The Green Bay Packers made the postseason for the seventh straight season in 2015, and despite posting another winning record at 10-6, the Packers know that there is still plenty of work do, as their regular season finale loss to the Minnesota Vikings snapped their four-year streak as division champions.
The Packers front office and coaching staff know that this is the time for them to compete for a Super Bowl with franchise quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the prime of his career at 32 years old, and they are looking to surround the former MVP with the best team they can in 2016. Rodgers had another strong season as the Packers starting quarterback last year, completing 60.7 percent of his passes for 3,821 yards with 31 touchdowns to eight interceptions, and he should be getting his number one target, Jordy Nelson, back in 2016 after suffering a torn ACL in last year's preseason.
While the Packers offense will look to be much improved next season, there are still many questions surrounding Green Bay's defense that many expect them to address in the upcoming 2016 NFL Draft. One player that Packers fans should keep an eye on in the lead-up to the draft this month is Alabama inside linebacker Reggie Ragland.
Ragland is considered by many draft analysts to be the best inside linebacker in this year's draft class, and some believe that he could be available for the Packers with the 27th overall pick. The selection would be a strong fit for the Packers, as their top need heading into the draft is inside linebacker. The Alabama prospect would add an immediate presence to their defense next season and could develop into a cornerstone player for their defense for years to come.
The 6-foot-1, 247-pound linebacker recorded 102 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks in his senior season, and he helped led a dominant Crimson Tide defense to a National Championship. "He's a throwback linebacker, but he's going to get drafted in the first (round) because he has rush ability too," one former NFC scouting director said.
There is no question that Ragland would make a strong fit in Green Bay's defense, and his addition would help outside linebackers Julius Peppers and Clay Matthews create pressure on opposing offense, as he has the ability to drop back in coverage. It's unknown if Ragland will still be on the board by the time the Packers are on the clock towards the end of the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, but if he somehow slips to Green Bay at 27, they should grab him quickly, as he would make a strong fit immediately in the middle of their defense.
