NFL training camps are scheduled to begin July 28, barring any COVID-19-imposed delays, and rookies may report as early as July 21.
The league has yet to announce an official return-to-play plan, and it’s unclear how teams will be tested for the virus before players, coaches and other staff members report to their respective facilities.
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Normally, at this time of the offseason, we have a rough idea of which Packers players will contribute based on rookie minicamps, organized team activities and other in-person offseason team workouts.
Those don’t exist this summer, at least not in full capacity, but here’s a list of the Packers’ 30 best players entering the 2020 season.
30. OL Lucas Patrick
As a reward for his improvement since signing with the Packers after a rookie tryout in 2016, the versatile interior offensive lineman signed a two-year extension late last season.
29. ILB Ty Summers
A core special teamer in 2019, last year’s seventh-round pick will have a chance to replace B.J. Goodson as the second starting inside linebacker in Green Bay’s base defense.
28. LG Lane Taylor
After tearing his biceps muscle in Week 3 and taking a pay cut this offseason, Taylor must earn his starting spot back. That won’t be easy, and it definitely won’t come at left guard.
27. TE Jace Sternberger
After missing the first eight games of his rookie season while on injured reserve and only catching three passes the remainder of the season (all in the playoffs), the 2019 third-round pick’s workload may increase more than any other player.
26. OLB Rashan Gary
The Packers put the 2019 first-round pick in an unenviable position last season – fourth on the edge rusher depth chart – and 2020 should provide a much better opportunity for Gary to prove why the team picked him No. 12 overall.
25. WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
This preseason might be Valdes-Scantling’s last chance to stick with the Packers after catching only six passes for 44 yards in the final 11 games of last season.
24. DL Dean Lowry
After watching Lowry struggle defending the run in 2019, the Packers might regret the three-year, $20.3 million extension they gave him before last season.
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23. CB Chandon Sullivan
Despite only playing 34 percent of the Packers’ defensive snaps, Sullivan logged six passes defensed and surpassed 2018 second-round pick Josh Jackson on the cornerback depth chart.
22. RB Tyler Ervin
Ervin saved the Packers’ punt return unit from being the worst in NFL history, averaging 9.6 yards per return beginning in from Week 13 while also serving as a gadget piece out of the backfield.
21. RG Billy Turner
Turner was the weakest link among Green Bay’s starting offensive linemen in 2019, but he may slide to right tackle if Rick Wagner isn’t the answer.
20. RT Rick Wagner
Wagner is in line to replace Bryan Bulaga at right tackle, but he’s only started 16 games once in his seven-year career and is a downgrade protecting Aaron Rodgers’ strong side.
19. TE Marcedes Lewis
One of the team’s locker room favorites, the 36-year-old Lewis is a staunch run blocker and even caught a touchdown last season.
18. K Mason Crosby
The 35-year-old and lifelong Packer made 22 of 24 field goals last season, good for the best percentage of his career (91.7).
17. WR Devin Funchess
Funchess broke his collarbone in Week 1 last season while playing for the Colts, but he caught 12 touchdowns combined in 2017 and ‘18 while playing for the Panthers. He’s also the only Packer besides Rodgers and Crosby to play in a Super Bowl.
16. ILB Christian Kirksey
The newest Packers linebacker has only played nine games the last two seasons due to injuries, but if he stays healthy, his run-stopping capability could be a welcome addition to Green Bay’s defense.
15. RB Jamaal Williams
One of the top backup running backs in the league, Williams tied for the team lead with five touchdown catches in the regular season last season.
14. WR Allen Lazard
After not catching a pass last season until the fourth quarter against the Lions in Week 6, Lazard blossomed into a reliable No. 2 receiver behind Davante Adams in the second half of the season.
13. S Darnell Savage Jr.
One of two safeties named to the PFWA All-Rookie team last season, Savage showed why the Packers traded up nine spots in the first round for him.
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12. CB Kevin King
For as many explosive plays King allowed, he might’ve been the Packers’ most improved player. He played in more games in 2019 than in his first two seasons combined and ranked tied for fourth in the NFL with five interceptions and tied for fifth with 17 passes defensed.
11. S Adrian Amos
After his game-sealing interception in the end zone against the Bears to open the season, Amos didn’t make many eye-opening plays, but he was still a sturdy force in the secondary.
10. OLB Preston Smith
He gets overshadowed by his fellow Smith, but Preston still ranked eighth in the NFL with a career-high 12 sacks last season.
9. LG Elgton Jenkins
Only five offensive guards in the NFL played at least 10 games last season without allowing a sack. Among the five, Jenkins allowed the fewest quarterback hits with just one.
8. C Corey Linsley
According to ESPN Stats and Info, Linsley led all centers in pass-block win rate last season (the rate at which a lineman holds a pass block for at least 2.5 seconds).
7. CB Jaire Alexander
At 23 years old, the 2018 first-round pick is on his way to the top tier of NFL cornerbacks. He ranked fourth in the league with 18 passes defensed last season.
6. NT Kenny Clark
The 2016 first-round pick is still only 24 years old, but he’s already one of the most disruptive nose tackles in the NFL. He’s set to receive a contract extension sometime in the next couple of months that will make him one of the highest-paid interior defensive linemen in the league.
5. QB Aaron Rodgers
He’s not prime Rodgers anymore – at least he wasn’t last season – but this Rodgers is still a top-five quarterback in the NFL who led the league in touchdown-to-interception ratio (26 to 4) in 2019.
4. RB Aaron Jones
Only 25 years old, Jones led the NFL with 23 total touchdowns in 18 games over the regular season and playoffs. He tied the Titans’ Derrick Henry for the regular-season lead with 16 rushing touchdowns and the Panthers’ Christian McCaffrey for the regular-season lead with 19 total touchdowns before adding four more in two postseason games.
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3. WR Davante Adams
Adams isn’t the best wideout in the NFL, but he might be the best route-runner in the league. Just watch his tour-de-force against the Seahawks in the playoffs. After missing four games with turf toe from Weeks 5-8 last season and easing back into the offense for two games, Adams led all wide receivers with five touchdown catches from Week 12 to the end of the season.
2. LT David Bakhtiari
You could make a strong case for Bakhtiari at No. 1 on this list. He’s arguably the best offensive tackle in the NFL and, according to ESPN Stats and Info, ranked first among all offensive tackles in pass-block win rate last season. He’s been a first- or second-team All-Pro each of the past four seasons and might be the organization’s best draft pick (2013 fourth-rounder) since Rodgers in 2005.
1. OLB Za’Darius Smith
Smith’s first season with the Packers after signing a four-year, $66 million contract couldn’t have gone much better. Teammates elected him the captain of the defense, he led the team and ranked sixth in the NFL with 13.5 sacks, led the team and placed fifth in the league with 50 quarterback pressures and led the team and league with 22 quarterback knockdowns. According to ESPN Stats and Info, he was also double-teamed more than any edge rusher in the NFL.
(Top photo of Adrian Amos and Jaire Alexander: Wesley Hitt / Getty Images)
