Krys Barnes, Kamal Martin and Ty Summers all played over 100 snaps last season, and Oren Burks is back for what could be one last opportunity. The Packers signed De’Vondre Campbell, adding an experienced linebacker to a group that lost Christian Kirksey, but the real improvement from the annually disappointing position must come internally.
15, 2020, during the team’s first practice at training camp in Green Bay, Wis. Green Bay Packers linebacker Krys Barnes (51) is shown Saturday, Aug. The Packers would probably like to identify two or three players capable of handling the role, and then find the one primary starter. This will be one of the top position battles to watch during camp. The Packers might like one of their perimeter corners – even Jaire Alexander – at times in the slot.
Standout safety Darnell Savage could play down in the slot for more snaps.
Chandon Sullivan, who returned on a one-year restricted tender, is the early favorite after starting there all of last season, but the Packers have options. In today’s NFL, slots have to cover all types of positions in space, play the run with physicality and add something to the blitz package. Like all defenses, it’s an increasingly important position. The “star” position is really just the slot cornerback spot in Joe Barry’s scheme.
The Packers can let the competition play out in full this summer. Or maybe Stokes is ready to compete for playing time right away. Maybe the arrival of Stokes can push him to a new level of performance. King can be a useful player, but injuries and inconsistencies have plagued his career, and he’s coming off a disastrous final performance in the NFC title game. But what about first-round pick Eric Stokes? He has elite NFL speed, and he looked sticky at times in coverage at the SEC level. The Packers brought back Kevin King on a one-year deal with void years, making him the odds-on favorite to start once again on the perimeter opposite Jaire Alexander. Stardom awaits if Gary is prepared to grab it to start his third season. Training camp will provide the first clues about Gary’s readiness to go from a valuable rotational player to a full-time disruptor. He’s violent setting the edge and ever-improving as a rusher. Even with Preston Smith back, Gary is going to get more opportunities in 2021. Can training camp once again provide the foundation for another step in his development? The Packers are certain big things are in his future, and his dominance at times to end last season suggests another leap in Year 3 isn’t just possible but likely. Last summer provided the early signs of a potential breakout for Gary, who – after a slow start to Year 2 – transformed into a legitimately disruptive force as a rotational edge rusher for the Packers defense. Here are the rest of the biggest question marks facing Barry’s group entering camp: What adjustments will Barry make in scheme and player usage? How will his scheme and plan of attack differ from Pettine’s? Is he capable of pushing the group to the next level? Whether or not Barry can hit the ground running during his first season as the Packers defensive coordinator might be a deciding factor for the team’s Super Bowl aspirations in 2021. The change at coordinator is the biggest question mark for the Packers defense entering training camp. Gone is Mike Pettine, who led the Packers defense for three seasons, and arriving is Joe Barry, who didn’t produce top-level defenses during his previous two stints as a defensive coordinator but now inherits the most talented group he’s ever coached. © 2022 New Orleans Saints.A talent-rich Green Bay Packers defense that jumped into the top 10 in yards allowed (ninth) but regressed in points allowed (19.6 to 23.1) will welcome a new coordinator to an important leadership role in 2021.