The Green Bay Packers have covered both ends of the spectrum in two games. We have seen just how good they can be when everything is clicking, which led to a 38-20 blowout victory over the Chicago Bears in Week 1. In Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons, we saw how things looked when there were a few miscues, which led to a 25-24 loss.
The Packers look like a team that will surprise some people this season as they won’t be as bad as many thought early on in the offseason. But, they are not near the contending tier, at least not yet.
Green Bay has a lot of players learning on the job this season as they have the youngest and least experienced roster in the NFL. In the opinion of Matt Holder of Bleacher Report, one of the team’s biggest weaknesses is their secondary.
He suggested that the Packers look to sign veteran William Jackson to add some more depth to the cornerback spot. On top of that, he also made a suggestion of a player that the team could target in free agency in 2024.
Holder believes that safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson would be ideal for the Packers. Given the concerns that the team had with the position coming into the season, it would be hard to argue against him.
“Heading into the offseason, defensive backs Darnell Savage and Keisean Nixon are scheduled to hit free agency, which would leave the Packers with needs at safety and slot corner. So, why not go with a two-birds, one-stone strategy by bringing in Gardner-Johnson?
The five-year veteran has experience playing all over the secondary. That versatility would work well in just about any defensive backfield, especially Green Bay’s, which might have a couple of needs this offseason. It also doesn’t hurt that he has nine interceptions in the last two years combined.”
Darnell Savage Jr. was the closest that the Packers had to a surefire starter heading into 2023 and he was benched for portions of the 2022 season. We have already seen his Jekyll and Hyde, as he was stellar in Week 1 but struggled mightily in Week 2.
Out of the Packers’ current group of safeties, none of them excel in pass coverage. Gardner-Johnson would change that immediately as he thrives as a slot corner while also possessing the versatility to play either safety spot.
Unfortunately, Gardner-Johnson’s 2023 season is in jeopardy. He was placed on IR this week as he is feared to have suffered a torn pectoral in the team’s overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2.
