Packers Are Totally Going to Play 4 Outside Linebackers at Once in 2019

The Green Bay Packers have been one of football's most active teams this offseason, making key moves to bolster their defense and gear up for a hopeful return to NFC North supremacy.

Since losing veteran pass-rushers Clay Matthews and Nick Perry, two of their longest-tenured players, Green Bay went out and secured Za'Darius Smith, Preston Smith, and new draftee Rashan Gary. Also amongst the crew is Kyrler Fackrell, who had 10.5 sacks last season for the Pack. With a heavily talented outside linebacker corps, the Packers are now expected to use all four of these guys at once in various packages this season.

As linebackers coach Mike Smith said, "We move these guys around. There will be times next year there's going to be four outside linebackers on the field. It's what we do."

Having four OLBs on the field at the same time gives defensive coordinator Mike Pettine real flexibility to draw up different looks to keep opposing quarterbacks off-balance. In a division that includes Kirk Cousins, Mitchell Trubisky, and Matthew Stafford, that will be a major asset.

This foursome won't always share the field, of course. They won't need to. Kenny Clark and Mike Daniels provide a big presence on the Packer defensive line, with Clark coming in second last season for Green Bay in sacks with 6. But this new-look group of linebackers adds an additional dimension that could come up big for this team in its first year under Matt LaFleur.