, at the age of 64, Frazier is looking for one last shot at an NFL head coaching gig, and he has a good chance to land it. However, if he doesn’t, he’d be a quality fit on the Packers’ sideline.

The Green Bay Packers have had some young wide receivers come and go over the last few seasons, but one of those former wideouts is getting another shot in the NFL after signing with a possible Super Bowl contender.

With the XFL season wrapping up, former Packers are starting to find new opportunities back at the NFL level. Former Green Bay defensive lineman Jack Heflin was an All-XFL selection before signing with the New Orleans Saints this offseason.

Now, another former Packers player is making an NFL comeback. Former wide receiver Darrius Shepherd, who was also an All-XFL selection, is signing with the Los Angeles Chargers, the team announced on Thursday, June 1.

A three-time FCS national champion with North Dakota State, Shepherd went undrafted in 2019 before landing with the Packers. While primarily a backup receiver, Shepherd also served as the team’s kickoff return specialist in 2019 and 2020.

After brief stints with multiple NFL teams, Shepherd went on to have a breakout season with the St. Louis Battlehawks in the XFL, even winning XFL Special Teams Player of the Year. Now, he’ll be looking to stick on an NFL roster with the Chargers.

Packers Focusing on Special Teams in 2023

Shepherd is bringing a special teams focus to Los Angeles. Meanwhile, the Packers have made that phase of the game their top priority this offseason.

It became evident that the Packers wanted to continue improving their special teams after promoting Rich Bisaccia to assistant head coach on top of being the team’s special teams coordinator. That role seems to have given the veteran coach more of a voice in the team’s personnel decisions, starting with the decision to re-sign All-Pro kickoff return man Keisean Nixon to a one-year deal.

The Packers weren’t done with special teams signings after that. Safety Dallin Leavitt, who has spent his entire career with Bisaccia, was also brought back on a new deal. Rudy Ford is also returning to Green Bay on a short-term contract, both as a special teams contributor and a potential competitor for one of the starting safety jobs.

With Mason Crosby likely not returning to Green Bay, the Packers also took a chance on a kicker in the 2023 NFL Draft, drafting Anders Carlson out of Auburn in the sixth round. The rookie kicker is the brother of Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson, who worked closely with Bisaccia during his time as the AFC team’s special teams coordinator.

With all of these moves, the Packers are hoping to continue building upon an improved special teams unit from 2022.

Latest Packers News

The Packers are currently in the middle of the slowest time of the NFL calendar, but news continues to trickle in surrounding the storied franchise.

Aaron Rodgers made headlines once again after speaking with Matt Schneidman with The Athletic. Along with providing some context about the end of Rodgers’ time in Green Bay, Schneidman also revealed that the four-time MVP’s agent had given the Packers an ultimatum to either fire general manager Brian Gutekunst or trade the star quarterback back in 2021.

Meanwhile, third-year Packers cornerback Eric Stokes revealed some concerning details about his season-ending injury from 2022. The former first-round pick required surgeries on both his knee and his foot to deal with a lisfranc injury that is still keeping him out of fully participating in OTAs.

The Green Bay Packers were successful in their trade of Aaron Rodgers and extension of Jordan Love, but there’s one more significant quarterback move to make.

Green Bay currently has no insurance policy behind Love, with rookie Sean Clifford and Danny Etling occupying the No. 2 and No. 3 spots on the depth chart. The Packers still have nearly $16.6 million in cap space, and while the team must sign a safety and could use another outside linebacker, some of those remaining funds would be well-spent on a legitimate backup QB.

There is at least one viable option for Green Bay in journeyman starter Teddy Bridgewater, a one-time Pro Bowler with a winning record (33-32) over a meaningful sample size in the league. The other option isn’t actually an option yet, though could be by the end of this week should the Tennessee Titans choose to cut Ryan Tannehill, also a one-time Pro Bowler. That move appears likely after the Titans drafted QB Will Levis in April, having selected QB Malik Willis in 2022.

Teddy Bridgewater Has Proven Competent NFL Starter

GettyQuarterback Teddy Bridgewater, formerly of the Miami Dolphins, warms up prior to an AFC Wild Card playoff game against the Buffalo Bills in January 2023.

Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report on Monday, May 29, anointed Bridgewater the best remaining signal-caller available and the seventh-best free agent still on the market across all positions.

“Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater ranked 48th on our initial free-agency big board, and we’re honestly surprised that he hasn’t signed with a new team yet,” Knox wrote. “Bridgewater probably isn’t returning to the Miami Dolphins after they signed Mike White, but he’d be a valuable backup on just about any team. Bridgewater has 65 starts under his belt and was a serviceable bridge quarterback for the Denver Broncos (94.9 QB rating) two years ago.”

Bridgewater injured a finger in Miami last season, which could be a factor in why he hasn’t signed anywhere yet. However, the Detroit Lions made an offer to Bridgewater, which the quarterback rejected.

He earned $6.5 million from the Dolphins in 2022 and can probably be had for a similar price, or perhaps even less, this season, during which he will turn 31 years old.

Ryan Tannehill Can Help Packers QB Jordan Love Learn NFL Game

GettyQuarterback Ryan Tannehill of the Tennessee Titans warms up prior to a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in December 2022.

As much experience as Bridgewater has amassed, Tannehill has earned considerably more. He has started at least 10 games in 10 of his 11 NFL seasons (he missed the entirety of the 2017 campaign due to injury), producing a regular season record of 78-65.

Tannehill has thrown for 33,265 yards and 212 touchdowns compared to 108 interceptions, per Pro Football Reference. He has also led the Titans to multiple playoff appearances, including to an AFC Championship Game in 2019.

There has been considerable discussion about the term “rebuild” in Green Bay over recent days, with most viewing it as possessing a pejorative connotation and avoiding its use when discussing the state of the franchise. If the Packers aren’t in rebuild mode, then they are in win-now mode. If they are in win-now mode, they need a better option behind Love to guard against injury and/or poor play and to help the 24-year-old transition to the job of starter.

Both Bridgewater and Tannehill can be helpful in this regard, though as it often does, signing either of them, or not, will boil down to compensation. Tannehill has one year left on a $118 million deal that will void if the Titans cut him. How much less he’s willing to take to play second fiddle elsewhere remains to be seen.

The Green Bay Packers are still in need of a safety to shore up their secondary, and one of the best in the game is pushing hard for a trade.

Budda Baker told the Arizona Cardinals in April to make him the highest-paid safety in the NFL or trade him, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. Neither of those events has yet transpired, though the latter is more likely considering the state of the Cardinals franchise as it undertakes a rebuild in the wake of new management.

Green Bay doesn’t have the salary cap space to make Baker the game’s wealthiest safety by offering him more than the $19.13 million annual number Derwin James is pulling down with the Los Angeles Chargers. But the Packers do have nearly $16.6 million in cash to throw around, which is just about enough to absorb Baker’s $16.9 million cap hit in 2023.

Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report pitched a trade proposal on Wednesday, May 31, that would land Baker in Green Bay for the final two years of his contract, and potentially beyond.

Packers Will Field ‘Elite’ Secondary With Addition of Budda Baker

GettySafety Budda Baker of the Arizona Cardinals gestures to the sideline during warmups prior to a game against the Los Angeles Rams in November 2022.

Baker, who will play his seventh NFL season in 2023, is a five-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro. He has racked up 650 tackles during his career, including 32 tackles for loss. Baker has also tallied 34 pass breakups, 15 quarterback hits, 7.5 sacks, seven interceptions and six forced fumbles, per Pro Football Reference.

Ballentine suggested that the addition of Baker renders the Green Bay secondary “elite,” and high-level defense is something the Packers will need a great deal of if they hope to compete for the postseason with a first-year starter under center in quarterback Jordan Love.

Baker’s presence in the Packers secondary would give them an elite defensive backfield. Jaire Alexander is one of the best corners in the league when healthy, Rasul Douglas has been stellar since coming to Green Bay, and Eric Stokes flashed lockdown ability in his rookie season.

Baker, 27, would solidify the group by providing a playmaker who could align in multiple roles. The team [has not brought] back Adrian Amos this offseason and their free-agent additions — Jonathan Owens and Tarvarius Moore — don’t inspire confidence.

Former Packers Safety Adrian Amos Remains Free Agent

GettyQuarterback Zach Wilson of the New York Jets is pursued by safety Adrian Amos, formerly of the Green Bay Packers, during an NFL game in October 2022.

If Baker proves too pricey for Green Bay, the team does have another option in Amos. The Packers have yet to close the door on bringing him back into the fold, and the safety remains a free agent as the calendar flips to June.

Amos spent the last four seasons patrolling Green Bay’s secondary, playing out his $36 million contract in 2022. No particulars have been shared, but it is likely that the parting of ways between player and team came down to money.

Amos will play next season at the age of 30 and is looking for a lucrative multiyear contract. The Packers are reshuffling the deck and a big spend on a player who had a down year last season perhaps didn’t fit the blueprint as it was initially drawn up.

But now, months after free agency opened on March 15, Green Bay is still in need of a safety and Amos is still in need of employment. The facts on the ground have changed somewhat on both sides of the equation, which means the chance of a reunion has increased.

The Green Bay Packers have a serious need on the defensive line, but general manager Brian Gutekunst could fix those issues up front by making a trade for an established veteran in the trenches.

Despite having a star on the defensive line in Kenny Clark, the Packers have lacked a true impact starter next to him since Mike Daniels left after the 2018 season. However, Alex Ballentine with Bleacher Report believes that the team could make a trade for a legitimate starter before training camp kicks off.

Along with trade suggestions for Budda Baker (who has been linked in trade rumors) and Yosh Nijman, Ballentine suggested that Grover Stewart from the Indianapolis Colts would be an ideal piece for the Packers.

“The Colts defensive tackle is in the final year of his contract, and Indianapolis already has big money invested in DeForest Buckner on the inside,” Ballentine wrote. “If the Colts don’t intend to extend Stewart’s contract, they might be willing to part ways with him. The 29-year-old would be a big boost for the Packers’ run defense. At 6’4″, 315 pounds, he’s the kind of big-bodied tackle who could come in alongside Kenny Clark and give them consistency.”

The Packers Have a Glaring Need On The D-Line

Even after drafting a pair of potential hybrid defensive linemen in the 2023 NFL Draft, the unit remains one of the teams biggest needs heading into next season.

Outside of Clark, there’s not much certainty as to who will be starting on the defensive line. Devonte Wyatt was a first-round pick for the Packers last year, but the former Georgia standout saw very little action until late into his rookie season.

Assuming that Wyatt is able to take a second-year jump and become a full-time starter, there are still questions about who will be the third starter. Dean Lowry left for a division rival in the Minnesota Vikings, while Jarran Reed has reunited with his old team in the Seattle Seahawks.

The remaining options aren’t exactly inspiring. T.J. Slaton has shown flashes as a reserve nose tackle, but him starting would mean that Clark would likely have to kick out to defensive end. Other options include unproven players like Chris Slayton and Jonathan Ford or the rookies in Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks.

Unless one of those players turns out to be a hidden gem, the Packers are going to need a legitimate third starter at some point.

Why a Grover Stewart Trade Makes Sense

If the Packers are serious about loading up on defense during the Jordan Love era, then a move for Stewart makes more sense than other potential moves.

Stewart has been a consistent starter for the Colts despite modest box score production. The former fourth-round pick is coming off a career-best season with four sacks, but his consistencies as a pass rusher and run defender make him a solid piece in Indianapolis.

However, Stewart will be a free agent after the 2023 season, and it’s unclear if the Colts will re-sign him. If the Packers wanted to take a flier on Stewart, it would likely not take much draft capital to do so. Meanwhile, his cap hit of $10 million for 2023 is much more manageable than some of the other trade targets or free agents the Packers have been linked to.

The Packers would need to work their cap and likely offer Rashan Gary an extension to free up enough space, but a move for Stewart would take Green Bay’s front seven to the next level.

The Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers officially parted ways in April, but now details are emerging about the strained relationship between the future Hall of Fame quarterback and the team’s front office.

The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman pulled back the curtain to highlight some of the tension between Rogers and the Packers in a May 31 article. The piece outlined multiple details surrounding Rodgers’ final years in Green Bay, from the team’s decision to draft Jordan Love in 2020 to his feelings on how they treated Davante Adams during contract negotiations in 2022.

However, the biggest detail from Schneidman’s reporting is that Rodgers gave the Packers an ultimatum in 2021. Through his agent, Rodgers asked the team to either trade him or fire general manager Brian Gutekunst, according to Schneidman.

“According to a source associated with the team who was granted anonymity to candidly discuss the sensitive dynamics between the front office and the star quarterback, early in the 2021 offseason, [Dave] Dunn, Rodgers’ agent, called Packers president Mark Murphy with a request: Fire Gutekunst or trade Rodgers,” Schneidman wrote. “Murphy did neither. Months later, news broke that Rodgers wanted out of Green Bay, but the Packers held firm.”

Rodgers returned to play for the Packers for two more seasons and was traded to the New York Jets this offseason after expressing his desire to play elsewhere, ushering in a new era for Green Bay.

Other Details From Schneidman’s Report

Along with Rodgers’ ultimatum, Schneidman revealed other key details about the star quarterback’s final few seasons in Green Bay.

While Gutekunst and Rodgers’ relationship improved slightly, the quarterback went on record to give credit to Russ Ball, the team’s director of football operations. After Rodgers publicly aired his grievances with the franchise during 2021 training camp, he acknowledged that Ball made a real effort to improve communication with the team.

“I mean, Russ definitely made an effort to be more seen, to be a better communicator, to be around more, to interact with the guys more, and I really appreciated his effort to grow and to listen to some of the things I was saying and try and make the culture and the place a better environment,” Rodgers said. “I thought Russ, more than anybody, really showed that he cared and showed a lot of personal growth, and I give him credit for that.”

Schneidman was able to get some significant quotes from Rodgers on several subjects, from Ball’s adaptability to how the team handled contract negotiations with Adams, his top wideout. After Adams revealed that the team initially offered him less than $20 million per year, Rodgers compared that to what Christian Kirk is making in Jacksonville, showing his frustrations with what was offered. Adams was eventually traded in March 2022 to the Las Vegas Raiders and later signed a five-year, $141 million with the team.

Aaron Rodgers Praises Jordan Love

Despite all of the issues that Rodgers, 39, had with the Packers and their front office, he appears to be more than supportive of Love as he prepares to take over as the starting quarterback in Green Bay.

“I like Jordan a lot,” Rodgers said in Schneidman’s story. “Jordan’s a good dude. It’s tough to be a backup behind a future Hall of Famer. You’ve got to kinda find that sweet spot. I thought he did a great job with that, but he’s a good-hearted kid. It’s undetermined, his future, but from the physical standpoint, I thought he improved his fundamentals this last year.”

The Green Bay Packers have had a better offseason than you think.

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell on Tuesday, May 30, ranked Green Bay’s offseason the fifth-best in the NFL. His first bullet point was the return that general manager Brian Gutekunst got back from the New York Jets in exchange for quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

“Rodgers netted Green Bay a second-round pick in 2023, a jump of two spots in the first round and a pick that will likely become a first-rounder in 2024,” Barnwell wrote. “If we play it neutrally and assume the Jets send the No. 16 overall pick to the Packers for Rodgers next year, Gutekunst landed the equivalent of the No. 6 overall pick in a typical draft by the Jimmy Johnson chart, or the third pick on the Chase Stuart chart.”

Barnwell added that the feat the Packers front office pulled off was even more impressive considering the circumstances surrounding Rodgers’ offseason, including his historic contract and open discussion of retirement.

“Rodgers is 39 years old and coming off a season in which he was average to below average in most statistical categories,” Barnwell wrote. “He was considering retirement during the offseason, was due $108.7 million over the next two years and publicly announced he wanted to play for the Jets. The Packers could only negotiate with one team, and they didn’t have the financial flexibility to bring him back if the Jets weren’t interested. To walk that tightrope and still land a top-six pick in terms of trade value is incredible negotiating.”

Packers Hit Home Run With Jordan Love Contract Extension

GettyQuarterback Jordan Love of the Green Bay Packers warms up prior to a game against the Detroit Lions in January 2023.

Barnwell also pointed to Gutekunst’s negotiating tactics where long-time backup quarterback Jordan Love is concerned.

The Packers could have picked up Love’s fifth-year option for the 2024 campaign at a price of $20.3 million. Instead, Love agreed to a one-year deal worth $13.5 million. That move not only saved Green Bay a substantial amount of money, unless Love hits several of his $9 million in contract incentives, but it also affords the team two years to see what it has in the former first-round pick.

Barnwell acknowledged that the Packers may have dropped the ball by failing to secure a veteran backup behind Love as an insurance policy against injury or severe first-year struggles, although the team still has some time to look for a player who can offer Love some tutelage as he navigates his new job.

Teddy Bridgewater remains a free agent, while the Tennessee Titans could cut QB Ryan Tannehill in the coming days.

Green Bay May Still Add Safety, Pass Rusher This Summer

GettyOutside linebacker Rashan Gary of the Green Bay Packers reacts after a defensive stop during a game against the Washington Commanders in October 2022.

With training camp still nearly two months out, Green Bay’s offseason isn’t over just yet. The Packers have nearly $16.6 million in 2023 salary cap space and a couple of holes yet to fill on defense.

The first, and most pressing, is at the safety position. Adrian Amos, who filled that role in Green Bay for the last four seasons, remains a free agent and could return to the team if he can’t find a better offer on the open market.

The second is off the edge, where outside linebacker and elite pass rusher Rashan Gary has left a void as he rehabilitates from a torn ACL suffered during the middle of last season. Leonard Floyd is a legitimate candidate to fill that spot and can fall back into the Packers’ pass-rush rotation once Gary returns.

Sean Rhyan’s rookie campaign with the Green Bay Packers was the epitome of disappointment, having played zero offensive snaps and missing the final six games of the regular season with a six-game suspension for a PED violation.

The Packers, however, believe the 2022 third-rounder could be a “viable” candidate to compete at center with two-year starter Josh Myers for the upcoming 2023 season.

Rhyan, who played primarily left tackle at UCLA, was defined as a guard when offensive line coach Luke Butkus spoke about him prior to the start of the in-person portion of the Packers’ offseason program, but he indicated he would be getting reps at center once the on-field workouts began. And Rhyan did exactly in the first week of OTAs, getting enough reps at the position for reporters to ask about his viability at center.

“At this time of the year, we kind of experiment with a lot of these guys, but yeah, absolutely,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said on May 23 when asked if center could end up being Rhyan’s best position. “He’s a viable candidate to potentially be inside. We need more than one guy to snap. We always want to train three or four guys to get that done.”

Josh Myers Remains Frontrunner at C — For Now

GettyJosh Myers is likely still the frontrunner for the Packers’ center job in 2023.

Entering the second week of OTAs, Myers is still the frontrunner to start the 2023 season as the Packers’ starting center after playing 1,440 snaps at the position over his first two seasons. In terms of longevity, though, the No. 62 overall pick in the 2021 draft has some work to do to prove he can be the fixture Green Bay wants him to be.

Myers caught a rough break as a rookie, suffering a torn MCL and a tibial plateau fracture in Week 6 against Chicago that resulted in him having multiple surgeries and missing the majority of the 2021 season. Because of that, Butkus viewed Myers “almost like he was a rookie” heading into his second campaign, but Myers continued to struggle in 2022 even with a full season unimpeded by injuries.

On one hand, Myers was a sturdy pass-blocker for the Packers in his second year. He yielded just three sacks and eight pressures over his 643 pass-blocking snaps, ranking better than every center except for Philadelphia’s Jason Kelce in terms of pressures allowed (among centers who played 80% of their team’s offensive snaps in 2022).

Overall, though, Myers finished as Pro Football Focus’ 24th-highest-graded center (60.4) overall out of the 31 who played at least 679 snaps (50%) in 2022. He was particularly bad in terms of run-blocking, which figures to be an even bigger part of the Packers’ offensive game plan now that Aaron Rodgers is no longer under center.

“Josh is doing everything he can,” Burkus said on May 17, via PackersNews.com “He just needs to keep working, just like everybody else.

“He’s not, not meeting our expectations. That’s not what we’re talking about. He just needs to keep working to get better, like everybody in that room.”

Packers Have ‘A Lot of Competition on the Right Side’

GettyPackers guard Jon Runyan Jr. will also be fighting for his starting job in 2023.

Myers isn’t the only offensive lineman fighting for his job in 2023. Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich — the team’s line coach from 2019 to 2021 — indicated the only truly settled positions right now are left tackle (with All-Pro David Bakhtiari) and left guard (with Pro Bowler Elgton Jenkins), leaving the remaining mix of veterans and youngsters to vie for the other three starting roles in the coming months.

“We’ve got a lot of competition on the right side, whether it’s right guard, right tackle or even center,” Stenavich said on May 16. “We’re just going to go out there and kind of put these guys in different spots. I know right now [2022 fourth-round pick] Zach [Tom] is going to compete a lot at right guard and right tackle and possibly some at center, just kind of see how that goes. But like you said, just getting those best five out there that gel the best and are the most physical, that’s what I’m looking for.”

Tom will be one of the most fascinating pieces to watch for the Packers heading into the new season. He was thrown into the fire due to injuries during multiple points in his rookie campaign with the team, playing most of his snaps at left tackle but also getting reps at right tackle as well as both guard spots. With a strong camp and preseason, he could very well contend for one of the three open starting jobs for 2023.

The Packers also have two-year starter Jon Runyan Jr. trying to hold onto his right guard job against challenges from Tom, Rhyan and Royce Newman. He has all the reason in the world to be motivated entering the final year of his rookie contract, but the Packers could opt to go younger — such as with Tom or Rhyan — and move him back into the reserves if the competition shakes out that way before September.

The Green Bay Packers took some chances on some pass rushers in the 2023 NFL Draft, but general manager Brian Gutekunst could take another swing on a potentially cheap veteran at the position who is still a free agent.

Mike Price with Cheesehead TV wrote about fits with some of the best remaining free agents, highlighting wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins after he was released by the Arizona Cardinals. Price also talked about some of the remaining veteran pass rushers, mentioning that three-time Pro Bowler Jadeveon Clowney could be an ideal fit for Green Bay.

“Each of the teams in the North can use another rotational guy,” Price wrote. “The Lions made Charles Harris into an impact player last year, why not do the same thing with Clowney? The Packers probably have the strongest edge group in the division, but they’re missing the type of edge who can drop into the flat on simulated pressures or creepers and fill in until Rashan Gary is 100%…”

Price also mentioned Leonard Floyd, Yannick Ngakoue, and Melvin Ingram as potential options for the Packers.

Can The Packers Afford Clowney?

While star free agents like Hopkins may not make sense for the Packers financially, a move for a player like Clowney is a bit more realistic.

The former No. 1 overall pick has only had brief stints with teams since leaving the Houston Texans. He played one season with the Seahawks in 2019, one with the Titans in 2020, and then most recently two more years with the Browns starting in 2021.

Since leaving the Texans, Clowney’s previous contracts have hovered around $10-12 million, most recently with a reasonable cap hit of only $3.5 million in 2022. That, along with Clowney’s age, suggests that the 30-year-old is more affordable than other former Pro Bowlers.

Despite taking on a big dead cap hit by trading away Aaron Rodgers, the Packers still have a little bit of money to work with. Pending rookie deals, the Packers have $16.5 million in cap space, and could clear up even more by extending former first-round pick Rashan Gary.

If the Packers can clear a bit more space, a veteran like Clowney could actually make sense in Green Bay.

The Packers Have EDGE Depth

Even if the Packers don’t make a run at someone like Clowney, the team has pass-rush depth for the first time in a while.

Rashan Gary is still recovering from a torn ACL from November of last season, but the Packers have enough bodies to hold down the fort while he works his way back onto the field. Preston Smith has been a consistent starting edge-setter for the last few seasons, and second-year EDGE Kinglsey “JJ” Enagbare showed real flashes during his rookie season.

On top of those two, the Packers have re-signed Justin Hollins, who showed flashes as a late-season addition in 2022. They also used their first-round pick in this year’s draft on a promising and powerful pass rusher in Lukas Van Ness out of Iowa.

With those four pieces (along with late-round picks Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks), the Packers have plenty of depth while they wait for Gary to get fully healthy. Once that happens, Green Bay should have a formidable pass rush for the 2023 season.

The Green Bay Packers defense has a quality complement of pass rushers when healthy, though that particular “when” may be a moving target as the season approaches.

Former No. 12 overall pick Rashan Gary is poised for a monster 2023 campaign heading into unrestricted free agency one year from now, but his potential next season is tied to how soon he can return from a torn ACL he suffered in November 2022 against the Detroit Lions.

Until Gary returns, Green Bay must consider a sizable hole on the strong side of its 3-4 base defense. The best candidate to fill that empty space is arguably outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, formerly of the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams.

Mike Price of CheeseheadTV on Monday, May 29, named Floyd as the type of player the Packers should consider signing ahead of the season.

“The Packers probably have the strongest edge group in the division, but they’re missing the type of edge who can drop into the flat on simulated pressures or creepers and fill in until Rashan Gary is 100%, like Leonard Floyd,” Price wrote.

Leonard Floyd Presents Packers With Less Risk Than Other Options

GettyOutside linebacker Leonard Floyd, formerly of the Los Angeles Rams, sacks quarterback Russell Wilson, formerly of the Seattle Seahawks, during an NFL game in December 2021.

A decision to sign a player over the age of 30 who lines up at a premium position is never one to be taken lightly, particularly when that player has a recent track record that allows him to command a multiyear deal.

Floyd will turn 31 just two days before the Packers open their season on the road in Chicago. But unlike some other free agent options on the edge, Floyd’s career trajectory is on the rise as he makes the turn into his early 30s.

The Bears selected Floyd out of Georgia with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. He got off to a promising start, tallying seven sacks, forcing a fumble, recording a safety and scoring a defensive touchdown during his rookie year, per Pro Football Reference.

His career took something of a dive after that, as Floyd amassed just 11.5 sacks across 42 games over his next three years in Chicago. Things began to turn around for the pass rusher when he inked a one-year deal with the Rams in 2020. He tallied a career-high 10.5 sacks and racked up 30 quarterback pressures.

Floyd’s performance earned him a four-year, $64 million contract with Los Angeles in 2021. He put together 18.5 sacks and 68 quarterback pressures over the first two seasons of that deal and won a Super Bowl ring in the process. The Rams released Floyd in March in a salary dump that saved the franchise $3 million against its 2023 cap number.

Leonard Floyd Makes Sense for Packers on Value Contract

GettyOutside linebacker Leonard Floyd, formerly of the Los Angeles Rams, attempts to tackle San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey during an NFL game in 2022.

As an outside linebacker, Floyd is a natural fit in the Packers’ defense. Because the team has Gary coming back on one side and Preston Smith on the other, Green Bay doesn’t need to rely on Floyd to put up double-digit sacks in 2023 to be worth a contract — though that would be a big plus, and he has proven capable of such a performance.

Spotrac projects Floyd’s market value at close to $14 million annually over a three-year deal. However, the fact that he remains a free agent as the calendar creeps toward June suggests the edge rusher isn’t going to find that kind of money on the open market.

Floyd would not be well bought by the Packers at the aforementioned projected value, but a two- or three-year contract at around $10 million annually with back-end team flexibility could make sense for a group in Green Bay that is probably going to need to rely heavily on its defense if it hopes to make a postseason return in 2023.

The Green Bay Packers are heading into unfamiliar waters for the 2023 season with a new quarterback under center for the first time in 15 years, and at least one analyst believes that could present them with an opportunity to start recouping value for the 2024 offseason in case Jordan Love’s first season falls short.

While examining “shocking” trade ideas for the Pittsburgh Steelers recently, Bleacher Report’s Joe Tansey suggested the Steelers could call the Packers about the availability of “integral” right tackle Yosh Nijman as he enters the final year of his contract in 2023.

Nijman is one of the latest in a long line of great offensive line finds for the Packers, having initially signed as an undrafted rookie in 2019 and making the active roster coming out of 2020 training camp. Since then, the 27-year-old Nijman has started 21 games for the Packers across both tackle spots, most recently spending the final 11 games of 2022 as their starting right tackle opposite All-Pro David Bakhtiari.

“A Nijman trade would shock the Green Bay fanbase because it would significantly weaken a unit led by an unproven signal-caller,” Tansey wrote on May 24. “There is no guarantee of any success in Green Bay, and that could be the risk the Packers take if they want to recoup a draft pick or two for Nijman on the trade market.”

Back in March, Nate Tice suggested on ‘The Athletic Football Show’ that it would be a “no-brainer” for a tackle-needy team to offer a second-round selection to the Packers for Nijman. If they believe a similar return is still possible, it could be worth making a trade and passing the tackle torch to 2022 fourth-round pick Zach Tom instead.

Packers Must Consider Yosh Nijman’s Long-Term Fit

GettyYosh Nijman will be a free agent in 2024 for the Packers.

Nijman is a valuable player capable of playing either tackle spot who received his career-best pass-blocking grade (74.4) from Pro Football Focus in 2022, but there are legitimate questions the Packers need to ask themselves about his long-term value.

The Packers placed a second-round restricted free agent tender on Nijman for the 2023 offseason, ensuring they would either retain him on a one-year, $4.304 million contract (per Over the Cap) or receive a second-round pick as compensation for losing him. With nobody submitting a qualifying offer for him, Green Bay was able to lock him into place as its starting right tackle for 2023 at an affordable rate, but it won’t be able to count on that option in 2024 — especially if Nijman takes another step forward this year.

The Packers are projected to have roughly $23.7 million in cap space for 2024 and have a big decision to consider with Bakhtiari, who is set to see his cap hit balloon to $40.58 million that will force the team to either cut, trade or extend him. If they decided that Bakhtiari is worth keeping, it will be much harder to give Nijman a new contract.

There is also no guarantee that Nijman will succeed at right tackle in 2023. A majority of the sacks (all five) and pressures (23 of 28) he allowed in 2022 came after he took over as a settled starter on the right side. He also committed twice as many penalties (10) as any other player on the Packers’ offensive line last season, an issue that will be harder for a new signal-caller in Love to overcome if it repeats itself in 2023.

Perhaps the Packers have faith in Nijman to limit his mistakes in 2023 and continue his development. But if the front office is already leaning toward moving on from him next offseason, the Packers could avoid the risk of playing the compensatory-pick game and deal him away while his value is still high, stacking assets for 2024 in the process.

Does Packers’ Lack of Tackle Depth Rule Out Trade?

GettyThe Packers lack offensive tackle depth behind David Bakhtiari and Yosh Nijman for 2023.

The Packers could find compelling reasons to move Nijman to another squad if general manager Brian Gutekunst has clarity about his future (i.e. knows that he does not intend to re-sign him beyond 2023), but there is also one major reason why they might not want to trade him even if he isn’t in the future plans: tackle depth.

Right now, the Packers are counting on Bakhtiari and Nijman to be their starting tackles in 2023 and only really have Tom as an alternative if one of them is not available at any point during the season. Sure, Elgton Jenkins is also back on a new contract extension that keeps him tied to the team through the 2026 season, but the money they paid him suggests they would like to keep him at his original position at left guard. In all likelihood, Jenkins moving back to tackle would be an emergency option only.

Otherwise, the Packers have essentially no other viable options to replace Nijman if they opted to trade him. Rasheed Walker, a 2022 seventh-rounder, is likely the next-best option behind Tom, but he played zero offensive snaps as a rookie and was a healthy scratch for the majority of last season. They also have Luke Tenuta — a 2022 sixth-rounder for Buffalo — and a few recently undrafted guys (Caleb Jones, Jean Delance and Kadeem Telfort), none of whom are proven at the NFL level.

Yes, Nijman represents one of the higher-value trade chips in the Packers’ possession, but it would seem counterproductive to Love’s development if they traded Nijman and left the work to Bakhtiari and Tom alone. And while they could sign a veteran to cover the loss, it would make far more sense to keep Nijman than pay more for a replacement.

Brett Favre’s lawyers say a photo of Shannon Sharpe taken by a process server proves that Sharpe’s attorneys made false claims in a May 2023 court filing amid a legal battle between the two NFL legends, according to court documents obtained by Heavy.

Favre filed a lawsuit against Sharpe in February 2023 in Laurel County, Mississippi, court, accusing the Hall-of-Fame tight end of defamation.

Favre’s lawyers say Sharpe defamed the Hall-of-Fame quarterback by saying he “stole money from people that really needed money,” discussing a fraud scandal on the Fox Sports show “Skip and Shannon: Undisputed.” Favre has argued that Sharpe’s statements were false. The lawsuit was moved to the Southern District of Mississippi federal court in March.

In an effort to have the lawsuit thrown out, attorneys for the former Broncos and Ravens star argued that their client was not properly served with legal paperwork connected to the lawsuit. But Favre’s lawyers responded in a May 26, 2023, filing disputing that claim.

Favre settled a defamation lawsuit with another former NFL player turned media personality, Pat McAfee, writing on Twitter on May 11, 2023, “I’m happy that Pat McAfee and I have settled this litigation. Like Pat said, he was attempting to be funny and not commenting based on any personal knowledge. We’d both much rather talk about football.”

McAfee said on his show that same day, “As I have previously stated, I respect the hell out of Brett Favre the football player and his Hall of Fame career on the field, and I have no personal knowledge about any case involving Brett in Mississippi. I am pleased to report that based solely on me again clarifying these points now, with no settlement paid, Brett is withdrawing his suit against me.”

Favre is the target of a lawsuit filed by the state of Mississippi, which is seeking to recover some of the welfare money that state officials say was misspent, according to ESPN. Favre is not facing criminal charges, but eight others have been indicted in connection to a 2020 audit that found $77 million in federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) were misused, ESPN reported. That civil case is ongoing, and Favre is seeking a jury trial, court records show.

Here’s what you need to know about the most recent developments in the legal battle between Favre and Sharpe:

Brett Favre’s Lawyers Say Shannon Sharpe Was Properly Served With Court Documents in the Lawsuit & That This Photo Proves It

Southern District of Mississippi Federal CourtA screenshot of the court filing by Brett Favre’s lawyers in his lawsuit against Shannon Sharpe.

According to the May 26 court filing by Favre’s lawyers, Sharpe’s attorneys filed a motion for an extension of time for them to file a reply in support of his motion to dismiss the case based on the “premise … that he was not properly served.”

Favre’s lawyers, Eric Herschmann, Daniel Benson, Jennifer McDougall, Daniel Koevary, Michael Shemper and James Robert “Bob” Sullivan Jr., wrote, “Plaintiff has since learned that that contention is false.”

Lawyers for the former Packers, Jets and Vikings QB included a photo of Sharpe opening what appears to be a door to his home wearing a white T-shirt and glasses and holding a phone, in the court filing.

They said the photo, a screen-grab from a video taken by a process server, along with an affidavit of service, “indisputably show that defendant was properly served.” Sharpe’s lawyers have not filed a response to the latest filing from Favre’s camp. Sharpe’s lawyers sought an extension of seven days to respond to Favre’s lawyers response to his motion to dismiss, court records show. They are currently required to respond by May 31.

Sharpe Has Filed a Motion to Dismiss the Lawsuit, With His Attorneys Saying ‘

On May 3, Sharpe’s lawyers, D. Michael Hurst Jr., James Shelson, Mark Fijman, Mary Ellen Roy and Joseph Terry, filed a 22-page motion to dismiss Favre’s lawsuit.

They wrote, “Favre does not dispute the disclosed factual basis for Sharpe’s commentary—a Mississippi Today news article explicitly cited on the cable television show. Nor can Favre deny that the State of Mississippi has sued him in a lawsuit to recoup misspent welfare funds, that he returned welfare money he received for services not performed, that he has been interviewed by the FBI, and that his alleged misconduct has been extensively set forth in many publicly available court documents and widely covered in news stories.”

The court filing adds, “Rather, Favre’s claim depends solely on the assertion that Sharpe defamed him by offering the opinion that Favre, by engaging in this widely-reported conduct, ‘stole’ or was ‘taking’ from the needy and underserved of Mississippi and was thus ‘a sorry mofo.'” Sharpe’s lawyers wrote:

But Sharpe’s opinions—commentary based on reported facts and couched in rhetorical hyperbole regarding an issue of public concern about a public figure—lie at the core of the protections afforded by the First Amendment and Mississippi law. Sharpe’s comments are not actionable, and the Complaint is irreparably defective on its face. Moreover, Favre failed to comply with Mississippi law concerning the filing of defamation claims.

They added, “Even the most careless viewer of the Broadcast would have recognized Sharpe’s statements as rhetorical hyperbole—robust language used to express Sharpe’s strong views about the new information that emerged about Favre’s participation in the welfare saga. As any reasonable viewer can tell from watching the Broadcast, Undisputed is a debate format sports entertainment talk show, and Sharpe’s comments are properly seen in that context as constitutionally-protected speech.”

Favre’s Lawyers Struck Back in an Effort to Keep the Lawsuit Going, Writing, ‘

On May 24, Favre’s lawyers filed their 32-page opposition to Sharpe’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

They wrote that, Sharpe’s “statements plainly are statements of purported fact, not opinion—no matter how many times Sharpe in his motion asserts otherwise. When it counted, when he made those statements, Sharpe never said he was merely expressing his opinion. Nor did Sharpe take the opportunity to make that clear when Favre, before bringing this lawsuit, asked Sharpe to correct his statements. He does so only now because he is trying to avoid accountability for his maliciously false and defamatory statements.”

They added, “Sharpe cannot escape accountability. His statements accusing Favre of crimes were
false, and Mississippi law has long empowered private citizens to defend their ‘good name.'”

Favre’s lawyers wrote, “Favre’s allegations concerning Sharpe’s statements unquestionably state a plausible defamation claim, and Sharpe does not argue otherwise. Instead, he claims that his malicious and false statements are not actionable because they were rhetorical hyperbole, opinion based on a disclosed factual premise, and a report on an official proceeding. Sharpe is wrong on all counts.”

The case has been assigned to District Judge Keith Starrett, who will issue a ruling on whether Favre’s case against Sharpe can proceed.

The Green Bay Packers have made several hard decisions of late, and next offseason won’t be any easier.

As the Packers continue transitioning toward younger players in positions of prominence, one name to watch is cornerback Eric Stokes. The No. 29 overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft is up for a contract extension one season from now. Green Bay will have to decide then whether to exercise its fifth-year option on Stokes or let him roll into unrestricted free agency following the 2024 campaign.

Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated wrote on Friday, May 26, that he expects the Packers to pick up Stokes’ deal, assuming the defensive back can remain healthy.

“Stokes had an excellent rookie season for the Packers, and he was on his way to another quality campaign last year before a season-ending ankle injury in November,” Verderame said. “Paired with Jaire Alexander and Rasul Douglas, Green Bay has terrific corners to build its defense around. It would be an upset if Stokes stays healthy in 2023 and doesn’t see his option picked up.”

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Packers CB Eric Stokes Had Plate Surgically Inserted Into Injured Foot

GettyPackers cornerback Eric Stokes suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 9 of the 2022 season.

While that assessment of Stokes’ play and future potential are positive, the surety that the Packers choose to pay him big money in year five is tied to Stokes’ injury status. As Verderame noted, the cornerback missed the second half of his second season due to a serious ankle injury, but Stokes’ issues were worse than they appeared.

ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reported details on multiple surgeries Stokes that underwent to deal with the lisfranc issue that cut his 2022 campaign short.

CB Eric Stokes said he had surgery on his knee and foot — they were done at the same time — after his November injury. He had a lisfranc injury and had a plate inserted in his foot.

He said he finally started running a couple weeks ago and believes he’ll get his speed back.

— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) May 23, 2023

“CB Eric Stokes said he had surgery on his knee and foot — they were done at the same time — after his November injury. He had a lisfranc injury and had a plate inserted into his foot,” Demovsky tweeted on May 23. “He said he finally started running a couple weeks ago and believes he’ll get his speed back.”

Stokes has two months until the start of training camp and more than three months before the Packers open the 2023 season on the road against the Chicago Bears on September 10.

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Eric Stokes Will Garner Large Contract if Packers Pick up His Option

GettyGreen Bay Packers cornerback Eric Stokes.

What Green Bay will owe Stokes should they pick up his fifth-year option is yet to be determined. Such options go up based on snaps played and Pro-Bowl honors earned. Stokes played in 16 of 17 games during his rookie campaign in 2021, starting 14 of those contests. He started in the first nine outings of 2022 before hurting his ankle.

Even if the cornerback doesn’t make the first Pro-Bowl team of his career in 2023, his fifth-year salary number figures to be well into the eight-figures. Stokes will play next season on the third year of a four-year deal worth just shy of $12 million total.

Stokes has tallied 81 tackles, 14 pass breakups and one interception across his first two NFL campaigns, per Pro Football Reference.

The Green Bay Packers could use a veteran pass-catcher in the locker room next season and can probably afford to part with one prominent offensive lineman.

Such is the premise for a trade proposal that would swap Green Bay’s starting offensive guard Jon Runyan Jr. for wide receiver Hunter Renfrow from the Las Vegas Raiders. The pitch originated with Jonathan Delray of Bleacher Report who last weekend explored hypothetical deals that would make sense for the Packers ahead of training camp.

“Hunter Renfrow could be a worthwhile addition,” Delray said. “In 2022, of course, we know the Raiders made this world of changes and Renfrow didn’t exactly do well with it. He played in only 10 games, he was injury-hampered all year … just not the same guy. And rumors have persisted that he’s going to be a post-June 1 trade [candidate].”

“The Raiders are looking specifically for a right guard. [Runyan] is entering the last year of his contract,” Delray continued. “[The Packers] have been continuing to talk about Zach Tom even more being an interior lineman, that he’s going to compete at center, right guard and right tackle — wherever [he] can fit in for their best five. So if you want to ship off Jon Runyan to the Raiders, it’s possible.”

Zach Tom Allows Packers to Trade Jon Runyan for Hunter Renfrow

GettyOffensive linemen Cody Conway (left) and Jon Runyan (right) of the Green Bay Packers participate in training camp in August 2020.

The swap wouldn’t be Runyan for Renfrow straight up, as Delray explained. Green Bay would likely need to include an asset in the neighborhood of a fourth-round draft pick in 2024 to make it worth the Raiders’ while.

On the flip side, Las Vegas would probably need to send the Packers a couple million dollars for the deal to make sense. Renfrow will carry a cap hit of roughly $11 million for Green Bay next season should the franchise acquire him. The 27-year-old wide receiver is entering the final season of a two-year contract worth north of $32.3 million in total.

The deal makes sense on paper, after Tom appeared in nine games and garnered five starts during his rookie campaign. The 2022 fourth-round pick played every position except center and was one of the top-10 pass-blocking tackles in the league across the snaps he saw on the outside, per Zoltán Buday of Pro Football Focus.

Moving Tom inside to the guard spot doesn’t play directly to his strengths, but with Yosh Nijman available to start at right tackle, the talented and versatile Tom has room to improve at the guard spot entering just his second NFL season.

Hunter Renfrow Adds Veteran Presence to Packers’ Wide Receiver Room

GettyWide receiver Hunter Renfrow of the Las Vegas Raiders could be a trade target for the Green Bay Packers this summer.

Renfrow makes sense in Green Bay’s wide receiver room for a number of reasons. The team’s top four players at the position heading into this summer are all playing in either their first or second professional seasons. Even three years shy of 30, that would make Renfrow by far the most experienced and accomplished pass-catcher on the Packers’ roster, including the two rookies expected to draw the most playing time at tight end.

The Raiders’ receiver earned a Pro-Bowl nod in his third professional season in 2021, racking up 103 catches for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns, per Pro Football Reference. Renfrow suffered a concussion and an oblique injury in 2022 that derailed his campaign, but his down season last year can hardly be characterized as a trend.

Given his age and the opportunity to start as a slot wide receiver in Green Bay in 2023, a change of scenery might be all it takes to vault Renfrow back into the Pro-Bowl discussion. Even if he doesn’t ascend back to those heights, he offers a reliable complement to explosive playmaker Christian Watson on the outside.

Renfrow should also have some value where quarterback Jordan Love is concerned, as he embarks on his first campaign as a starter in what will be his fourth season in the NFL.

The Green Bay Packers have needed a veteran wide receiver this offseason to serve as a mentor for their young playmakers, and one has suddenly become available after being released.

With the Arizona Cardinals expected to enter a rebuild, several key veterans have requested a trade, including star wideout DeAndre Hopkins. Although Hopkins denied those rumors heading into the draft, the five-time All-Pro will still be playing elsewhere in 2023.

ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter tweeted on Friday, May 26 that the Cardinals had released Hopkins from his contract, making him a free agent. The 30-year-old will now have his choice of teams to sign with, rather than having to wait on the Cardinals to facilitate a trade.

The Packers have previously been mentioned as a team that could trade for Hopkins, but now they’ll try to lure him to Green Bay despite limited cap space.

Would DeAndre Hopkins Choose Green Bay?

While the Packers may not have the cap space to afford a top-tier wide receiver, the team does check other boxes for Hopkins as he looks for his next team.

Prior to his release, Hopkins appeared on Brandon Marshall’s “I Am Athlete” podcast and was asked about what he wants from his next team. According to NFL insider Ari Meirow, the 30-year-old is looking for a team with stable management, a passionate quarterback, and a great defense.

There might not be another NFL franchise with as stable of management as the Packers. Brian Gutekunst took over as general manager in 2018 after a 12-year stint by the late Ted Thompson. The current Packers GM appears to be firmly in control of the franchise despite the departures of Davante Adams and Aaron Rodgers over the past few seasons.

While it’s impossible for people on the outside to know about Jordan Love’s passion for the game of football, the team does boast plenty of talent on defense, with seven first-round picks under contract on that side of the ball.

The Packers Have Had Bad Luck With Star Receivers

Unfortunately, other teams with similar situations (and likely more cap space) are more likely to land Hopkins than the Packers, and this isn’t the first time that this has happened.

Future Hall of Fame wide receiver Julio Jones had expressed interest in joining the Packers last offseason, but was lured to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers thanks to Tom Brady. Green Bay has also been linked to Odell Beckham Jr. over the past couple seasons, while Aaron Rodgers himself has even tried to lure OBJ back to New York.

Instead, Beckham has signed elsewhere over the last few years, most recently with the Baltimore Ravens for 2023.

The Packers will likely have to rely on their young receivers to grow and develop along with Love next season and beyond. Christian Watson has shown serious flashes of being a star wideout, but others like Romeo Doubs, Samori Toure, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvion Wicks will have to compete with each other for playing time while trying to develop into reliable pass catchers.

Gutekunst and Matt LaFleur appear to be ok with letting the young wide receivers battle it out, so it’s unlikely that Hopkins will be coming to Green Bay despite now being a free agent.

The Green Bay Packers are shifting course in a big way in 2023, but some vestiges of the previous era are worth keeping around a while longer.

Green Bay’s biggest roster hole is on the back end of its defense. High quality cornerbacks in Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes and Rasul Douglas are enough to make the Packers’ secondary formidable but a weakness exists in their complements at the safety spot.

The team’s top backfield patroller for the last four seasons was Adrian Amos, who hit free agency in March after playing out his four-year, $36 million contract. He has spent the last couple of months exploring the market for his best opportunity, while the ideal situation for both Amos and the Packers appears to be a reunion in Green Bay.

David Kenyon of Bleacher Report asserted on Wednesday, May 24, that re-signing Amos is the most important move the franchise still needs to make ahead of next season.

“It would be surprising if the Packers aren’t also eyeing a veteran receiver, but safety is a more pressing spot,” Kenyon wrote. “Darnell Savage and Rudy Ford are Green Bay’s projected starters, along with Tarvarius Moore as a top backup. While the Packers might be able to navigate 2023 with that trio, re-signing Adrian Amos for a fifth season would be sensible.”

Adriam Amos Struggled Through Down Year in Green Bay in 2022

GettySafety Adrian Amos of the Green Bay Packers celebrates after intercepting a pass from quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, formerly of the Chicago Bears, in January 2021.

As an eight-year veteran now on the wrong side of 30, Amos’ biggest concern is hitting one last big NFL contract. The Packers’ biggest concern was the safety’s significant decline in play in 2022 as compared to his performance across the three seasons prior.

Amos was one of the league’s better safeties in pass coverage over a five-year stretch, forcing incompletions at a rate north of 17% and allowing “explosive receptions” on just 1% of his snaps between 2017-21, according to Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus (PFF). However, Amos’ PFF player grade dropped to 54.2 last year, a dip of more than 15 points from his worst professional campaign.

That drop in production is one reason the Packers allowed Amos to explore free safety absent an offer from the team. That offer has yet to come, which gives Green Bay more negotiating leverage with a player it legitimately needs to bring back for at least one season before finding a longer-term solution.

Packers, Adrian Amos can Find Contract Compromise

GettyThe Green Bay Packers could bring back veteran safety Adrian Amos prior to the start of the 2023 season.

But Amos has some leverage as well. He knows the Packers are shy on talent at his position and he can make a case for a rebound year in 2023 considering the reliability and longevity he has shown to this point in his career.

Situations like these are often mitigated by a compromise — a short-term contract with a high annual average salary. Spotrac projects Amos’ value at $6.8 million annually over a three-year deal. If the safety can’t find that on the open market, then upping his annual number and throwing in some incentives could be enough to entice Amos to sign a one-year contract in Green Bay.

Amos can prove himself worthy of a multiyear deal through his early 30s while earning something close to the $9 million per season he was paid by the Packers over the past four years. Green Bay brings back a veteran safety familiar with its scheme to help anchor an expensive defense in 2023, and everybody wins at least a little bit.

It’s the dawn of a new era for the Green Bay Packers.

In Florham Park, 976 miles away from where Aaron Rodgers led the Packers to a Super Bowl championship and won four NFL MVP awards, he is the face of a resurgent New York Jets roster with aspirations to add a second Lombardi Trophy to their collection.

But, in the shadows of Lambeau Field where Rodgers was the face of the franchise for over a decade, Jordan Love aims to finally emerge from Rodgers’ shadow.

“It’s definitely a little hard to fairly evaluate him today,” a current NFL general manager told Heavy. “But, he’s an athletic and strong-armed quarterback, who will need to learn to process information quickly if he’s going to be successful.”

One thing is certain. Brian Gutekunst is “all-in” on Love.

Gutekunst believes the young quarterback has a tremendously high ceiling, sources close to the Packers’ general manager.

“Jordan is a good-sized quarterback with enough arm talent and athletic ability to be a quality starter in this league,” an NFC executive with ties to the Packers told Heavy. “It just comes down to if he can handle it all, mentally.”

The Packers chose Love No. 26 overall in the 2020 NFL draft, and after trading Rodgers to the Jets, the organization will finally get its chance to turn the page and see if Love can deliver a promising next chapter for one of the more storied franchises in all of sports.

Packers Building Around Jordan Love

For as much of a wedge was driven between Rodgers and the Packers, Green Bay has invested significant resources in young talent the past two offseasons, and Love is certain to benefit from those new arrivals.

Over the past two years, the Packers have added receivers Christian Watson, and Romeo Doubs, during last year’s draft, along with a pair of pass-catching tight ends Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft joining the fold in this year’s draft.

Love appeared in four games, completing 66.7% of his passes for 195 yards with 1 touchdown.

When he did get the chance to take the field, Love clearly showed the Packers enough to be comfortable turning over the reigns of the franchise to him.

Meanwhile, Watson overcame early-season jitters, going on to catch 41 passes for 611 yards with 7 touchdowns. Perhaps the biggest reason for optimism for Love and the Packers’ offense this season is the fact that Green Bay quarterbacks posted a whopping 123.3 passer rating on Watson’s 65 targets during the 2022 campaign.

The Packers boast a young and ascending offense, with Love as the benefactor.

How Good Can the Packers Be in 2023?

The landscape around the Packers has shifted dramatically, especially in the NFC North.

After the Detroit Lions dispatched the Packers 37-30, on Sunday night football inside Lambeau in the final game of the 2022 regular season, dashing Green Bay’s playoff hopes, it would seem the Lions and not the Packers are the to beat within the division.

Some growing pains for Love are to be expected. But, as former NFL Executive of the Year Jeff Diamond points out, Love’s best days — and perhaps the Packers’ could be ahead.

“I was impressed with Love’s performance against the Eagles’ excellent defense last season and I think he has a chance to be a very good QB,” Diamond told Heavy. “I think Love will be a middle-of-the-pack QB stats-wise this season and the Packers will be around .500 and finish behind the Vikings and Lions in the NFC North.

“In 2024 when Green Bay doesn’t have Rodgers’ $40 million in dead money strangling their cap. They’ll have an opportunity to put more talent around Love so he has a better chance to flourish.”

With OTAs kicking off, the Green Bay Packers are still waiting on several starters to get fully healthy, but one of those starters shared some concerning details about what he’s been dealing with since last season.

Several starters were seen working off to the side at OTAs on Tuesday, May 23, including star pass rusher Rashan Gary, who is still recovering from a torn ACL he suffered against the Detroit Lions. Former first-round pick Eric Stokes also suffered a season-ending injury in that game, but little had been known about his injury until now.

Following practice, Stokes spoke with reporters and revealed the injuries that kept him out for the rest of the 2022 season. ESPN’s Rob Demovsky tweeted that the 24-year-old had required surgery on both his knee and foot to deal with a lisfranc injury that required a plate to be inserted into his foot.

While Stokes is confident he will get his speed back, any loss of speed will severely hurt him based off of his play style in his first two NFL seasons. The former first-round pick has relied on his recovery speed to avoid allowing explosive plays, but this injury could force him to change the way he plays in 2023 and beyond.

A Strong Start for Eric Stokes

While Stokes is still trying to get back onto the football field, the 24-year-old has looked like a very reliable cornerback opposite of Jaire Alexander when healthy.

The 29th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Georgia, Stokes was thrust into a starting role almost immediately as a rookie. He played in 16 games with 14 starts in his first season, coming away with 14 pass breakups and an interception.

While those appear to be modest numbers on the surface, the advanced metrics show Stokes had an extremely productive season in coverage. According to Pro Football Focus, Stokes allowed a reception on just 51 percent of his targets, tied for the fifth-best rate in the NFL, with a passer rating allowed of only 79.1.

Unfortunately, Stokes took a bit of a step back in 2022 prior to his injury. He allowed a catch on  84 percent of his targets with a passer rating of 125.8 allowed with a missed tackle rate of 16.1 percent, up from 9.2 percent the previous season.

If the 24-year-old is able to recover his speed and keep working on his technique, Packers fans are hoping he can return to his rookie form in 2023 and beyond.

How Is Rashan Gary Progressing?

With Gary also getting hurt during the same game as Stokes in November, expectations were that the Packers pass rusher wouldn’t make a return until at least halfway through the 2023 season. However, the team is getting some encouraging news from one of their top defensive playmakers.

Back in February, general manager Brian Gutekunst suggested that Gary could be eased back into football activities during training camp, saying that the team was very optimistic about his rehab progress.

While the Packers haven’t provided another update since, the former first-round pick was present at OTAs rehabbing and working off to the side with the team. If he can somehow be ready by Week 1, then the Packers could have an imposing pass-rushing group with Gary, Preston Smith, and first-round pick Lukas Van Ness.