The Top 5 Unaddressed Positions of Need in the NFC

Green Bay Packers, Inside Linebacker

Requiescat in pace, A.J. Hawk and Brad Jones’s careers. The former tackle-racking inside linebackers departed Green Bay this offseason, as the Packers made these coverage liabilities into cap casualties. The two of them have graded out negatively by Pro Football Focus’ system each of the last two seasons, and this year, both were outside of the top-100 inside linebackers across the league. Jones was so bad that the Packers slashed his snaps from 594 in 2013 to just 207 this year. Their porous play has led Green Bay to a bottom-third ranking in Adjusted Defensive Rushing NEP each of the last two seasons.

By saving themselves $7.25 million in cap space, they left themselves somewhat wanting. Second-year Sam Barrington is the only true inside ‘backer left on the roster from last season (Jamari Lattimore also left in free agency). They made no trades, signed no big-time free agents, and waited until the fourth round of the draft to select even one rookie. Expect Clay Matthews to start Week 1 on the inside at the moment.

Best Solution So Far: Jake Ryan, fourth-round rookie