Packers Losing All Their Linebackers Means the Position Will Be a Big Area of Need in NFL Draft
NFL players are rapidly changing teams this week with free agency about to get underway on an official basis. The Green Bay Packers started the process inauspiciously, losing linebacker Blake Martinez to the New York Giants.
Their own Kyler Fackrell is also joining the Giants, which means the Packers have now lost two linebackers who appeared in all 16 regular season games in 2019. That puts them in a tough position going forward.
Giants signing LB Kyler Fackrell.
— Paul Schwartz (@NYPost_Schwartz) March 17, 2020
He spent 4 years with the Packers, mostly as a backup.
Has 16.5 career sacks.
Most revealing stat: He had 10.5 sacks in 2018.
His position coach that season?
Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.
Plain and simple, losing both players makes linebacker a clear position of need for the team in the 2020 NFL Draft. The Packers did sign former Cleveland Brown Christian Kirksey, but he has struggled to stay healthy the past few years.
Martinez is the bigger loss here. He led the defense with 155 total tackles in 2019, with the next-closest player being Adrian Amos with 84. Fackrell had 23 total tackles and one sack.
Blake Martinez was second behind only Bobby Wagner in tackles last season with 155 ?pic.twitter.com/HUYgLcEh7V
— Giants Videos (@SNYGiants) March 17, 2020
The Packers are trying to improve a defense that got embarrassed by the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. Losing two linebackers is a concern, and the Packers have to make the position a priority over the rest of the offseason.