The Green Bay Packers in 2020 are set to be a good team. Whether or not they can build on their NFC Championship Game appearance of a year ago and reach a Super Bowl is dependent on the steps forward that young players on the team take.
Entering the offseason, most fans and analysts would have pegged the team's two biggest areas of need as wide receiver and defensive line. In a rather surprising move, the Packers essentially punted on both of those positions this offseason, which means the pressure is on guys already on the roster to develop into qualtiy starters.
On the defensive line, that means the microscope is going to be on Kingsley Keke in particular.
In a unit full of known commodities, Keke might currently be the only mystery. Kenny Clark is a blue-chip stud who is going to get a big-dollar extension very soon, and a well-earned one at that. But outside of Clark, there's not a whole lot of reliability.
Dean Lowry is a solid role player who earned a nice little extension last year, but is never going to be a player you want on the field for every down. Tyler Lancaster was repeatedly taken advantage of in 2019. Montravious Adams was a big disappointment after an offseason in which a lot of fans and analysts hoped he'd take some big steps forward.
The ship hasn't sailed on these guys yet, but there's a general sense that the Packers know what they have in them. But with Keke, there's still a lot to learn.
Keke only saw the field for 94 snaps in 2019, meaning he was on the field for fewer than 10 percent of the team's defensive plays. But coaches have raved about what they've seen about him so far, both in games and on the practice field. Said defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, "He was a guy that as the year went on he got his opportunities in there, he was productive for us. That's somebody that we're looking forward to having a much more increased role."
The Packers did add Gerald Willis and Treyvon Hester to the rotation in the offseason, but there's little reason to believe they'll be anything other than rotational players. This means Keke is going to be afforded every opportunity to come in and make a statement.
Keke has put on some weight over the last year and a half since his combine appearance, and this year will be playing around 295 or 300. His size and athleticism could make him a valuable presence in the run game, which was a major deficiency for the Packers in 2019 (to say the least).
From my perspective, the Packers should have done more to address the run defense, particularly the defensive line, in the 2020 offseason. The Packers are relying too heavily on Keke to make big strides in his second year as a fifth-round pick. But there is certainly a lot to like about what Keke can produce for this team, and I would not be surprised to see him rise to the challenge.
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