Pre-Draft Projected Starters: 2023 Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers are going to look different in the year 2023. The off-season has been full of drama but the dust seems to be settling a bit. We are now getting a good picture of what the team is going to look like and what the team needs to address in the draft. Here are the Green Bay Packers’ projected starters for 2023.

Green Bay Packers: Projected Starters For 2023

One note before we begin. I am projecting starters that are currently on the team. While I do think there will be some rookies that work their way into the starting lineup, they are not on the team yet. I will talk about positions that the team needs to address in the draft but I will make projections based on who is currently on the roster.

Quarterback

QB Jordan Love

I understand that Aaron Rodgers is still on the team but he has played his last down as a Packer. If you listen to everything that the front office is saying about the quarterback situation, they are ready to see what Love can do on the field. This is the great mystery heading into the 2023 season. The sample size is so small that any projection is difficult to draw conclusions from. I personally am high on Love’s potential and if you look at the offensive numbers from last year, Love really doesn’t have to play that well to improve the offense.

Offensive Line

LT David Bakhtiari, LG Elgton Jenkins, C Josh Myers, LG Jon Runyan Jr., RT Yosh Nijman

The offensive line feels pretty set at this point. Bakhtiari and Jenkins make up one of the best tackle-guard combos in the league. Myers needs a bounce-back season but has been solid in his first two years under center. Nijman found his groove on the right side last year and Runyan Jr. is the model of consistency. The only player that could crack the lineup is second-year player Zach Tom. However, I think they keep him for depth in case of injury instead of inserting him into the starting lineup.

Running Back

RB Aaron Jones

This is another position that is pretty much locked up. Jones has been one of the best backs in the league over the past three seasons and will help Love’s transition into the starting role. AJ Dillon is the other back on the roster and while he is great, he won’t start over Jones. I wouldn’t be surprised if the team adds some depth with a day-three pick in the draft but there is no chance that player cracks the starting lineup.

Tight End

TE Josiah Deguara

The former third-round pick never found his groove with Rodgers. However, he has had some chemistry with Jordan Love in the preseason games. This could be a great opportunity for him to finally show what he can do on the field. The rest of the tight ends on the roster are mostly there for special teams.

Of all the projected starters for the Green Bay Packers, this is the one that I think has the best likelihood to change. The Packers are going to draft a tight end in the draft. I don’t know what round or what pick, but this class is deep enough that they can find value. Deguara still has a chance to hang onto the starting job but I wouldn’t be surprised if he is surpassed at some point this season by a rookie.

Wide Receiver

WR Christian Watson, WR Romeo Doubs, WR Samori Toure

What is crazy about these three is that they are all second-year players and are the projected starters for the Green Bay Packers. Watson showed flashes of greatness after some early season injury concerns. Doubs had an up-and-down season but showed enough potential to be a good WR2. Toure is a wild card, as he had limited time on the field but did well. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Packers look to bring in a veteran to be the third wide receiver and put Toure in a more limited role.

Defensive Line

DL Kenny Clark, NT TJ Slaton, DL Devonte Wyatt

These are the starters by default. They do have a couple of others on the depth chart but they haven’t played a regular season game for the Green Bay Packers. Clark is one of the best at his position but the team really needs Slaton and Wyatt to step up in 2023. Wyatt showed great improvement over the season but Slaton did not become the run-stopper they were hoping for. This is another position that the Green Bay Packers may look to build up in the draft to add some depth.

Inside Linebacker

LB De’Vondre Campbell, LB Quay Walker

These two will be the starters barring something extraordinary. Campbell is looking for a bounce-back year but is still the leader of the defense. Walker showed flashes of greatness in his first season but needs to improve on it in year two. Still, these two were the starters for all of 2022 and I highly doubt that will change for 2023. The only other inside linebacker is Isaiah McDuffie who is a fine player but not the caliber of Campbell and Walker.

Outside Linebacker

OLB Preston Smith, OLB Kingsley Enagbare, OLB Rashan Gary (when he returns from his injury)

I’m cheating a little bit on this one. Smith will obviously be a starter next year and has been the model of consistency since he signed with the Packers. Gary would be the other starter, hands down, but he is coming off of an ACL injury. There is a chance he will be back earlier than expected, as the reports coming out of Gary’s camp have been positive.

However, I think the week one starter nod will go to second-year player Kingsley Enagbare. He had a solid season filling in for Gary when he went down, and the other option, Justin Hollins, is more of a rotation piece. Enagbare will get a chance to show what he can do before Gary comes back. The Packers will also look at adding some depth in the upcoming draft.

Safety

FS Darnell Savage, SS Tarvarius Moore

This is a prove-it year for Savage, as he will be looking for a big contract next year. After last year’s struggles, having Savage on the projected starters list shows how thin the team is at the safety position. Moore was a nice pickup in free agency from the 49ers and hopefully will be solid on the back end. One thing to watch out for.

Rasul Douglas has played safety before and rumors have swirled about whether he could make the move. If the Green Bay Packers do not feel comfortable with their starters come training camp, keep an eye out if this rumor gains real traction. This is another position that the Packers will most likely address in the draft, and a rookie could crack the starting lineup with high-level play.

Cornerback

CB Jaire Alexander, CB Eric Stokes, CB Rasul Douglas

This is another group of projected starters that are set. Alexander is one of the best corners in the league. Stokes is coming off of an injury but has shown enough promise in his first two years to keep the starting job. Douglas is a great CB3 assuming he stays there (which I think he will). The wild card would be Keisean Nixon. He is on the team as the returner, where he received first-team all-pro honors last season. However, if he shows promise in training camp, he might usurp one of these players.

Those are the projected starter for the Green Bay Packers. One reason I am bullish on this team is the fact that they have so many positions with no questions. To be solid at the running back, offensive line, linebacker, and cornerback positions means the team is not in disarray. This is not the say that the team is primed for a Super Bowl run but I also don’t think they are destined for the top-5 pick in the post-Rodgers era. It will be interesting to see how GM Brian Gutekunst fills in the holes as the team tries to return to the playoffs in 2023.