GREEN BAY PACKERS

OFF SEASON CHANGES

Micah Parsons will likely be missing for the first month or so of the season and Green Bay needs some cover in the pass rush. GM Brian Gutekunst used limited draft capital, having no first-rounder after the Parsons trade, efficiently on cornerback Brandon Cisse and edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton. Green Bay was 29th in pressure rate allowed last year, real cause for concern along an offensive line replacing both starting tackle and center this off-season.

QUATERBACKS

Jordan Love was already second in EPA per play among qualified quarterbacks last season without one of his top two pass-catchers on the field for all but two total games. Love is entering year four of his $220 million extension after a career-efficient season: per Sharp, second in EPA per play among qualified quarterbacks, all without Christian Watson or Tucker Kraft healthy for all but two games together. It looks like there will be better player health to start the season with all of Watson, Jayden Reed, Tucker Kraft and Matthew Golden being involved in training camp. Micah Parsons publicly defended Love after a modest No. 72 ranking on the NFL's Top 100 list.

RUNNING BACKS

There is some uncertainty here as workhorse RB1 Josh Jacobs is dealing with some legal issues relating to a domestic violence allegation and the team is preparing for a potential suspension. At this stage he’s been able to complete training but it’s unclear whether he will face a trial. Jacobs is a three-down back and has been very productive for the Packers in his two seasons there, with 13 and 15 rushing touchdowns. He had injuries last year but is fully healthy coming into this season and I expect big numbers once again if he’s on the field. There isn’t a whole lot of depth behind Jacobs, with MarShawn Lloyd and Chris Brooks listed as the backups. If Jacobs does miss games, I expect the Packers to sign a veteran or free agent to give them some more options.

RECEIVERS

Matthew Golden flashed as a rookie, including a four-catch, 84-yard playoff performance against Chicago, and now competes with Christian Watson for the No. 1 role after Romeo Doubs' departure. Tucker Kraft was on pace for a huge season before a Week 9 torn ACL and could return for the opener. Green Bay's quality offensive marks last season, including fourth in EPA per play, came almost entirely without Watson and Kraft playing together, meaning a full healthy season from this pass-catching corps could push per-game scoring output considerably higher than last year's middling 16th-place finish. This group has real top-end talent but no fully proven, established star the way most of the NFC's elite offenses currently boast heading into the season.

DEFENCE

Micah Parsons' looming return is the single biggest storyline for this defense, a completely different unit once he's back on the field after leading the team in sacks even in a partial season. Devonte Wyatt is back from injury, and free-agent addition Javon Hargrave adds interior depth. Until Parsons returns around Week 5 or 6, new coordinator Jonathan Gannon leans on a rotation that lacks his singular, game-wrecking ability up front.