While the summer season brings much enjoyment to the average person, for an NFL fan, it represents a desolate wasteland where Sundays just aren't quite as vibrant as in the autumn months. However, with each passing day, we inch closer to the beginning of the 2023 NFL season, which officially kicks off on September 7 this year. Whether you've had your favorite team's tweet notifications turned on all summer or if you've decided to tune out all football news entirely, you'll be able to learn everything you need to know about your team going into the 2023-24 season right here. In today's article, I'll be discussing the Green Bay Packers I wrote a guidebook for every team in the NFL heading into the 2023 season. To check out an article for another team, click the link below: https://www.bucketsquadsportsreports.com/nfl 2022 Season Recap 2022 was certainly a down year for the Packers. After three straight 13-win seasons atop the NFC North, a rough stretch during the 2022 campaign necessitated a perfect five-win ending to clinch the playoffs. Despite winning the first four of those games, they dropped their season finale against the Lions, missing out on the postseason for the first time since 2018 and finishing 3rd in the division. Green Bay was pretty average in every team metric, especially on the offensive side of the ball. They just couldn’t get it going until it was already too late. They’ll be moving into a new era in 2023 without longtime franchise QB Aaron Rodgers. Significant Roster Moves There weren’t a lot of change by quantity to the roster, but the quality change was certainly noticeable. As I alluded to above, the Packers couldn’t reach a deal with Aaron Rodgers, and he was traded to the Jets in April in exchange for draft picks. With Rodgers went two of his top targets: Randall Cobb and Allen Lazard. Robert Tonyan didn’t go to New York, but he too departed the Packers. Safety Adrian Amos and defensive linemen Dean Lowry and Jarran Reed were the only starters from the defense to not return. Longtime kicker Mason Crosby will be a free agent to start 2023. The only significant addition to the team was safety Jonathan Owens to replace Adrian Amos. The rest of the departures were replaced either from within or through the draft. 2023 Draft Class Green Bay had 13 picks in this year’s draft, and used most of them on pass catchers, defensive linemen, and defensive backs. The first four picks, DE Lukas Van Ness, TEs Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft, and receiver Jayden Reed will all get significant playing time immediately, as Musgrave and Reed have already been listed as starters into the season. I’m sure Aaron Rodgers is glad that the organization finally started using high draft picks on offensive weapons now that he’s gone. 5th round QB Sean Clifford will start the season as Jordan Love’s backup and could see playing time in garbage time, or if Love gets hurt. They drafted kicker Anders Carlson to replace Mason Crosby this year. Season Schedule The Packers will take on the NFC South and the AFC West in 2023 to go along with their six divisional games. Their other three opponents are the Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New York Giants. With an opponent prior season win percentage of .476, Green Bay has the 9th easiest schedule in the NFL. Green Bay’s primetime games include one Thursday night games versus Detroit, two Sunday night games versus Kansas City and at Minnesota, and two Monday night games at Las Vegas and the NY Giants. They will also play on Thanksgiving Day against the Lions. Depth Charts Offense Defense Special Teams The Packers return 15 of their 22 offensive and defensive starters from last year. The biggest change is obviously the transition into the Jordan Love era at quarterback after 20-plus seasons with Brett Favre and then Aaron Rodgers. Packers fans are used to elite quarterback play, so Love will have a lot of pressure on him from the beginning. He has plenty of talent around him and solid, healthy defense in support. We’ll see how Green Bay fares in their first season post-Rodgers. Coaching Staff Matt LaFleur returns for his 5th season as head coach of the Packers. All three coordinators return from last season as well: Offensive Coordinator Adam Stenavich (2nd season), Defensive Coordinator Joe Barry (3rdseason), and Special Teams Coordinator Rich Bisaccia (2nd season). Betting Odds Oddsmakers have set the regular season win total for Green Bay at 7.5 games. As of right now, the Packers are the least likely team to win the NFC North and are tied for the 11th most likely team to win the NFC as a whole. At +6500 to win Super Bowl LVIII, they are tied for 21st among all teams in the league. Bucket Squad Predictions Bucket Squad Sports Reports predicts the Packers to finish 6-11 in 2023, winning a tiebreaker with the Bears to finish 3rd in the division and 10th in the conference. They’ll show some bright flashes but won’t be able to put it all together consistently enough to reach the playoffs in Jordan Love’s first season as starting quarterback.
What do you think? Will Green Bay be better or worse than I'm projecting? What offseason moves made by the Packers surprised you the most? Leave a comment down below and be sure to check the "NFL" section of the website for more NFL team guidebooks as I finish them. Written by Nick Swatson
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