The Green Bay Packers will shift to a 4-3 under Jeff Hafley, which means they’ll need to upgrade the off-ball linebacker position. It’s not just the relative lack of experience in their young starting lineup; depth is also a concern. The Packers only have four off-ball linebackers under contract for the 2024 season: Quay Walker, Isaiah McDuffie, Kristian Welch, and Christian Young on the practice squad.
Despite being selected as the first off-ball linebacker in the 2022 draft,Walker hasn’t lived up to expectations during his time in Green Bay. Last year, he posted the lowest PFF grade (58.5) among 11 qualifying off-ball linebackers from his class. The Packers drafted McDuffie in 2021, and he has nine career starts, with eight of them in 2023. Welch entered the league in 2020 and has yet to start a game in his NFL career. Young hasn’t played in an NFL game yet at all.
The Packers are expected to primarily employ a 4-2-5 defensive formation rather than stick strictly to the traditional 4-3 setup. However, regardless of whether they choose to have two or three linebackers on the field, their current roster lacks the necessary personnel to handle the demands of the scheme.
Free agents Azeez Al-Shaair, Frankie Luvu, and Anthony Walker have signed deals with other teams. Jerome Baker is one potential solution to address Green Bay’s linebacker needs. Another potential solution is to pursue versatile prospect Isaiah Simmons. He showcased his ability to excel in various defensive roles while playing linebacker and safety with the Arizona Cardinals.
Green Bay’s relative inactivity in the off-ball linebacker market suggests that Brian Gutekunst may hold strong convictions about certain prospects.
Only one off-ball linebacker, NC State’s Payton Wilson, made Pro Football Focus’ top-50 prospects list, ranking 26th. Wilson has a relative athletic score of 9.81, aligning well with Green Bay’s draft profile, which prioritizes athleticism. Wilson has a concerning injury track record. In 2018, he spent his first season at NC State recovering from a knee injury he suffered in high school. In 2021, he played only two games due to a banged-up shoulder. Wilson turns 24 in April, which raises questions about whether the Packers would take a risk on an older prospect with a significant health concerns.
Green Bay recently hosted a top-30 visit with Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper. He has a 98th percentile run-stop percentage, a 97th percentile run defense grade, a 96th percentile coverage grade, a 95th percentile forced-incompletion percentage, and a 95th percentile box-coverage grade. Additionally, his relative athletic score was 9.34
Clemson’s Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is a potential wild card selection for the Packers. Trotter may not fit Green Bay’s preferred athletic profile and exhibits inconsistencies against the run, including a propensity for missed tackles. PFF recorded him with 15 missed tackles.
Despite these drawbacks, Trotter’s strength lies in his prowess as a blitzer. He recorded an impressive 13 sacks during his time at Clemson. If the Packers want to add aggression into their defensive strategy and deploy exotic looks featuring linebacker zone blitzes, Trotter could be a prime target for Green Bay.
Time is running out for the Packers in free agency, leaving them with limited options to address crucial positions on their roster. If Green Bay fails to secure starting-caliber players or add depth, they must rely heavily on the upcoming draft.
